To Meet One's Match
To Meet One’s Match
“In conclusion, everything that we have done in this latest round of tests will have significantly improved our tracking systems for the renegade Wraith Hives as well as any Cruisers or darts they might send our way.” Rodney McKay sat down with a supercilious smile on his face, glancing around the group gathered in the conference room. “Questions?”
“One,” John said, leaning forward, “how do we know it will have significantly improved our systems? According to you, everything you’ve done has been in the lab.”
Rodney’s smiled faded. “Because the tests confirm it. The simulations. And, well…Todd…says…so.”
“Todd says so.” John leaned back in his chair. “Oh, well, then, if Todd says so…”
“Look, it’s been a while since he’s caused any problems. At least not in the last year or so, anyway.”
“So that makes everything he says completely reliable.”
“Well, no…I mean…we haven’t had a problem with his data lately and there’s not much cause to distrust…”
“Relax, Rodney,” Elizabeth murmured, throwing John a look of consternation. “We believe you. We just want to make sure there aren’t any…”
“Loopholes.”
“…loopholes in the research. But everything you’ve shown us seems to indicate Todd can be trusted and if that’s the case, then I’m sure we can all agree everything appears sound.”
“Considering we’ve been trusting him inside the City for a number of days now, I would hope so,” Woolsey said, folding his hands on the table in front of him. “Is this everything out of your department, Doctor McKay?”
“Yes. For now. We still need raw tests, of course, but everything is on schedule, as I said.”
“Good. Colonel Caldwell, do you have any questions? As we’ll be using the Daedalus to run the tests we’d appreciate your input.”
“Only to make sure these devices work as advertised. It’s not going to benefit us at all if they fail during trial runs.”
“They won’t. Fail, I mean,” said Rodney. “They will work.”
“Good to know. There have been some issues in the past.”
“Issues in the past? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that not all the trial runs have gone as smoothly as first thought.”
“And whose fault is that…”
“If that’s all on the Wraith devices themselves,” Woolsey interrupted. Caldwell and Rodney both looked at him, but the Colonel nodded, as did McKay, reluctantly, after receiving a few warning glances from Elizabeth and John.
“Good.” Richard gathered up his papers, scrolling down the list. “All right, then, let’s continue on. Doctor Weir, how fare diplomatic relations in the Pegasus?”
Elizabeth smiled. “We’ve started talks with the native peoples of P22-M14. They’re considering an alliance but require…”
“Doctor Weir?” Radek Zelenka interrupted, his thick accent perceptible through their headsets.
Elizabeth’s expression furrowed in confusion. “Radek? What’s the matter? We’re kind of in the middle of something here.”
“Yes, I apologize, but I need to speak to you for a moment. There is a small problem that concerns you.”
“What kind of a problem?”
“It would perhaps be best if I spoke to you in person. And Colonel Sheppard as well.”
Elizabeth’s confusion melted into concern and she glanced up at John. “Is it Emma?”
John was already pushing back his chair. “Radek, where are you?”
“Control area. I am sorry to interrupt…”
The doors slid open with a hiss, the remainder of the party, including Caldwell, rising to follow them.
Zelenka was standing near the City’s location grid, studying the bright blips that indicated City personnel.
“What happened?” John asked. The Czech wasted no time, though his expression grew surprised as the entire group of attendees to the morning’s conference trailed in.
“Ah, it appears that young Miss Sheppard has gone missing.”
“Missing? How could she have gone missing?” Elizabeth moved forward, alongside John. “She was supposed to be with Teyla and Torren.”
“Yes, well, Teyla was called back to New Athos on an emergency and did not wish to disturb you, so she left Emma in the care of Doctor Keller. Only one of our marine groups returned suffering from strange insect bites and apparently Jennifer became preoccupied. Emma was discovered missing sometime later.”
“She’s good at that,” Rodney murmured. Elizabeth and John fixed him with identical annoyed stares and he raised a hand. “I meant Jennifer, you know, becoming preoccupied. Totally one-track mind. She’s going to make a terrible mother.” At their raised eyebrows his eyes widened. “Eventually! When…if…that ever happens, she’ll…please don’t tell her I said that.”
