The City Part II: Ride the Lightning
In my quest to prove that Sheppard is on Atlantis for more than his oddly scary military prowess, here is something that should probably be in the next chapter of my WIP, Affinity. But I've decided to make an ongoing series, based on my very first fic, The City. This is part two.
Really now, my plea goes out to TPTB. Please let Sheppy touch things and make them sparkle!
Jeez.
I have vented. On with this shameless drivel, er, I mean, story... No, no. Drivel!
Please R&R if you like. You may not want to encourage such behavior from me in the future. LOL!
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John Sheppard looked up at the sky. Somewhere in the back of his brain, something tickled. He paced impatiently as his constant companion, Rodney McKay, checked and rechecked readings from various scanners. Their little excursion to the mainland had exhausted him, but he was damned if he was going to let it show. Beckett had finally allowed him to pilot again, and McKay seemed to sense his need to be airborne. So the scientist concocted a plan to get them both out of The City. However, as Fate would have it, a curious signature blipped on the HUD, prompting them to land in the vicinity.
One klick west, they came upon a curious structure. An obelisk really, carved out of the stone that surrounded it. Sheppard felt the familiar hum vibrate through his body, hungry for a fresh mind. Dampening its output, it fed information to the colonel little by little.
A cold, hard rain is headed this way. I really don't feel like getting wet today, he thought. That was all he needed, to catch another cold. He just got over a strange virus that had him down longer than anyone else. As much as he wanted to blame it on the ATA gene, Sheppard had to admit it was his own fault. Lack of sleep and proper meals had left him wide open for such a thing. Sighing greatly, he shuffled past McKay again. "Come on, Rodney," Sheppard said tersely, folding his arms across his bulky tac vest. "It's going to rain soon, and I'd like to be in the 'jumper beforehand."
McKay snorted derisively. "What are you? The weatherman suddenly?" He quickly glanced up to the sky and back down. "There's not a cloud in the sky."
Squinting up once again, the colonel said distantly, "Give it ten minutes."
The scientist paused in his tinkering with the obelisk to gaze intently at the military officer. Earlier, he had checked with Beckett twice to make sure the colonel would be up to this short trip. Sheppard had just been approved full duty status, and now he was eyeing the eastern horizon sharply. Great, he's going crazy, and I'll have to fly back with a lunatic. Upon further study, McKay watched the colonel pace a lazy circle. Sheppard was still more pale than usual, and looked quite tired.
"Tell you what, Colonel," McKay pulled a face as he lowered his scanner. "You go back to the 'jumper, and I'll be along shortly."
But the colonel was already shaking his head. "Sorry, McKay. Not without an escort." Sheppard sat down heavily on a boulder next to the obelisk, placing his P90 across skinny legs. He felt the hum from the Ancient tech intensify, and chose to ignore it. The headache that was slowly building would most likely escalate before it eased.
"Sheppard, it's not like we're on some strange planet. It's the mainland, for God's sake." McKay knew he was whining, but he needed more time. The longer they stayed, the more interesting the readings. He looked up when there was no response from the colonel.
As he began to say something to the quiet man, McKay opened and immediately closed his mouth. The same moment Sheppard looked directly at him, the sky grew dark, turning his hazel eyes the same color as the gathering clouds above. "Let's go," he said, voice barely audible as he rose from his perch.
McKay went completely speechless, pointing a long finger at the sky. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What just happened here? Did you–"
"Don't be ridiculous, McKay. Let's move!" Instead of taking up the rear, Sheppard led the way back to the 'jumper. "This is a big storm, Rodney, but not as big the last one. I–"
Whatever he was about to say was drowned out in a clap of thunder. The wind suddenly picked up, nearly toppling the recovering colonel.
"I've never seen anything like this," McKay paused to pull out his hand-held scanner. Next thing he knew, he was being dragged to the left. "Sheppard! What are you doing? I wanted–" Just as he stepped forward, lightning struck the tree he had been standing under.
