Melissa Scott - The Inheritors

“Atlantis has landed,” he said, and let the city wash over him.

Jennifer leaned forward in her chair in Woolsey's office. It was still early morning, but with blessedly few casualties for the infirmary to treat, she wanted to seize the moment. "I've been talking to Guide," she said. "He and Alabaster plan to conduct a large-scale test of the retrovirus on Alabaster's people."

Woolsey raised his eyebrows. "Do we think this is a good thing?"

"I really don't know. For these particular people, yes, I think it is. It means that when they go to Alabaster for healing, they won't be giving up years of their lives, or even risking death to save the patients."

"I wasn't certain she'd be going back."

"I don't think she plans to stay there permanently. I understand she's settling in on Just Fortune . But the test is going to take some time, and once it's done, I expect the hive will return to the planet at intervals to feed."

"As long as that's a voluntary choice for the local residents."

"I hope it will be. If Alabaster heals their sick when she visits, I think there will be enough people who feel that undergoing the discomfort of being fed on is a fair exchange. But I'd like us to be able to monitor that. Plus I'd like to actually see the results of the test, and find out if there are long-term side effects or improvements we can make."

"What are you suggesting, Dr. Keller?"

Jennifer took a deep breath. "I'd like to go with Alabaster and Guide. Not just for the initial administration of the retrovirus, but to monitor its effects over the next few months. And then after that to work with them as they administer the retrovirus to other human worlds. Hopefully, they'll pick worlds they already control, rather than just showing up on a random planet and forcing the locals to take the retrovirus. But I understand we're still negotiating about that."

"We are," Woolsey said. "I expect those negotiations will be ongoing for some time. The Wraith would like us to cede control over half the Pegasus Galaxy to them in exchange for leaving the other half entirely alone. I have no idea what the IOA is going to say about that."

"What do you hope they say?"

Woolsey met her eyes frankly. "Dr. Keller, I wish I knew."

"You and me both."

"I understand that you want to monitor the administration of the retrovirus, but we will need you here in Atlantis."

"You need a chief medical officer," Jennifer said. "I'm — I guess I’m proposing resigning from that position. This retrovirus — I know we can't control what the Wraith do with it at this point, but surely we'd like to know what they are doing with it."

"We certainly would like to know," Woolsey said. "And you're proposing actually living with the Wraith for a period of months?"

"Or more," Jennifer said. "If nothing else, it's an opportunity we've never had to study the Wraith. There's so much we don't know about their biology, and even more we don't know about their culture."

"And you think they'll be willing to share this information?"

"Probably not at first. If they take me with them, it'll be because they think I'm a useful animal, like some kind of service dog. I don't have any illusions that I'll be much more than a pet. But I'll get to see parts of Wraith life we've never seen, and working on the retrovirus together is going to teach me a lot about their biotechnology."

"You will also probably see them killing people," Woolsey said.

"I know," Jennifer said. "Believe me, that's the part I've been thinking hard about. But… they're going to do that whether I'm there or not. If anything, I hope that having human pets around — me, and Alabaster's humans — will encourage the Wraith on Just Fortune to limit their diet to humans who've had the retrovirus. I'm not a vegetarian, but if I could have a perfect substitute for meat that wouldn't require killing animals, that would sound pretty good to me."

"I also expect that some people would find it unnatural."

"I expect there to be some resistance. Yes. And there's the question of the humans in the feeding cells, which is… frankly disturbing. My hope would be that they'll be willing to maintain a population of humans aboard ship who are willing to be fed on instead, and give them reasonable living quarters while they're there."

"That's just your hope."

"I can't promise anything," Jennifer said. "It's like doing humanitarian relief work in a war zone. You may not like the war, but you also can't stop it. You can only help the people you can."

"Believe me, I appreciate the potential benefits," Woolsey said. "I'm just concerned about placing you in such a risky situation. You'll be entirely isolated, and any contact with Atlantis will be entirely on Guide and Alabaster's terms. We may not be in a position to retrieve you if they decide to break off ongoing relations with us."

"I understand that," Jennifer said. "But this retrovirus — this was my idea, and I feel a responsibility. More than that — I want to do this. It feels a lot more important than being here in the infirmary taping sprained ankles and trying to figure out whether stomach pains are indigestion or an ulcer."

"Those things are important, too," Woolsey said.

"I do know that. But I don't think I'm the best person to do them."

"Very well, Dr. Keller. I'll put your proposal to Guide and Alabaster," Woolsey said. "If they agree, I'm afraid you'll need to be ready to leave in a matter of hours."

"Of course," Jennifer said, but she felt a bit flustered. "I can do that, but… you're saying yes, just like that? I just thought you'd want some time to think about it."

"I expect that as soon as the IOA has time to think about the events of the last few days, they're going to recall me and start looking for my replacement," Woolsey said. "So I'm authorizing this mission now, and accepting your resignation as chief medical officer effective immediately. Unless you're having second thoughts?"

There was some reflexive part of her that wanted to say Yes, this is crazy , but underneath she could feel the same calm certainty that came to her in surgery when someone's life was in her hands. "No," she said. "This is the right thing to do."

"Then I wish you the best of luck," Woolsey said. "And I'm sure the next head of the Atlantis expedition will appreciate whatever information you can pass along."

"Thank you," Jennifer said. She stood, and hesitated. "If they do replace you — I'm really sorry."

"Thank you," Woolsey said. He sounded more surprised than she thought he should.

"For what it's worth, I've been glad to have a civilian in this position. Not that I'm criticizing Colonel Carter, but — I just think it helps everybody remember that the point of being here is not just to be a military base. And I think you've done a really good job."

"So have you, Dr. Keller," Woolsey said, and shook her hand like they were already saying goodbye.

John found Ronon out on the balcony, elbows on the rail, staring out at the water.

"Ronon."

Ronon turned, looking unsurprised to see him. "I'm sorry."

"Are you?" When he didn't answer for a moment, John went on anyway. "I'm not actually pissed off that you nearly got me killed," he said. "I talked you out of using the weapon, and I was ready to take the consequences. If you'd gotten Rodney killed, I would have been pissed off. And if I were Sam, I expect I'd be pretty pissed off right now."

"I wasn't trying to get her people hurt," Ronon said. "I was going to use the weapon before the Wraith engaged her ship. Only when it came down to killing McKay and Teyla and Torren—"

"You couldn't do it. I know. I also know I ordered you to bring me the weapon as soon as you found it. And don't say you didn't really think it was an order."