Elizabeth looked over at John, raising a clenched first to her mouth, her eyes worried. He ran a hand across her back, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.
“We’ve already locked down all the labs, as soon as we confirmed there were no life signs in them,” Zelenka said. “We do not believe her to be anyplace dangerous.”
“And the piers?” Elizabeth questioned. John felt his heart leap into his throat.
“We have sent marines out to check them. So far, they report nothing. And Emma, I believe, is very much aware of the danger of wandering out onto the piers.”
“Which is exactly the problem,” John said. “Any idea where else she might have gone?”
“I am afraid not. She could have wandered anywhere. Without the tracking signals delineating who is which life sign, we have no way…”
“John Sheppard.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened as a cold, familiar voice spoke through the communications system. John turned to her, watching in consternation, and tapped his headset. “This is Sheppard.”
“If you would tell your guards to allow me to pass, I have something I believe I should return to you. It would be better for the safety of all involved if we were not threatened with firepower.”
A panicked expression crossed Elizabeth’s face and she squeezed his arm tightly, the others in the group exchanging concerned glances.
“We’re on our way to your lab,” John remarked, then switched channels, following Elizabeth as she took off at a dead run to the nearest transporter. “All personnel, if you see the Wraith creature working with Doctor McKay wandering the halls, stand down and let him pass. Do not engage him, I repeat, do not engage.”
--/--
They reached the lab’s hallway in a matter of minutes. John couldn’t think of anything to say to Elizabeth, other than that he’d known Todd for a lot longer than she and didn’t expect there to be anything to worry about.
It didn’t stop the sliver of fear creeping through his heart. Emma was small-feisty, but small-and she didn’t understand about the Wraith. Stories and jokes were nothing compared to the real thing.
They’d just turned the corner towards the labs in the sector when Elizabeth froze mid-stride, stopping so suddenly he nearly knocked her over. As he grasped her shoulders, steadying himself, he felt this throat tighten.
Todd was walking towards them, Emma on one hip, her little arms clenching his neck.
John’s arms wrapped around Elizabeth reflexively as she stood frozen before him, arms raised slightly. He could feel her heartbeat pounding through her chest, her breath come in strained gasps. “It’s fine,” he murmured to her. There were frightened tears in her eyes. “It’ll be fine.”
The Wraith drew near and Emma cinched her grasp around him more tightly, face coming within inches of those teeth. John clenched his jaw, releasing Elizabeth and moving forward.
“Hello,” he said carefully.
“Sheppard. I believe this is yours,” Todd remarked, trying to separate himself from Emma’s grasp.
She clung tightly to him for a moment, a smile spreading across her face as she caught sight of John. “I caught a Wraith!”
“So you did,” he replied, eyeing Todd with a warning look. “And a big one.”
“I figured she was your offspring,” Todd said, finally breaking Emma’s grasp and setting her to the ground. She watched him as he rose, smiled, then turned and skipped back down the hall towards John.
“And how did you figure that?”
“When she entered my lab, she attempted to appease me with pleasant conversation, and as soon as she had gained my trust, she proceeded to shoot me.”
“Bang Bang!” Emma shrieked, turning back towards Todd and raising her hands in a mock pistol. “You’re stunned. Again.”
“So I am,” the Wraith replied. “You have done well, little Sheppard, to catch me off my guard twice.”
“Thank you.” Emma whirled on her heel, looking up at John. “I’m hungry.”
“Not surprising, after the morning you’ve had,” John said. Elizabeth had moved alongside him, still unable to speak, but she nodded at Todd with a grateful expression. He dignified her acknowledgment with a nod of his own.
“Hello, Mommy. Are you done with your talk?”
“Not quite,” Elizabeth murmured, finally releasing her breath. “But I’m going to postpone it for a little bit while you and I have a talk.”
Emma’s pleasant expression faded. “Am I in trouble? What did I do?”
“I think you know fully well what you did. Or rather, what you didn’t do,” John said, crossing his arms.
“Awwww…” Emma shook her head as Elizabeth bent down to her. “I know I was supposed to stay in the infirmary with Doctor Keller. But I caught a Wraith, see? I stalked him all the way back to his hideout.”
Someone choked a laugh into a cough behind them and John turned, throwing the group who’d joined them a disparaging glance.
