The Queen, The Black Knight, and the Frozen Princess.
Timeline: Post Ghost in the Machine
Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama, sprinkling of humor and a little UST, Angst
Rating: Teen, 15+
Characters: John Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan, Todd, Elizabeth Weir, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Evan Lorne.
Pairings: Minor John/Weir, John/Teyla, Very minor McKay/Keller/Ronon.
Premise: John doesn't regret his decisions, but one keeps coming back to haunt him. When a Wraith Hive captures a friend he thought was lost, how far will he and his team go to save both him and what's left of her before it's too late?
Author's Note: After watching "The Queen" and being HIGHLY disappointed, i decided to rewrite it and set a few things straight for two sadly underused characters in SGA. The first bit is mostly from the episode, but gets stronger AU as you go on.
Frozen…
Darkness…
Inactive…
Whatever you call it, it all amounted to the same. The group of former Replicators were floating in deep space, a Stargate nearby the only hint of where they'd come from.
As cold as space was, it wasn't cold enough.
A replicator is made of billions if not trillions of individual machine cells all working in concert. Unlike a human or biological lifeform, the cellular structure is only relatively affected by temperature or atmosphere.
Also unlike a biological life form, awareness was not created by a system of nerves that responded to stimuli. Instead, each cell acted as its own sensor, actively scanning the area around it and giving a sense of awareness a human could not imagine.
The important part of it was that even though the temperature had frozen their bodies into immovable blocks of metal, electrons could still impact, and the electrical signal within them had only receded, but not completely vanished.
Elizabeth Weir didn't know any of this, but evidently she would have untold eons to figure it out as the bare edge of consciousness remained in her replicated body.
She had given the Atlantis Expedition… her former home… her former family the last gift she could. The assurance that they had done what was right; Koracen would never threaten them again, and Elizabeth had proven who she was.
FRAN's body was a strange feeling, the sensation of being inside another person's skin… even if that skin was replicated metal. FRAN was smaller and - Elizabeth hated to admit it - a fair amount cuter.
John had done what she wished she could have done. He'd been able to hold firm in what was right for the Expedition… Elizabeth knew John had felt tremendous pain at what happened… both before and now.
It hurt… The fact that they didn't believe her. But Elizabeth understood… she understood how it would have been too risky to keep any Replicators alive… even her. Because that's what she was now. A Replicator. Even if they made her an organic body… it would still have nanites… still be a threat to the gala… no… the universe.
She wasn't the same anymore… Elizabeth was damaged, not fully human. Something had been lost in the transformation and Elizabeth Weir wasn't herself anymore.
Except… was she? Did Elizabeth really lose something in the process or was she still… her? John seemed to think the prior… but Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder.
Something… a feeling… light. A new light source was hitting her. The nanites that made up her left side were adamant that something was scanning her… and it felt similar.
Could it be the expedition? Had they decided to bring a Jumper and take her back?
What would that entail? Did John finally realize it was her and convince Woolsey to come get her? Is she finally going to go home? Was home going to expect her? The IOA weren't likely to just accept a replicator living in Atlantis… even if it was her.
They would want to do one of two things… and more than likely, both would end up happening. They would either destroy her… tear her nanite cells apart one by one using an ARG, or experiment on her before destroying her.
Elizabeth knew how much it actually hurt. The Asurans had the last nano-seconds of information destroyed Replicators sent out. And it was the computerized version of a shriek of torture unlike any she'd ever heard.
So now… now that she felt a very distinctive cascading along her body… starting at her feet and going up to her head… each cell specifically stating that it was being… turned into energy.
Suddenly Elizabeth couldn't think anymore. The individual nanite cells that made up her body had been transformed to energy in the Dart's holding cell… and the Wraith cruiser nearby opened fire on the other bodies floating in space.
Replicator or not, everything eventually burns… except Elizabeth in this case.
"I'm sorry Doctor. My decision stands."
John had often wondered exactly what they would do to him if he punched Woolsey. Of course, when he thought about punching him, what he really meant in this specific case was dangle him by a rope from the balcony from one foot and use him like a tetherball.
The Balcony… the same balcony where he and Elizabeth had spent so many times talking… just talking.
John Sheppard didn't regret anything, but this was a serious contender for the 'things I might one day regret' file he kept locked away in his brain. Only 4 or 5 things had ever made it that far… and never further.
Rodney seemed pretty incensed as well, and at the very least he was making sense. "Are you serious? Just because they're frozen in space doesn't mean they can't still be reactivated!"
Woolsey remained expressionless. "All the more reason to leave them be. Or would you rather go with the IOA's recommendation of using a shipborne weapon to-"
"What?"Rodney freaked, instantly he began to scream. "Are you seriously saying you'd order the death of Elizabeth just because she's in a replicator body!"
