Title: Hard time
Author: Moo Chapman
Spoiler/Series: Minor, if any
Notes: based on the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode of the same name; Hard Time.
Summary: Rodney is arrested and sentenced to twenty seven years simulated imprisonment, Col Sheppard steps forward to take his place by right as his commander, but Sheppard is not the leader of the Atlantis expedition.
Thanks to my three wonderful Beta readers: Mariposa, Nic and Jen. You'll be getting chapter two very soon
All crimes on Tenih carry the same sentence, twenty seven years simulated imprisonment. There is no leniency, no trial and no appeal. Simulated imprisonment, Even though in the beginning simulated imprisonment was physically safe and originally far more compassionate, it had become intensely dangerous and fatalities were no longer uncommon The people of Tenih were not told of the fatalities.
When those that had suffered through the simulated imprisonment were returned to the community that they had wronged, the people tried to treat them as they had before, but though a day had passed for all others, for the ones imprisoned, Twenty seven years went by. Years spent fighting; fighting for food, and for the nest of blankets that they called their bed; their very lives had changed them. The punishment far too great for their crime.
The simulated prison had at one time had enough food and shelter for all, but groups of prisoners rose up and took more then their share, leaving others with nothing, and with no guards there was no way to restore order. The simulation could have been shut down, the program rewritten, but it wasn't. The Tenih government's stand on it was that it was their own doing that they suffered. A hell of their own making, or more accurately the making of those that came before them. None spoke of it, even those that survived it.
The released kept quiet, none but those who had not suffered wouldn't understand, and the things they had done to survive could not be forgiven. Yes, the streets of Tenih were clean, and their people friendly but beneath that was a sorrow and brutality that ate away at its people.
But the people of Atlantis did not see this at first, they saw a race of humans within the Pegasus galaxy that welcomed them, and traded their technologies freely. Doctor Elizabeth Weir had come and gone from the planet many times while negotiating their trade agreements. Her ranking military officer even let her go without an escort, for all of about ten minutes, but it was a big step for him all the same.
"I think we should stop trying to find allies," Lt Colonel John Sheppard announced, as he paced up and down the holding cell. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Doctor Weir's disapproving look. "No, I mean it, it always turns out bad for us."
"Colonel," Doctor Weir admonished, looking up from the law text in her lap, then turned her attention to Dr Rodney McKay, whom for the crime of littering was to be imprisoned for the full term of twenty seven years. "We are going to figure something out, Rodney."
"They are not going put a member of my team in prison, even if it is only McKay," Sheppard declared. Even under the most dire circumstances John Sheppard could not pass up the chance to make a dig at Rodney McKay. If their positions were reversed McKay would have taken a shot too. It was a fundamental part of their somewhat unconventional friendship; it was simply their way.
"Oh, thank you," McKay said and buried his face in his hands. In deference to the fact that they were off worlders, and that the Tenih government was still trying to forge an alliance with Atlantis, Elizabeth, John and Teyla were allowed to sit with him in the holding cell.
"Doctor Weir, did you not say earlier that on Tenih a parent is punished for their child's crime? Teyla asked from the far side of the cell
"Yes, how is that relevant?" Elizabeth asked. Teyla was often good at seeing solutions that every one else had overlooked.
"Does it then not follow that a commander can be punished for the crimes of a subordinate?" Teyla queried, it was clear by her tone that she was not sure that her suggestion was useful.
"I'd prefer no one had to go to prison, Teyla," Doctor Weir said in that tone that somehow managed to congratulate and admonish at the same time, a skill that had no doubt developed though many years of dealing with diplomats The tone said she was grateful for the suggestion but it wasn't really the end result that she was looking for.
"If we don't find something else I'll take Rodney's place," Sheppard said.
Weir looked up at him and opened her mouth ready to object, but realized that Sheppard was right McKay would probably not last twenty seven years in prison, even if it was only simulated. "We'll find another way," Weir said reassuring McKay more then Sheppard, who looked horrified at the idea of his team leader taking his place.
As the deadline approached it turned out that there was no other way. Elizabeth read and reread the law text but could find nothing other then Teyla's suggestion.
Dr Elizabeth Weir and John Sheppard sheared a look across the holding room.
'Let me do this,' His eyes begged. 'Let me protect my team.'