“Come on,” Woolsey said, smiling. “We’ll continue updating the progress in Atlantis with Colonel Caldwell while you address this matter, Doctor. We’ll be waiting in the conference room when you’re finished.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth lifted Emma onto her hips, staring her in the face. “Alright, young lady. Let’s go have that talk.”
“Awwww….”
“Goodbye, young Sheppard,” Todd said pleasantly. At least, as pleasantly as a Wraith could.
Elizabeth turned, following the group down the hall. Emma rested her chin over Elizabeth’s shoulder, looking pitiful, and flung an arm up in salutation to the Wraith. “Bye.”
They disappeared around the corner before John glanced back at the Wraith. “Thanks. For not…you know…”
Todd eyed him a moment. “There is no need for thanks.”
As he started walking down the hall, John called out to him. “Hey.”
The Wraith turned as well, staring blankly.
“You handle kids pretty well. Where did you learn that? Can’t seem to recall too many kindergartens on Wraith Hive ships.”
“You forget that our Queens are born as infants, not cloned. They are raised in our Hives as all children are raised. Only those Wraith considered privileged and trustworthy are allowed to partake in the raising of a Queen. I was once of such a position.”
“Oh.”
“Despite their being Wraith, Sheppard, they are still children. It takes a great deal of care and patience to watch over a young Queen, as it does any child.”
“So what you’re saying is you’ve done this before.”
“More than once,” Todd returned. “And from what I have seen of your young one, you have much to look forward to. Or much to dread. Or, perhaps, both.”
John flashed him a false grin. “Really.”
“I have known many Queens in my time, Sheppard, as, I know, have you. And yet, none of my experience quite match her.” He grinned broadly, spindly teeth sparkling in the light of the dim bubble lamps. “I believe you have finally met your match.”
John locked gazes with him for a moment, and then offered up a true smile. “I guess maybe I have.”
“It could not come at the hands of a more worthy opponent,” Todd returned, nodding his head. “I wish you luck. I believe you shall need it.”
John watched the Wraith as he disappeared down the hall, then started off down the hall with a smile. “That may be one of the first things you and I completely agree on.”
“In conclusion, everything that we have done in this latest round of tests will have significantly improved our tracking systems for the renegade Wraith Hives as well as any Cruisers or darts they might send our way.” Rodney McKay sat down with a supercilious smile on his face, glancing around the group gathered in the conference room. “Questions?”
“One,” John said, leaning forward, “how do we know it will have significantly improved our systems? According to you, everything you’ve done has been in the lab.”
Rodney’s smiled faded. “Because the tests confirm it. The simulations. And, well…Todd…says…so.”
“Todd says so.” John leaned back in his chair. “Oh, well, then, if Todd says so…”
“Look, it’s been a while since he’s caused any problems. At least not in the last year or so, anyway.”
“So that makes everything he says completely reliable.”
“Well, no…I mean…we haven’t had a problem with his data lately and there’s not much cause to distrust…”
“Relax, Rodney,” Elizabeth murmured, throwing John a look of consternation. “We believe you. We just want to make sure there aren’t any…”
“Loopholes.”
“…loopholes in the research. But everything you’ve shown us seems to indicate Todd can be trusted and if that’s the case, then I’m sure we can all agree everything appears sound.”
“Considering we’ve been trusting him inside the City for a number of days now, I would hope so,” Woolsey said, folding his hands on the table in front of him. “Is this everything out of your department, Doctor McKay?”
“Yes. For now. We still need raw tests, of course, but everything is on schedule, as I said.”
“Good. Colonel Caldwell, do you have any questions? As we’ll be using the Daedalus to run the tests we’d appreciate your input.”
“Only to make sure these devices work as advertised. It’s not going to benefit us at all if they fail during trial runs.”
“They won’t. Fail, I mean,” said Rodney. “They will work.”
“Good to know. There have been some issues in the past.”
“Issues in the past? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that not all the trial runs have gone as smoothly as first thought.”
“And whose fault is that…”
“If that’s all on the Wraith devices themselves,” Woolsey interrupted. Caldwell and Rodney both looked at him, but the Colonel nodded, as did McKay, reluctantly, after receiving a few warning glances from Elizabeth and John.