Woolsey sighed, the first sign that he wasn't completely inhuman. "What would you have us do then? Recover her and create a nanite enhanced body for her?"
John could see the issue with that, and despite wanting to just tell Woolsey to shove it, steal a jumper and go get her himself… he knew what the IOA would want to do with her. "He's right, Rodney."
Rodney froze, his catatonically shocked expression was still his trademark from day one. "What? Sheppard! You of all… how can you possibly say that?"
John looked to Woolsey, and could see in the man's eyes that he was doing the most humane thing. "You think the IOA is gonna let her stay here? Or go back to her life on Earth?"
Rodney's mouth formed an O of thought, and he quickly realized the fallacy of his thinking. "Th-they'd…"
Woolsey finished the thought. "They would want to experiment on her Doctor McKay. Nanites are a very lucrative technology, and up until now we've never had the full cooperation of it. If we brought Dr Weir back… she would never see outside of Area 51."
Rodney still didn't want to let go. "But she's… it's still her damnit! It's her and we let her go!"
John winced and sighed. Woolsey could see that John was looking for an excuse to get out and move forwards. "No Doctor McKay, it's not her. It might be her memories, her personality, I might even dare say it's her soul. But the sheer fact of the matter is that the Doctor Weir we all knew…" John mentally added 'and loved' "… does not exist anymore. To leave what remains of her in open space is the last honorable thing we can do. Now my decision stands. We are not to dial to that gate under any circumstances, and the matter is now closed. Good day gentleman."
Woolsey broke eye contact and got back down to his report. John sighed, shook his head idly and pulled Rodney along.
The control room looked so empty. Weir was gone… Sam was gone… hell, even Chuck was off-duty and Amelia was sitting in his place. John couldn't help but wonder, how many original expedition members, or adopted ones still remained in their original form?
Woolsey was warming up to the place… that was without a doubt, But he'd never replace either of his former commanders, ever.
Elizabeth… the ever present diplomat with an iron fist that rarely showed. John's first real friend here. She trusted him based on… he didn't even know what. But she was the first in a long that that gave him the benefit of the doubt even though he wasn't the model officer. And John had respected her for that, and much more.
Sam… the most experienced commander he'd ever worked with. She knew what had to be done and didn't hesitate to do it. Because of her this galaxy was safe from the Replicators and the Wraith were on one knee. John had never felt so proud as to stand by her during her one year of commanding this base. The IOA had done her a great injustice, and John knew she was majorly pissed off at them because of it. She wasn't the only one.
Now Woolsey… a cog in the IOA that was slowly coming undone, slowly acclimating to what being in Atlantis meant, and slowly understanding that rules are there to be followed, and espccially on Atlantis… Bent.
"The hell's the matter with you Sheppard, or should I just start calling you Judas?"
Never in his career had John ever struck a fellow officer. But since technically Rodney wasn't military, John felt mighty inclined to verify that Rodney hadn't put on a personal shield. "Rodney." His voice was dangerously pitched as he turned to him. "This is the last time we're ever going to speak of this. Do you honestly think Elizabeth didn't know what would happen to her if she came back?"
Rodney shrugged around a bit, and grumbled. "Well… maybe. But we're her friends, We can…" He drifted off, unsure of what to say.
John fought his curling fist, and sighed. "Exactly. We can't do anything… so drop it Rodney. Just… drop it."
John moved ahead without another word, and Rodney realized his best friend was right… and that thinking about what had happened was only going to exacerbate his guilt… their guilt.
Elizabeth was fighting. The sheer invasion her body felt was unlike anything she could have imagined.
It wasn't rape, but it was a violation. Her every cell, every memory, and just about her entire being was being scanned and perused over. She had absolutely no control, her body hanging in a forcefield in a contained vacuum.
She forced her mind to think of other things, Something Elizabeth had heard said about Special Forces teams… how they imprinted a memory… something they could hold onto if they were captured…
Elizabeth knew damn well what she would hold onto… and the pain of knowing her buoy in this storm had been the one to agree to send her here was just a little less than the agony of what the Wraith were doing to her.
They had kept her frozen, decompressing that section of their ship so there was no chance she could escape. Elizabeth had felt the sensations of other captured Asurans, the knowledge of shattering Wraith lives with nothing but their hands.
Elizabeth rarely used weapons, and almost never entered combat. But now… as she drew upon the memories of the entire Asuran… every Asuran… Elizabeth knew she would break them. Simply destroy these Wraith without even breaking a sweat, or in her new metallic form, rust.
Elizabeth was not a violent person, but the anguish flowing through her mind as every memory was relived… every memory was downloaded… again… Only this was worse. Oberoth had simply copied it… these Wraith were… subverting it… She could feel parts of her change… being forced to undergo a strange and completely violating procedure.