Elizabeth replied with a resigned nod. 'Do it, but be safe,' her eyes said back to him. So much passed between them in that one look, if any of those present had witnessed it they surely would have raised their hands to their hearts in an effort to keep them from braking.
Just as the choice was made the guards came to take them to the judgment room. Johnwondered for a moment when he walked in the chamber if the room could have been any more stereotypical if the Tenih government had actually taken the design out of an old episode of Doctor Who.
The room was white, painfully so, with a high bench along one wall at which a panel of what they assumed was judges sat.
"Does the offender stand ready to be judged?" asked the judge in the center seat.
"The offender wishes to invoke the rite of 'pareno' with myself as his commander standing as parent," John Sheppard said. His words resulted in a burst of hushed conversation coming from panel.
"Tranquility," the center judge called and raised his hand. "Will the peoples of the Atlantis Expedition allow this panel time to confer as to the relevancy of this rite?"
"The Expedition allows it, and thanks this panel for its indulgence," Elizabeth said with a small smile and bow.
The panel all stood and walked out of the room as it was some choreographed dance move. Elizabeth looked over at her military commander and gave him a sad nod of congratulation, he had handled that well.
"Elizabeth, don't let him do this" Rodney whispered to her.
"It is already done," she said in a sad tone. For the first time she let the burden of command weigh so heavily on her that she dropped her head down. This silenced Rodney as he realized just how much the idea of John Sheppard going though this simulated imprisonment was hurting his friend and supervisor.
It was an unbearable two hour wait while the panel deliberated on the relevancy of the claim; it was spent almost completely in silence. The Atlantian team only spoke to refuse the refreshments offered to them. Elizabeth spent a good deal of that time trying not to look at her Ranking Military Officer. His time was likewise spent pretending not to notice her trying not to look.
When the panel walked in John Sheppard got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. This wasn't going to turning out the way they planned, he just knew it.
"The Panel has decided that a commander may stand in place of a subordinate. Does the Atlantis expedition still wish to invoke this rite?" The center judge looked as though he hoped that they would say no.
Elizabeth looked over at Sheppard, who nodded to her. Elizabeth took a deep breath, then moving her eyes from Sheppard to The Panel she spoke in a clear strong voice. "Yes."
"So be it," the Judge said. "The offender will go free his commander will undergo simulated imprisonment effective immediately." All the judges on The Panel reached out in unison and brushed their hands across the clear crystals in front of them. The Tenih equivalent of banging the gavel, Sheppard supposed.
Two Enforcers stepped forward, but instead of seizing Sheppard they took hold of Elizabeth.
"What?" Elizabeth managed to murmur, before Sheppard's rage made itself known.
"Hey, what the hell's going on? You're supposed to take me," he demanded, first of the Enforcers then looking up at The Panel for an answer.
"That is an error in your thinking Colonel Sheppard, is not Doctor Weir the commander of Atlantis?" One of the other Judges said, and for the first time Sheppard realized that he knew this man he had been one of the most vocal opponents to the alliance.
"It's a joint thing," Sheppard insisted, Elizabeth and his team hearing the panic in his voice, those that didn't know him mistook it for annoyance.
"I am afraid my colleague is correct, Colonel, you command the military portion of the expedition, and Doctor Weir the civilian. Doctor McKay is a civilian and therefore Doctor Weir is his commander. I'm sorry," The center judge said and he did in fact sound truly sorry.
"But protecting Doctor Weir is my responsibility," Sheppard said
"That is not a factor, Colonel," the only female judge on The Panel said. "Remove the prisoner."
As the Enforcers started to move Elizabeth, she caught sight of his hand moving down to his sidearm and the other members of his team likewise following.
"No, John, it's all right, don't do anything. I'll see you tomorrow, I promise." The words were hardly out of her mouth when the Enforcer began to pull her out of the room.
"Elizabeth," Sheppard more exhaled then actually said.
The members of The Panel save the previous centre judge left the room. "Colonel, I will arrange for you to sit with her," He said then walked out of the room, leaving two men as near to broken as they had ever been.
"This is my fault," Rodney said. He both looked and sound devastated. "You should have just let it be me."
Sheppard said nothing, he just stared at the door that Elizabeth had been taken through.
End chapter one