“Good.” Richard gathered up his papers, scrolling down the list. “All right, then, let’s continue on. Doctor Weir, how fare diplomatic relations in the Pegasus?”
Elizabeth smiled. “We’ve started talks with the native peoples of P22-M14. They’re considering an alliance but require…”
“Doctor Weir?” Radek Zelenka interrupted, his thick accent perceptible through their headsets.
Elizabeth’s expression furrowed in confusion. “Radek? What’s the matter? We’re kind of in the middle of something here.”
“Yes, I apologize, but I need to speak to you for a moment. There is a small problem that concerns you.”
“What kind of a problem?”
“It would perhaps be best if I spoke to you in person. And Colonel Sheppard as well.”
Elizabeth’s confusion melted into concern and she glanced up at John. “Is it Emma?”
John was already pushing back his chair. “Radek, where are you?”
“Control area. I am sorry to interrupt…”
The doors slid open with a hiss, the remainder of the party, including Caldwell, rising to follow them.
Zelenka was standing near the City’s location grid, studying the bright blips that indicated City personnel.
“What happened?” John asked. The Czech wasted no time, though his expression grew surprised as the entire group of attendees to the morning’s conference trailed in.
“Ah, it appears that young Miss Sheppard has gone missing.”
“Missing? How could she have gone missing?” Elizabeth moved forward, alongside John. “She was supposed to be with Teyla and Torren.”
“Yes, well, Teyla was called back to New Athos on an emergency and did not wish to disturb you, so she left Emma in the care of Doctor Keller. Only one of our marine groups returned suffering from strange insect bites and apparently Jennifer became preoccupied. Emma was discovered missing sometime later.”
“She’s good at that,” Rodney murmured. Elizabeth and John fixed him with identical annoyed stares and he raised a hand. “I meant Jennifer, you know, becoming preoccupied. Totally one-track mind. She’s going to make a terrible mother.” At their raised eyebrows his eyes widened. “Eventually! When…if…that ever happens, she’ll…please don’t tell her I said that.”
Elizabeth looked over at John, raising a clenched first to her mouth, her eyes worried. He ran a hand across her back, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.
“We’ve already locked down all the labs, as soon as we confirmed there were no life signs in them,” Zelenka said. “We do not believe her to be anyplace dangerous.”
“And the piers?” Elizabeth questioned. John felt his heart leap into his throat.
“We have sent marines out to check them. So far, they report nothing. And Emma, I believe, is very much aware of the danger of wandering out onto the piers.”
“Which is exactly the problem,” John said. “Any idea where else she might have gone?”
“I am afraid not. She could have wandered anywhere. Without the tracking signals delineating who is which life sign, we have no way…”
“John Sheppard.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened as a cold, familiar voice spoke through the communications system. John turned to her, watching in consternation, and tapped his headset. “This is Sheppard.”
“If you would tell your guards to allow me to pass, I have something I believe I should return to you. It would be better for the safety of all involved if we were not threatened with firepower.”
A panicked expression crossed Elizabeth’s face and she squeezed his arm tightly, the others in the group exchanging concerned glances.
“We’re on our way to your lab,” John remarked, then switched channels, following Elizabeth as she took off at a dead run to the nearest transporter. “All personnel, if you see the Wraith creature working with Doctor McKay wandering the halls, stand down and let him pass. Do not engage him, I repeat, do not engage.”
--/--
They reached the lab’s hallway in a matter of minutes. John couldn’t think of anything to say to Elizabeth, other than that he’d known Todd for a lot longer than she and didn’t expect there to be anything to worry about.
It didn’t stop the sliver of fear creeping through his heart. Emma was small-feisty, but small-and she didn’t understand about the Wraith. Stories and jokes were nothing compared to the real thing.
They’d just turned the corner towards the labs in the sector when Elizabeth froze mid-stride, stopping so suddenly he nearly knocked her over. As he grasped her shoulders, steadying himself, he felt this throat tighten.
Todd was walking towards them, Emma on one hip, her little arms clenching his neck.
John’s arms wrapped around Elizabeth reflexively as she stood frozen before him, arms raised slightly. He could feel her heartbeat pounding through her chest, her breath come in strained gasps. “It’s fine,” he murmured to her. There were frightened tears in her eyes. “It’ll be fine.”