What did they want? Why were they scanning her? Surely they would have had other chances to study the Asurans… she knew they had! But why…
Samples… a part of her was taken… almost negligible, and even slowed down, it quickly reformed. They had taken a part of her… and now they were experimenting.
Elizabeth didn't know what they wanted, but something told her nothing good was going to come of this.
"Could you repeat yourself Chet?"
Chuck growled softly and repressed yet another punch. He'd have to have a talk with Sheppard about getting a punching bag in the shape of Woolsey in his room if he wanted to keep working. "Exactly what I said Sir, our outpost on MX8-274 has received a message from the Wraith commander we know as 'Todd'. It's eyes only for Colonel Sheppard."
Woolsey "hmmed' and nodded. "Put it up Chet."
Chuck finally couldn't take it anymore. Was the man deaf or dumb? Maybe both. Did he not just hear it was for Sheppard only? Of course… Todd wasn't exactly a confidential liaison, Sheppard would likely get pissed but Chuck had to follow the chain of command.
But apart from that, Woolsey's refusal to understand simple one syllable names, for whatever reason it was, One more time… just one more time and he'd give Woolsey the human caused equivalent of whiplash. "It's… Chuck, Sir."
Woolsey scrunched his face, and winced as he realized. "Sorry… Chuck."
From afar, Amelia Banks snickered softly. Chuck was always such a nice guy, but she knew he let most of it out in his hobbies. She'd offered him some Kickboxing lessons and he quickly incorporated it into his own standard boxing. Few knew that both primary Gate Technicians were quite well trained in martial arts.
The viewscreen quickly changed, and Todd's irate face appeared. "I will be blunt. There is a matter of great importance we need to discuss. Both the futures of the Wraith and Human alike are at risk… and as much as I am loath to admit it, I require… your assistance. My hive will be stationed at the following coordinates for the next 2 days. If you do not arrive… be prepared for… unexpected changes."
The image changed to a starmap, then ended. Woolsey remained impassive and turned to Amelia. "Alicia, please call Colonel Sheppard to the control room immediately please."
Chuck finally lost it and turned to Woolsey. "Pardon me sir… actually no, Don't pardon me because this is ridiculous! Her name is Amelia… Amelia Banks! Alicia Vega is an Air Force Captain and looks nothing like Amelia! What's so hard about learning our names?"
Amelia was stunned, and looked at Chuck in amazement, Never had she seen the man snap at someone like that.
Woolsey raised both eyebrows and stared back at Chuck. "Perhaps you're right, but yelling is unnecessary. I will… put more effort towards it. Thank you, Chuck."
Chuck calmed down a bit, was thankful that his proper name was used, and turned back to his console. Wow… de I really just do that? Woolsey seemingly ignored it and went back to work on his tablet, numbers were so much easier to work with than people.
Amelia called Colonel Sheppard to the control room over the com, then opened a private frequency to Chuck. "Uhh… you okay there Chucky?" Woolsey had moved off towards his officer and their conversation was private.
He tapped his private frequency too and snickered. "I will be… wanna spar later?" He didn't let many people call him "Chucky" but the spunky Amelia was an exception.
Amelia winced, an angry Chuck was a dangerous Chuck. "Uhh… promise not to kick my ass too hard?"
Chuck turned and smiled at Amelia. "As if, I'm hoping you're not gonna kick my ass too hard for thinking I'm your big brother."
Amelia winced as she repressed a smile. Colonel Sheppard's distinct gait could be heard pounding up the stairs. "Don't think there's much risk of that right now… now calm down, Sheppard's almost here."
John walked into the control room and noticed a certain… tension. "Uhh… you called, Banks?"
The uncloaked Jumper flew through the Gate, its engine pods deployed in a flashy and quite beautiful way. Almost like a butterfly opening up for flight. At the Helm sat John Sheppard, with his trusted preventer/cause of science related doom, Dr Rodney McKay sitting next to him. Behind, with no small sense of apprehension, sat Specialist Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagen, both Pegasus natives and rounding out the team's offensive and diplomatic abilities. In fact, the only odd one out was sitting on the bench with Ronon, Dr Jennifer Keller.
Rodney took a deep gulp, and tried to remain calm. "I still say we should've brought more back-up – a cloaked Jumper with Lorne is fine, but we are going into a hive you know? Why couldn't we wait till Daedalus is available?"
Teyla, as always, was the calming voice of reason. Although she herself seemed to doubt her words. "This is intended to be a peaceful discussion Rodney. What kind of message would it send to have Daedalus here?"
Rodney was indignant. "A strong one, hopefully!"
