Kelfer gave a derisive snort. "Your Earth is in another galaxy? Impossible. The power to translate across extragalactic distances would be incalculable!"
McKay gave the other man a sideways look. "You think so?"
"Of course!" Kelfer replied hotly. "The magnitude of energy would be greater than the detonation of an exploding star! No science could create a mechanism to contain such intensity."
It dawned on Rodney that Kelfer, for all his high title and impressive clothes, was narrow-minded and not in the market for challenging viewpoints. Moreover, his statement made it clear that the Halcyon scientist had never even conceived of something like a Zero Point Module.
"No science?" McKay repeated. "Not even that of the Precursors?"
Kelfer snorted again. "I admit the Great Circlet is a masterpiece of technology, but not even the builders of that device could do such a thing. They were mortal beings, after all, not gods."
"Depends on your definition…" said Rodney, half to himself.
"It pleases me that you have found such food for thought here, Doctor," said Erony with a smile. Her eyes flashed as she met his gaze and something in her look make him swallow hard. She continued; "I must admit, I find this intellectual discussion to be most stimulating. Sadly, there is precious little opportunity for the scientific disciplines that do not directly impact upon Halcyon's martial or industrial might."
"No doubt," McKay nodded. He had noted on the way in to the observatory that the facility was dusty with age and showed little signs of regular use. "Astronomy isn't much help when you're building weapons, I suppose."
"Quite so," agreed Kelfer, completely missing the irony. "It is the duty of every learned person in our society to work toward keeping our planet strong and maintaining our superiority over the Wraith."
"Hmm. Well, your `superiority'?" Rodney made quote marks with his fingers. "I think that may have more to do with your astro-geographical location than how big your guns are."
Kelfer sneered. "This is another one of your theories, outworlder?"
McKay gave a thin smile. "Trust me, Kelfer, after a while most people catch up to the fact that my theories and the truth are the same thing…" He paused, the smile faltering. "Well, most of the time they are. But anyway. I'm willing to bet that the reason your planet has been free of Wraith attacks is because of its remoteness, galactically speaking, in relation to Wraith territory."
"Pah!" spat the scientist, his ire building. "I will not hear you disparage our military in such a fashion! The Halcyons are formidable warriors with a reputation that strides the stars! We are the ones who give them nightmares!" Kelfer stalked away, out on to the balcony around the dome, fuming and muttering.
"It's always nice to meet someone with an open mind," said McKay.
"I could not agree more." The silky tone in Erony's words made Rodney's mouth turn arid. "You are a most interesting man, Dr. Rodney McKay. I wonder, is there anything else you might like to observe this evening?"
"Oh," He was suddenly at a loss for words. "Um." But that was hardly surprising. It wasn't every day a princess came on to him. "The dolmen?" The question came out in a squeak.
Erony seemed crestfallen for an instant, but then the flash of disappointment was gone. "Of course. I have petitioned my father on your behalf. As the site is of great significance to our people, he must personally approve your request to visit it. I imagine he will give you an answer in a few days."
"Great," Rodney replied. "Phew. Well. It's been a long day. Perhaps we should get to bed." He blinked. "I mean, I should get to bed. To the quarters. To rest."
She gave a gracious nod. "Of course. Please, follow me. I'll show you back to your associates."
Private Bishop rolled his eyes as he caught up with McKay. "Smooth, Rodders. Very smooth."
"Shut up," he hissed, and kept walking.
Sheppard leaned against the stone balustrade and took in the view. The air out here had turned chilly after sunset, so he had put his jacket back on. The P90 and the rest of his gear were back in his room, but he had his service pistol on him, just in case. The colonel couldn't shake the cautious feeling that was gathering at the nape of his neck, the slight warning tingle that made his fingers drum on the carved marble.
Hell, who am I kidding? He asked himself. I am way outside my comfort zone here. Sheppard was too much a soldier to ever get used to the mix of outward smiles and inward suspicions that this whole diplomatic, first contact thing involved.
A figure emerged through the heavy curtains from the anteroom. Teyla nodded to him as she approached. "Colonel."
She looked better and he was pleased to see it. The sallow, frightened expression on her face in the bedroom was so at odds with the casual confidence the Athosian woman usually displayed, it had concerned him. "How're you feeling?"
Teyla frowned. "Sleep eludes me for the moment. Perhaps it is for the best." She paused. "I have not sensed the Wraith again, Colonel."
"I wasn't asking as your commanding officer, I was asking as your friend," he replied. "I know it's hard on you."
She nodded. "Yes. Thank you, John. I appreciate your concern." Teyla gave him an appraising look. "And how do you feel?"
Sheppard gave a half-smile. "Just peachy."
"I do not envy your role in this," Teyla admitted. "The directness of battle is far more desirable to me than the courtly wordgames of these aristocrats."
"Ah, you know how it is. Rich folks are different to ordinary Joes like you and me."
"They are polite, but… I think they may privately see us as their inferiors."
Sheppard nodded. "You got that too, huh? Well, this is their planet, and they do have a big huge palace. I guess if you're going to throw your weight around, a palace would be the place to do it in."
"But their arrogance towards the Wraith concerns me, John. And there is also the issue of the prisoners we saw them take on M3Y-465. Lord Daus never answered my question."
John tapped the stones. "Could be they're going to interrogate them, but then we know from experience that kinda thing yields mixed results at best."
"There is another possibility. The Halcyons may be harvesting the enzymes in their feeding sacs."
Sheppard's eyes narrowed as he considered that. Unbidden, thoughts of his friend Aiden Ford rose to the front of his mind; he recalled the young Lieutenant when they embarked from Stargate Command on the first trip to Atlantis, the eagerness in his face-and then he remembered the changes in him after the Wraith assault that nearly cost Aiden his life, the single dark eye that now disfigured him, the legacy of the changes the alien forced upon the young man. He was convinced Ford was still out there somewhere, too cunning to die easily, his heart pumping with doses of the mutagenic Wraith biochemical. Stronger, wilder, out of control. The idea that people might willingly be harvesting the narcotic fluids of the Wraith filled him with dread. "The thought had crossed my mind. We're going to have to find out what's up with that before we open any real dealings between Halcyon and Atlantis."
They were both quiet for a moment. Teyla looked out over the cityscape beneath them. "This citadel is built on the tallest part of the landscape in this area. The Magnate has made sure that everyone below in the city understands who rules them. They only need to look upward."
Sheppard followed her gaze. "I get the feeling they're only showing us what they think we need to see." He nodded at the city sprawl radiating away from the palace, the lights in the streets far below and the grim clusters of buildings. "I'd like to peek behind the curtain…" The colonel broke off. He heard a voice from the anteroom and realized that McKay had returned.
"Thanks again," said Rodney, ignoring the smirk on Bishop's face, and he gave Erony a small wave, unsure if it was correct protocol to bow or shake hands. For her part, the noblewoman inclined her head. They had left Kelfer behind, the scientist making excuses about `vital work' requiring his attention, but in truth McKay suspected it was the building dislike between them that drove the other man away; which was fine. Rodney wouldn't miss him.