The Wraith drew near and Emma cinched her grasp around him more tightly, face coming within inches of those teeth. John clenched his jaw, releasing Elizabeth and moving forward.
“Hello,” he said carefully.
“Sheppard. I believe this is yours,” Todd remarked, trying to separate himself from Emma’s grasp.
She clung tightly to him for a moment, a smile spreading across her face as she caught sight of John. “I caught a Wraith!”
“So you did,” he replied, eyeing Todd with a warning look. “And a big one.”
“I figured she was your offspring,” Todd said, finally breaking Emma’s grasp and setting her to the ground. She watched him as he rose, smiled, then turned and skipped back down the hall towards John.
“And how did you figure that?”
“When she entered my lab, she attempted to appease me with pleasant conversation, and as soon as she had gained my trust, she proceeded to shoot me.”
“Bang Bang!” Emma shrieked, turning back towards Todd and raising her hands in a mock pistol. “You’re stunned. Again.”
“So I am,” the Wraith replied. “You have done well, little Sheppard, to catch me off my guard twice.”
“Thank you.” Emma whirled on her heel, looking up at John. “I’m hungry.”
“Not surprising, after the morning you’ve had,” John said. Elizabeth had moved alongside him, still unable to speak, but she nodded at Todd with a grateful expression. He dignified her acknowledgment with a nod of his own.
“Hello, Mommy. Are you done with your talk?”
“Not quite,” Elizabeth murmured, finally releasing her breath. “But I’m going to postpone it for a little bit while you and I have a talk.”
Emma’s pleasant expression faded. “Am I in trouble? What did I do?”
“I think you know fully well what you did. Or rather, what you didn’t do,” John said, crossing his arms.
“Awwww…” Emma shook her head as Elizabeth bent down to her. “I know I was supposed to stay in the infirmary with Doctor Keller. But I caught a Wraith, see? I stalked him all the way back to his hideout.”
Someone choked a laugh into a cough behind them and John turned, throwing the group who’d joined them a disparaging glance.
“Come on,” Woolsey said, smiling. “We’ll continue updating the progress in Atlantis with Colonel Caldwell while you address this matter, Doctor. We’ll be waiting in the conference room when you’re finished.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth lifted Emma onto her hips, staring her in the face. “Alright, young lady. Let’s go have that talk.”
“Awwww….”
“Goodbye, young Sheppard,” Todd said pleasantly. At least, as pleasantly as a Wraith could.
Elizabeth turned, following the group down the hall. Emma rested her chin over Elizabeth’s shoulder, looking pitiful, and flung an arm up in salutation to the Wraith. “Bye.”
They disappeared around the corner before John glanced back at the Wraith. “Thanks. For not…you know…”
Todd eyed him a moment. “There is no need for thanks.”
As he started walking down the hall, John called out to him. “Hey.”
The Wraith turned as well, staring blankly.
“You handle kids pretty well. Where did you learn that? Can’t seem to recall too many kindergartens on Wraith Hive ships.”
“You forget that our Queens are born as infants, not cloned. They are raised in our Hives as all children are raised. Only those Wraith considered privileged and trustworthy are allowed to partake in the raising of a Queen. I was once of such a position.”
“Oh.”
“Despite their being Wraith, Sheppard, they are still children. It takes a great deal of care and patience to watch over a young Queen, as it does any child.”
“So what you’re saying is you’ve done this before.”
“More than once,” Todd returned. “And from what I have seen of your young one, you have much to look forward to. Or much to dread. Or, perhaps, both.”
John flashed him a false grin. “Really.”
“I have known many Queens in my time, Sheppard, as, I know, have you. And yet, none of my experience quite match her.” He grinned broadly, spindly teeth sparkling in the light of the dim bubble lamps. “I believe you have finally met your match.”
John locked gazes with him for a moment, and then offered up a true smile. “I guess maybe I have.”
“It could not come at the hands of a more worthy opponent,” Todd returned, nodding his head. “I wish you luck. I believe you shall need it.”
John watched the Wraith as he disappeared down the hall, then started off down the hall with a smile. “That may be one of the first things you and I completely agree on.”