John fought the headache already forming, and turned to everyone else. "Everybody's gonna be fine as long as we don't…" He looked directly at Rodney and emphasized his tone. "…panic."
Rodney groaned softly and scratched the side of his head. "Easier said than done."
John filed Rodney's reply under the "Just endure it" section of his thinking, and looked out the window, In the distance, he made out the massive hulk of the Wraith Hive. "There they are."
Turning the Jumper around, the Hive occupied the majority of the windshield ahead of them. Jennifer became wide eyed and spoke in near shock. "Oh My God… How big is that thing?"
John smirked, he was used to the size of the Wraith Hives now, but newbies always were alarmed. Usually though he'd be blowing them up, not landing on them. "Never seen a Hive in space, huh?"
Jennifer calmed down a bit, but mostly because Ronon put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. "I've never seen one, period. I mean, I've seen video logs but never in person."
Rodney decided to try and pull a Sheppard and say something half suggestive. "Ah, you never forget your first."
John winced slightly, but seeing Jennifer too awed by the Hive to care, pushed the idea aside. A warning began to bleep at him on the HUD. Ronon was the one to apeak first though."They know we're here."
A tone began to beep over and over, Rodney tapped a few controls and murmured. "Apparently. I'm receiving a transmission."
John shrugged as he saw the information scroll across the screen. "No really? It's docking instructions."
Rodney's worry didn't cease with that information. "What, no 'Hullo, greetings weary travellers'?"
John rolled his eyes and pulsed the Jumper's engines. "Guess not. So much for the red carpet."
It was ominous to see the doors of the Hive's docking bay open. The occupants of the Jumper couldn't help but feel as if they were entering the maw of some giant and dangerous beast. The possibility of them getting swallowed whole was a disturbing metaphor for what the Wraith actually did.
It wasn't long until John had the Jumper a few feet from the ground, and Jennifer broke the silence. "So, what happens now?"
Rodney's doom wit kicked in. "If history's taught us anything, this is the part where we get double crossed and taken prisoner."
John held his sarcastic snark back, and let Teyla be the negotiator. "That will not happen this time, Rodney. We were invited, remember?"
Rodney, still remembering the last time he was invited by Todd to a Wraith hive made no attempt to hide his sarcasm. "And that makes a difference?"
A knocking sound was heard outside of the Jumper, the Aft Hatch reverberated under the impacts. John shrugged and pulled out his P-90. "Right on cue."
Ronon gave his traditional growl of expecting combat, and drew his sidearm with a flashy twirl. Teyla quickly followed as she armed her own P-90, with Jennifer staying in the front section. Rodney looked at her and tried to be reassuring, but even as she smiled back, he let out a quick breath and drew his pistol to back up his teammates.
John looked to Ronon and nodded, each raised their weapons with Teyla behind them, and Rodney crouched as well. John tapped the open button and everyone raised their weapons.
The aft hatch hissed open, and through the steam and haze of the Wraith Docking bay, they made out a quartet of Wraith Drones holding Stunner Rifles up to them. Nobody fired, and John felt it necessary to break the ice. "Don't s'pose you'd know what Déjà vu means?"
Nobody laughed, but a familiar flanged voice suddenly boomed through. "Lower your weapons!"
In the Jumper, nobody was about to do that. But just before Ronon could begin to fire, the Drones lowered their weapons and stood at attention. "Todd" walked up and stood amongst his drones. "You'll forgive a few precautions. Just in case."
John growled back, and gently tapped his own weapon. "Then you'll understand why I'm not about to hand this over."
Ronon smiled deviously, and Todd grinned widely as he somehow found humor in the situation. "Of course… Welcome… To my Hive."
"This is my second in command. I've asked him to be a part of these discussions as he was the one to bring this to my attention. Please, sit." Todd apparently knew a thing or two about courtesy, waving with his hands to the team as they entered the hall.
The hall itself was surprisingly well adorned, a long wooden table that even Woolsey would have admired was decorated by candles, pitchers of what appeared to be water, and several bowls of fruit.
John mused at the strange sight, obviously a little surprised. "Hmm. Fruit bowl, nice touch."
As the team sat down at the table, Rodney picked up an appetizing looking pear from one of the bowls. He had just wiped it on his sleeve when Todd gleefully explained. "Yes… we picked them up on our travels. I thought it would make our discussions more… comfortable. I hope they prove as delicious as the farmers who grew them."
Todd gave Rodney a deviously evil grin, obviously very satisfied with how disquieted Rodney now looked. The scientist put the pear back onto the bowl, for the first time in a while having lost his appetite.
John checked his eyeroll, and leaned forward to where Todd was sitting. "All right, let's just get this over with, what'd you call us here for?"
