“Fascinating, I’m sure,” Rodney said. “There must be literally millions of variances possible, depending on the range of the instrument. But I didn’t come over to ask about the music — I need to ask you some questions. If you have time, that is.”
“There’s nothing but time here,” Saul said, his expression serene.
“Yes, that’s what has me confused. Tell me why it is, with all the time in the world at your fingertips, you launched yourself directly at the heart of the sun?”
“I did not say that we had,” Saul replied. “You jumped to that conclusion from your limited observations.”
“Well, if you didn’t do it,” Rodney said, confused, “then who did?”
“All will be made clear in due time Dr. McKay. Are you always so impatient?”
“No, usually I’m incredibly patient. It’s just when I’m trapped on a moon on a collision course with the sun that I get a little tense.”
Saul’s smile was less friendly. “I would have thought a man of science such as yourself would appreciate coming slowly and carefully to new knowledge.”
“So tell me, slowly and carefully, that you do intend to steer away from the sun,” Rodney said. “I mean, you’re not really going to fry yourselves are you? I say this because I’ve given some thought to the best and worst ways of dying — believe me, I’ve had reason to worry about it — and I have to say that self-immolation is a spectacularly insane way to go.”
“As I said, all will be made clear in time.”
“Really. Could you be any more cryptic?” Rodney sighed and attempted to swallow his irritation. “So, the star drive is under control of a command computer, yes? And the computer is still functional?”
“All systems of the city are functional except those which we have purposely shut down.”
“Then you must have control over the field that’s preventing any signals from reaching the surface. You could shut it down and allow me to contact — ”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He glanced around the room, obviously distracted; he was still watching Sheppard and the woman, barely paying any attention to Rodney’s questions. “I’ve told you the dampeners are physical in nature. They aren’t controlled by an electronic console, or a computer program. It was never our intention to remove them.”
“Then take me to the surface and let me walk back to the gate,” Rodney insisted. “I only need a few moments up there to open a wormhole and…”
“Did you forget about the storm?”
“Ah yes, the ‘storm’. How could I forget?”
Saul turned toward him suddenly, his eyes dark and his back board-straight. “You’re wasting your time, Dr. McKay. No direct communication is allowed out of this city. I believe I explained fairly clearly how we have prevented detection by the Wraith, and I’m not about to break that successful silence now.” He took a breath, forcing a smile. “Why don’t you relax and enjoy yourself? I’m sure even you can find a suitable distraction here. There are so very many.” He swept his hand in an arc across the room and smiled as he turned and walked away.
“If you’re still worried about the Wraith,” Rodney called after his retreating back, “then why lower your shields? Why allow us to detect you?”
Saul either didn’t hear him or ignored him completely and continued walking.
Just at that moment Teyla passed by, focused on something ahead of her. He called out, but just like Saul she didn’t answer.
“Right,” he grumbled, “Rodney McKay being ignored in a nightclub. How novel.”
He pulled the scanner out of his pocket, but it still held no answers.
As Teyla crossed the huge hall, she kept Sheppard and Mara in her sites, their path winding in and out of small alcoves. Here and there, Mara grabbed someone else by the arm, or called out to a friend and introduced them to her guest. Despite the detours, Teyla noted that the woman was working herself steadily toward a particular set of doors along the far wall. Just as she was about to follow and see if she could get close enough to hear what they were talking about, Teyla felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around and found herself face to face with Saul.
“I trust you’re finding everything to your liking?” The man’s features were a mask of serenity and peace, but something danced just beneath the surface of his eyes that made her nervous. He kept his hand on her shoulder, and she fought the urge to brush it off like a bug.
“Yes, everything is well, thank you. Perhaps we may speak later, but right now I need to have a word with Colonel — ”
“Excellent.” Saul cut her off, but did not release her. “Somehow, I knew you’d enjoy it here. I sensed it about you.”
Teyla forced a smile, aware of the need to maintain good will. “Your hospitality is admirable. But, excuse me, I need to catch up with Colonel Sheppard.” She glanced over her shoulder, but Sheppard and the woman were gone.
“Your Colonel Sheppard seems to be well taken care of at the moment. Why don’t we sit and share some wine?” His smile widened. “You can tell me all about your home world and I can introduce you to a few of our citizens. The more people you know, the easier it will be to fit in here. Perhaps we have some common ground. If Atlantis is inhabited again there should be opportunities for trade.”
Teyla shot a sideways glance at the point where she had lost sight of Sheppard, but the two had not returned. “Very well,” she said. “Perhaps you can tell me more about your people. Specifically the one they call Mara.”
Saul nodded as he pulled her toward the bar and eased her into a seat. She saw Ronon, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to watch the dancer. She smiled, but it was an uncomfortable attempt and she doubted Saul was convinced.
“Suppose you go first,” he said, sipping his wine. “Tell me about Atlantis. I’ve been there you know, a very long time ago. For you, it would be lifetimes.”
“I’m afraid that the current inhabitants of the city would be very unfamiliar to you,” she said. “Your people — who we call the Ancestors — have been gone for a long time.”
“Fascinating,” Saul said. “And your people rule the city now?”
Teyla shook her head. “No, that is a long story.”
Chapter Twelve
Mara held Sheppard’s hand as she pulled him through the door and into the darkened passageway beyond. They stood together in the cool darkness, until she passed her hand over a small panel. A series of lamps illuminated a long, winding staircase that passed up into more darkness. Sheppard stopped for a moment, disoriented by the sudden change in light, but Mara tugged insistently at his hand, urging him forward.
“Come on, John Sheppard,” she said. “I have something to show you — something important. You’re going to love the view from up here. It’s extraordinary.”
“I’ll bet.”
He followed her up the stone steps, trying not to watch her too closely as she climbed ahead of him. He scanned the walls as they went, looking for anything that might help him understand what was going on, or give him insight into the city’s systems. They climbed for a very long time, until finally stepping out into some sort of observatory. The ceiling was domed and appeared to be made of crystal, or heavy glass. He stared up through it into the night sky. >From that vantage point he felt like he could see every star in the universe.
“We’re not supposed to come up here,” Mara said. “Saul says that it’s too close to the surface, and that if there were scans in progress we might be detected, but I’ve been here many times over the years. I’ve watched Wraith craft fly directly over the city, and they never suspected a thing. I think he just doesn’t want us away from his entertainments. It’s very beautiful, don’t you think? I wanted to share it with you.”