“Even though it’s in US waters,” Dick said, grasping at straws. “That would essentially set the IOA up as Earth’s governing body. If they hold Atlantis as a sovereign state, and they have sole control of Atlantis’ weaponry…”
“It would indeed. It would render the IOA the first planetary governing body.” The President nodded. “My opponents have said that I favor world government. That I’m planning to hand over America’s sovereignty to the UN because I’m the antichrist. But I don’t think I’m ready to hand the world over to the IOA. At least I was elected.”
Dick sat perfectly still.
“That was a joke,” the President said. “I’m not actually the antichrist.”
“I know that, sir,” Dick said.
The President leaned back on the couch. “And yet Atlantis is essentially destabilizing. You’re completely right about that. But do you see me explaining to Congress how I had the power to make this the American Millennium and sent it back to another galaxy? We could have the top spot for centuries, Pax Americana to the nth degree. And under a benevolent and tolerant rule the planet would bloom. Ancient technology would solve all the problems, and Ancient weapons would ensure the peace…” He stopped, his eyes dancing over the bookshelf on the far wall. “I’ve always wondered what I’d do if someone handed me a Ring of Power. That’s the question Tolkien asks, isn’t it?”
Whiplash, Dick thought. He wasn’t keeping up on the turns. Elizabeth Weir would have. Elizabeth Weir could have. But she was not here. It was only him. “Is that who we are?”
The President looked at him thoughtfully. “Who are we, Richard?”
“Just people,” Dick said. “Flawed, selfish, amazing people. It’s what we choose to do that defines us. Isn’t that what Rowling asks?”
The President’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Touché, Richard. I suppose you saw in the media I’ve been reading those books to my girls. The press liked that one.”
“I might have seen it,” Dick said.
The President stood up, stretching. “That covers it, then.”
“Excuse me?” Dick hopped up as fast as possible.
“Find me a way. Let’s punt this problem on down the road. If you can get the IOA and our allies to agree, then you’ll have your small team.” He held up a finger. “Small. We have no additional resources, much less large numbers of troops, to commit to this. This is a stopgap measure, not a solution. It doesn’t solve any problems beyond today. But find me a way, and I'll authorize it.
Or. President, Dick began.
The President picked up the phone on the desk. Cathryn, get a car for Mr. Woolsey. Wherever he needs to go. He put the receiver down and looked at Dick, who was still speechless. You need to present me a working solution. If you do, your city flies.
Thank you, Mr. President, Dick said. He could think of no possible solution, no possible way to do this thing he had just begged for and just been entrusted with. For a moment the weight was crushing. Everything that happened in the Pegasus Galaxy from that moment on rested on him, all the millions of lives, all the people who would never know his name. It all rested on him, on his skinny shoulders in his impeccably tailored coat.
He had no idea how he shook the President's hand or how he got out of the office, briefcase in hand, into the cold DC darkness. It was six pm on a cold February night. The traffic was streaming up Sixteenth Street, red tail lights shining through the gloom.
The driver was a young Marine who looked back at him over the seat respectfully. There to, sir?
To Massachusetts, Dick said, as though the idea were fully formed in his brain. Homeworld Command. Let's see if General O'Neill is still in his office.
It had taken McKay and Beckett a full day to go over Todd's clothes and remove a concealed transmitter and enough components to make two more, but at last he's been prepared to certify that the garments were debugged. Literally, Beckett said, holding up something that looked unpleasantly organic, a green-black worm dangling from his tweezers. Sheppard closed his mind to the memory. Wraith technology was organic, biologically based: that was all.
And, anyway, he had enough to worry about, with the IOA breathing down his neck. He's been dodging a security meeting for thirty-six hours, and wasn't going to be able to put it off much longer. He turned away from the door of the stasis room, looked back at the doctors busy at the console. Behind them, the door of the chamber was open, and a technician he didn't recognize was standing half inside, laptop in hand.
How it coming? he said, and realized he asked the same thing less then ten minutes before.
It's coming, Beckett said absently, not looking up, but Keller glared at him over her laptop. For a moment, Sheppard thought she was finally going to say something, but then she ducked her head again, focusing on the screen.
It's just that we've been under some time pressure,Sheppard began, and Beckett sighed.
I" m not Rodney, Colonel, you don't have to motivate me that way.
If you want this to work, Keller said, You've going to have to let us finish adapting the stasis chamber to Wraith physiology. Or what we know of Wraith physiology, at least. She shook her head, looked at Beckett. I'm really not sure about this. Ancient technology doesn't mesh well with Wraith biology, and there are no way to run a safety test.
Beckett gave her one of his rare smiles. You've done a grand job already, love. We've almost there.
Keller shrugged. Close, yes. But we won't know for sure until he is in the chamber. And if there's a problem then we just don't know enough. We might not be able to revive him.
That doesn't reassure me. Sheppard had just enough self-control left to keep from saying it out loud. Keller glanced at him as though she've heard the thought, then looked back at Beckett.
I suppose I'll just saying, are we sure he understands the situation? That he doesn't have to do this?
He does have to do this, Sheppard said, between his teeth. It is a matter of security. And we sure as hell can't feed him. And I won't let them make him a lab rat.
Keller ignored him. Or. Beckett, I really think Todd would be safer if he stayed in his cell.
He can't, Sheppard said. This was all they needed, Keller getting some weird idea.
John's right, Beckett said. He glanced over his shoulder, lowering his voice so that the busy technicians couldn't hear. Otherwise do you think will happen to him?â
Keller blinked. Well, we could try the treatment again, see if we could fix it so he could eat normally without getting sick.
They've got other plans, Beckett said, and her face hardened.
Medical experiments? You can't be serious.
Beckett nodded. Never more so.
I won't allow it, Keller said.
I don't think you can stop it, Sheppard said. Except by putting him in stasis.
Keller's mouth tightened as though it took an act of will to hold back whatever she would have said. That's right, she said at last. But only with his consent.
He is consented, Sheppard said. Are we ready?
Beckett took his arm, backed him away from the console so expertly that Sheppard almost didn't realize what he had done. Very nearly. But Jennifer is right, this isn't something we can test ahead of time. It either works or it doesn't, and if it doesn't, Todd will die.
He was going to ask me to kill him, Sheppard thought. This has to look like a better deal. To say that felt weirdly like betrayal, and he compromised on, It's better than starving. Or being a test subject.
Bye. Beckett sighed. Bye, that's so. He looked back at the console, and this time Keller nodded.