Todd growled softly, and he motioned to his subcommander. "My Second in Command has recently returned from an allied hive with some disturbing information. The Replicators are not all destroyed."
Rodney's eyebrows rose and he gasped. "What? You mean there are more Asurans out there?"
Ronon smiled with no small sense of delight. "They're still kicking your ass."
John on the other hand caught Todd's specific inflection, and also the apprehension in his flanged voice. Teyla did as well as she said. "You wouldn't have called us if it weren't… different."
Teyla looked over to John, both sensing something different about this threat. Todd nodded softly and tapped a few buttons on his command console. "I am glad to see you are as astute as ever. You're correct of course. If these were just the Asurans we faced before, even in our latest condition, they would have posed little threat to us."
Ronon rolled his eyes, and muttered. "Didn't look that way when they were kicking your ass all over the Galaxy."
Todd ignored Ronon's obvious hatred, and instead brought up an image. It chilled the Atlanteans to the core what they were seeing. Jennifer was the only one to speak. "Oh my god… It's Fran!"
John winced, and made a mental note to tell Jennifer that in situations like this, the less you show that you know, the more likely you will end up on the winning side. Todd smirked deviously. "So you do know who it is?"
Rodney turned to look at John who had become very still, and very quiet. "You could say that, so this allied Hive of yours has… Fran?"
The Sub-Commander leaned forward, and with a look that asked permission, spoke as Todd nodded. "No… they obtained this during a skirmish with a Rival Hive. Our allies managed to steal parts of their database during the battle. The name it gave for itself was Elizabeth Weir… although she is not what our Commander remembers of that woman."
The Atlanteans all remained still, and realized just what had happened. The Sub-commander continued. "A rival hive was scouting the area after detecting an activated Stargate. They found several Replicators floating in deep space and destroyed all but her. Their Queen is… different than our other Queens."
The sub-commander looked to Todd who continued. "She rules her alliance with an iron grip and the notion of pure survival. They do not respect any of our ships or planets. Several times already we have been forced to chase them from our feeding grounds."
Teyla interjected, now a bit annoyed at Todd's speech. "We do not care about your troubles. Explain what that Hive wishes with Fran's body, and why you need our help."
The rest of the team except for Jennifer nodded, and Todd narrowed his eyes. "The Wraith have suffered heavy losses… and there is still simply not enough food for us. Added to that abomination's drug…"
Jennifer spoke up. "You mean Michael?"
Todd smiled in glee. "Word of your success against him spread rapidly among my kind. We are very grateful."
John rolled his eyes and muttered sarcastically. "Just an unintended side effect."
Todd growled softly, and continued. "In any case… some of our more… radical clans have begun to resort to desperate measures. We have heard reports of cannibalism being used as a weapon, as well as… experimentation."
Ronon leaned forward, and got everyone's attention. "And we care why?"
The subcommander growled softly in Ronon's direction, it was clear an animosity was growing between them. John decided that this might not be the best time to open fire. So he quickly held both his hands up and calmed them down. "Calm down Chewy… but you're right. You still haven't told us why we should care."
Todd had lost his smile, and he engaged the video of the still floating Fran. A sample of her skin was excised and then poured into a holding tank of some sort. After some processing, it was then applied to a Wraith Drone via an injection. The Drone stood, and a Wraith commander in front of it then used a knife to slash at him.
The Atlanteans were shocked by the ferocity, but even more by the sudden quick healing of the Drone. It looked exactly like… "Oh sweet mother of god… they're trying to infect themselves with Nanites. They'll be stronger than ever and won't even have to feed anymore…"
Todd nodded, the muted rage in him did little to assuage the Atlanteans. The Drone on screen hissed in pleasure, but then suddenly began to spasm. It wasn't long before he began to convulse, then fell to the floor as limp as a sack of potatoes. He was then unceremoniously dragged away.
Todd stopped the video and looked back to Sheppard. "You see how desperate the situation is… I estimate no more than weeks before they are able to subvert the code… code which you are intricately familiar with."
Rodney finally understood. The implication was harsh. "You want us to help you stop them… and destroy Fran."
Todd nodded, and spoke grandiosely. "As a Wraith I already have formidable healing prowess, but if these radicals succeed… there will be little to stop them."
John swallowed the lump in his throat… That this was happening to… Elizabeth. He couldn't say no. "There's another thing we need to discuss… Doctor Keller can explain it better than me."
Jennifer took a deep breath, and began to speak as both Wraith paid attention to her. "Well… a few months ago we recovered a copy of Michael's database that allowed us to continue his research…"
Todd instantly became offended. "For what purpose?"
Jennifer had been expecting as much, Michael did attempt to wipe out the Wraith. "We've come up with a gene therapy that alters Wraith D.N.A. in a small but significant way. In a nutshell, we think we can make it so that you and any other Wraith we treat will never need to feed on humans again."
The subcommander snarled. "This is absurd."
Jennifer shrugged, it really wasn't that hard a concept. "Well, actually, it's not as big of a change as you might think. Your bodies already contain all the organs necessary to digest food."
John decided to put his smartass hat on and grabbed an apple from the bowl in front of him. "Here..." He tossed the fruit across the table to Todd, who caught it with a deft hand. "... see if it's as delicious as you say it is."
Todd growled angrily. "If I consume this, it may give me a moment's pleasure, but it will not sustain me." With an equally angry movement, he dropped the fruit to the floor. "We would be changing who we are. Who we have been for ages."
Jennifer caught his wording and spoke back. "But that can change - at least in theory."
The Sub-Commander drummed his fingers on the table, obviously getting annoyed. "Why would we want this? How would this benefit us in anyway?"
John decided reason would win the day, and if all else failed, Ronon had his sword handy. "Well, think about it: you could put yourself on regular food; you could give up all those tiresome cullings."
Teyla added eloquently. "It would give you a significant advantage over other Hives, just as this other Hive is attempting."
John decided he couldn't let it alone without at least some veiled threat. "Not to mention I could stop waiting for the chance to kill you - in theory."
The Sub-commander slapped his hand down to the table, he was clearly not impressed. "Our current feeding process gives us strength, our ability to heal, our longevity. To change that would make us abominations!"
Jennifer became a little sheepish, but tried to maintain her stance. "Well, um, we're not entirely sure how this change would affect your, um ... gifts. They may continue, although possibly in a diminished form."
Todd glared back at Jennifer with contempt. "Possibly?"
"It's difficult to know from lab tests. We can't be sure until we administer it to, um, live subjects." Honesty would probably get them further, and it wasn't like there weren't benefits to it.
Rodney added quickly, deciding to instill a little fear back into the Wraith that they had given him. "Let's not forget that Michael spread the modified Hoffan drug to dozens of worlds - possibly more. I mean, no-one knows for sure, right? Which means that every time you feed, you're takin' a risk. That other Hive knows this and I'm guessing that's why they want the Nanites."
Todd growled. "So you would have us become abominations to fight abominations? You have no idea what you're proposing."
John wanted to push past the nanite issue, he'd already decided that the other Hive was going to fall at his hands one way or another, and getting Todd to agree to this would be the best way to take two birds out with one stone. "Bottom line is: there's not enough food to go around. That's why you Wraith are at each others' throats, so ... here's your chance. At least our way… you aren't turning yourselves into walking toasters."
John didn't know whether Todd would understand the weak Battlestar Galactica reference, but seeing how his normally stony glance soften, thought maybe there was a chance this was going to work out.
Ronon's incessant pacing was disturbing. Everyone else had decided to sit back and await the answer, but Ronon's constant flicking of his gun safety was getting on their nerves. "This is wrong. We shouldn't be here."
Rodney shrugged and sighed. "I don't know. From where I was sitting, things seemed to go pretty well. Other than the whole nanite upgraded wraith thing that threatens the galaxy again…"
John rolled his eyes and spat acid. "Yeah… right…"
Jennifer turned her head to John and softly spoke. "You alright Colonel? You seem pretty agitated."
John held back his tongue, nobody ever really knew about his feelings towards Elizabeth, but Jennifer hadn't been there for any of it. He purposefully changed the subject with his question "I was just expecting a little more resistance… we are asking them to stop feeding."
The other's understood right away, but Jennifer was oblivious to the subject change. "Well, he hasn't said yes yet. For all we know we're about to become prisoners."
Rodney groaned loudly. "Did you have to put that into words? Ever hear of Jinxed?"
Nobody laughed despite the comical outburst, and John simply ignored it. "Yeah… but something makes me think he wants to. Just the way he looked at us…"
Teyla shrugged and nodded. "And why not? It is a reasonable offer."
Ronon asked the question that everybody knew… but nobody was asking. "Uhh… Why are we thinking of ways to fix them when we should be thinking of ways to kill them?"
Rodney shook his head idly, Jennifer had explained the idea to him and now, as he sat next to her, felt obliged to put his 2 cents in her corner. "We've been trying to do that for four years. They're still here. And as you can see they're working on ways of staying here."
Teyla as well sided with Jennifer. "Ronon…The Wraith may not deserve our consideration, but as John pointed out, we're not doing this for them. If we can stop them from feeding on humans, perhaps many lives may be saved."
Ronon still growled as he faced away from them. "It's still not right. How long have they been feeding? Ten thousand years? We're just gonna forgive em and send em on their merry fu…"
John held his hand up and interrupted the angered Satedan. Angry Ronon was Impulsive Ronon… then again Calm Ronon was Impulsive Ronon too so this was more keeping control that anything else. "Whoa there Chewy! I'm not saying we're gonna be BFFs, but I think in the long term this might make things in the Galaxy easier… and besides… I think you're right. There's something going on here we're not seeing yet."
Ronon grunted. "Grugh… At least someone agrees with me."
Rodney shrugged and nodded. "Well it's not like we're trusting him to just give up."
Teyla nodded as well. "I will admit some reticence. The urge to simply kill them does still exist in me."
Jennifer seemed a little floored with their admissions, but remained quiet. A few moments passed and footsteps could be heard outside the room. Instantly Ronon drew his blaster and aimed it at the open doorway.
Ronon made no sign of dropping it as Todd took a step inside, The Wraith's voice was comically unafraid. "I'm sorry. Am I disturbing you?"
Ronon flicked his gun back to stun, but only lowered it to his hip. "Like you care."
Amidst Todd's laughter, John muttered. "Come in."
Todd sighed in appreciation of Ronon's instant hate, and entered the room as he spoke. "I have considered your offer. I hope you have considered mine."
John clicked his tongue. "Guess this is one of those 'you need me and I need you' situations."
Todd sighed heavily, the first sign that perhaps they had gotten through to him. "I believe your idea has merit - if you can make the treatment work."
Jennifer was unnaturally confident as she nodded. "It'll work."
Todd examined her expression, and then looked away convinced. "Of course, converting a single Hive would be pointless. It would make little difference to the humans of this galaxy and it would make us pariahs amongst our own kind. And I still do not hear that you will assist us with our goal of stopping our Rival Hive."
Rodney caught how Todd was trying to say something, and quickly change the subject. Rodney hated it when people did that. "Wait a minute! I thought you worked with a whole group of Hives!"
John and Ronon noticed with no small degree of anger how Todd seemed to become bashful. The first time they'd ever seen a Wraith do that. "I do… but I may have ... exaggerated my position within the alliance."
"Oh great, he doesn't have the clout! Big surprise!" John's voice hid none of his resentment.
Ronon on the other hand was just too pleased. If it meant he could kill Todd and only one hive would come after him… "Then he's no good to us."
Todd held his hand up in asking for patience, his smile showed that he had a plan. "Wait! There is only one you need to convince. Among all the Queens in the alliance, one sits above the rest. We call her the Primary."
Rodney screwed his face in nerdy thought. "The uber-Queen?"
Todd didn't get the nerdy reference, but still nodded. "Convince her, and the rest will fall into line. With our destruction of the Rival Hive, we will have a much stronger position in which to push this agenda."
John nodded, which surprised everyone else. "Done. Now go convince her."
Ronon and Teyla turned to John in surprise, although only Ronon spoke. "What! What do you…?"
John held his hand up without averting his gaze from Todd. Ronon silenced and knew that the conversation wasn't over. "You want our help, then you know what you have to do."
Todd sighed emphatically, and he looked at them all with a slight apprehension. "She will only speak with another Queen."
Teyla winced, and sighed as she remembered. "And your Queen was killed last year in the skies above Atlantis."
Ronon and John smiled recalling the incident. Ronon because Wraith killing Wraith was always funny, and John because it had been a serious kick to Woolsey's ego, while solidifying his faith in Samantha Carter.
Todd clenched his fist, still a little annoyed at what happened. "Regrettably, yes. But the Primary does not know this."
John rubbed his face as he realized just what a poker player Todd must have been. "You bluffed your way into the alliance and convinced them you still have a Queen?"
Todd simply shrugged. "They would not have accepted me otherwise. Up 'til now I've been able to maintain this subterfuge, but a face-to-face meeting - that would be difficult. In fact, there is only one person who could help me."
Todd turned his gaze towards Teyla… and his smile chilled the Atlanteans to their very core.
John stood with Keller and Woolsey, the latter considering both arguments. "Very well, but you do realize…"
Jennifer snapped. "What? You're not seriously considering this? For one he's a Wraith! Why are we going to trust him with Teyla?"
John remained quiet, he had an idea on his way back… and it was going to the biggest surprise Jennifer or Woolsey could have ever imagined.
Woolsey remained staunch, his expression unchanged. "If we can mitigate the risk to Atlantis from the Wraith in as far as feeding, and Teyla herself is willing to risk it. There is little I can do to stop her."
John knew Woolsey wasn't an idiot and could see the benefit to the rest of the galaxy, but for him to show it would show… bias… and the IOA hated bias. "I'm not fond of the idea myself, but…" he kept his voice still, waiting for the proper moment.
Jennifer still wasn't having any of it. "Well other than the fact that we're basically trusting a Wraith… a Wraith that pretty much just wants to use us to consolidate his power… I'm really uncomfortable sending Teyla on her own... with only… him."
Woolsey seemed worried by that, and this is where John interjected his most insane plan ever. Sam Carter would be proud. "We don't necessarily have to send her alone… there is… one more way we can give her some close backup."
John explained the idea to Woolsey and Keller, and was rewarded with two shocked expressions. Now began to whole convincing them he wasn't trying to get a section 8.
There was only one way John could describe the situation, but even as Teyla sat in a meditative pose beside his bed, he looked down at her and summed it all up. "This is completely insane you know?"
Teyla smirked, but she wasn't amused. "Believe me, this is not a decision I am taking lightly."
John cracked his knuckles, Todd's plan was insane but there wasn't much he could do about it… at least that's what he wanted Teyla to think for now. "But d'you realize what he's asking you to do? I mean…"
Teyla interrupted him with a hand that silenced him. "Doctor Keller assures me that the procedure is completely reversible and will have no lasting ill effects."
John rolled his eyes. She'd said something similar in his own conversation with her and Woolsey in his office. "I'm not talking about the procedure."
Teyla smiled and put a hand on John's knee. "I know."
It had been difficult for the two of them. Ever since Teyla had kept her pregnancy secret from John… a rift had opened between them. John wanted to blame it on the fact that his opportunity with Teyla was… missed… but he knew Teyla meant more to him than just… well he wasn't going to think about it anymore.
He kept his voice somewhat calm. "Look, even if this works, even if all the Wraith stop feeding… even if we…"
Teyla squeezed his kneecap, instantly getting his attention. "That's not what's bothering you either."
John figured Teyla knew him too well, and he'd hoped she'd mistake his thoughts. "…I let her go Teyla… and now…"
Teyla nodded, and took a deep meditative breath. "I know, John; And that's another reason I am going."
John rubbed his face with one hand and squeezed Teyla's with the other. "You know they're not gonna become nice and friendly overnight? No. They're gonna have a massive technological advantage."
Teyla decided to play dumb, if only to humor John's thought that she hadn't considered all aspects already. "You're suggesting they will enslave the people of this galaxy rather than feed on them."
John shrugged, and looked at his arm… and where an old scar should have still been. "Same thing happened in my Galaxy…"
Teyla decided to try and laterally reach the issue bothering him. "You didn't voice this objection before."
John bit his lip, how to explain? "Well… things have changed. For one nobody was asking you to risk your life."
Teyla gulped imperceptibly. It was difficult to imagine what was going to happen "My Wraith D.N.A. makes me the only possible candidate. Anyone else would be detected by the Queen immediately."
John had an idea, something that many would deem insane. But something Sam had mentioned during one late night beer on the balcony had stuck with him… the Lunatic Fringe… and how ironically, the best people were usually smack dap in the middle of it. "Well, that's fine, but… but my question is, why now? The Wraith are busy killing each other, why don't we just sit back with the popcorn and watch? I don't think you should risk your life over something that we don't necessarily need."
Teyla could see John's logic, and decided to try and mitigate his fears by accepting them "Eventually one faction will emerge victorious and then everything will go back to the way it was… and I will admit… the task of infiltrating a hive in disguise on my own is… unappealing."
John could see he wasn't going to convince her otherwise, so he sighed heavily and leaned forward. "You won't be alone."
Teyla rolled her eyes. "I hardly count Todd as my ally."
John shook his head. Keller had been surprised, and Woolsey even more, but after an hour of beating the idea into them… she had assured him it was possible. "I'm not talking about Todd."
Teyla now narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Then who…?" She saw that John was talking about himself, and went over what he could possibly be… oh god… No… no he can't… "John! Are you insane?" Her meditation was broken, she moved closer to ostensibly examine if this was really John Sheppard.
John smirked deviously. Oh yeah, he'd long since accepted that madness was much more wholesome than sanity. "Keller tells me she can activate enough of the Wraith Retrovirus in my system to mimic a Commander… So no, you won't be alone."
There wasn't much more to it. In order to ensure that Teyla had the best chance of getting the Primary's trust safely… and the best chance for the destruction of the Rival Hive's attempt at Nanite technology… John was willing to do just about anything… even become what he hated the most.
John Sheppard wasn't necessarily insane, but to the people who didn't know him, it would certainly appear that way.
A/N: I'd like to thank Jewel of Athos! I was having sooo much problems trying to come up with an interesting premise for my sequel to Op:TTR when she came along with her delightful fic "Feed Me" and completely slapped me in the face with the cold slippery fish of Muse :P