"Come on!" The colonel kept a hand wrapped around his companion's arm, steering him around brush and rocks. Stopping suddenly, Sheppard closed his eyes listening to his surroundings. He raised a hand to silence McKay. When he opened his eyes again, the colonel moved forward shoving the scientist into a tall bush. Once again, lightning struck, this time the ground near them. He smelled the ozone in the air, and felt his hair stand up on end as the electricity crackled around them.
"There's the 'jumper!" McKay stumbled towards the hatch, fumbling around for the remote to open it. He stepped inside, nearly jumping into the co-pilot seat. Spinning around, he watched Sheppard stumble inside. The colonel looked at him sheepishly. He palmed the plate to close the hatch and it gave him a jolt.
Sheppard jumped back, waving his hand, swearing in three different languages. "Son of a–" He lurched forward, finally flopping into the pilot's chair. He thought about the HUD, detailing the storm pattern. The 'jumper gave him additional information mentally, not showing it on the display. No time to field questions about this one. Sorry Rodney. "Got it," he said quietly. Looking at McKay, he said carefully, "Stay here, and under no circumstances leave this ship. Understand?"
McKay stared at the colonel with a gaping jaw. It wasn't the command that surprised him, or even the fact that Colonel Hero was going back into the storm. It was Sheppard's eyes – they were nearly colorless, the lightest gray, matching the clouds again. "Yes, okay," he said, more than a little distracted.
He watched Sheppard cautiously reach out to touch the plate, but changed his mind, closing his eyes. The hatch opened with great alacrity, and the colonel turned his strange eyes on McKay once more. "I need that piece you found at the obelisk," he said quietly, blinking against the lightning that flashed outside.
"Yes, yes, of course. Here. Look," the normally brash scientist fixed him with a worried glance. "You okay? I mean you look... umm..."
A slow smile bent Sheppard's lips. "I'm fine," was all he said as he ran out into the pouring rain.
Fifteen agonizing minutes later, McKay watched the colonel weave his way back to the 'jumper. By the time he reached the hatch, he looked near collapse. Instinctively, McKay held out his arms to catch the listing man, but Sheppard's eyes widened.
"Wait! Don't touch me yet," he gasped, trying not to touch the walls of the 'jumper. Finally, he toppled onto a bench.
"What the hell is going on, Sheppard?" McKay's scowl twisted his face, as his eyes wandered the shivering colonel. "Are you gonna tell me anytime soon? Or shall I just wait until the 'jumper is turned into a grounding station?"
Sheppard leaned back, closing his eyes. When they opened again, they were a lustrous green. "Not now, Rodney. Let's get back home, and I'll tell you all about it. Promise." He smiled his smile again just before he fell sideways.
McKay stepped forward quickly to keep the colonel from falling off the bench. Before his hands reached the unconscious man, he was hit with a jolt of electricity.
"Dammit, Sheppard!" McKay screamed, waving his tingling hand vigorously. Great, now he's a live wire and I've lost the use of my hand. "Great! Just great!" He stomped his way to the pilot's chair and powered up the stubborn 'jumper. "I don't have time for this! You're a machine, and you will do as I say. Right now!" Hmmm. Yes. Now who's crazy? You're talking to a ship!
Puddlejumper One came to life under his fingertips further aggravating the tingling sensation as his hand slowly regained feeling. Nearing The City, McKay opened a channel.
"Afternoon, Rodney," Elizabeth Weir chirped. "Back so soon?"
"Yes, well, we ran into some weather– crap!" The 'jumper was suddenly pitched downward, buffeted by a gust of wind.
"Rodney? What's going on?" Weir's concerned voice crackled with static.
"Sorry, sorry, Elizabeth. Apparently some temperamental weather." McKay struggled with the controls as the HUD winked to life. "Well, it looks like we're gonna have to take the long way home."
"Wha... ney? You're... up... Again?"
"What is going on? We should be close enough to receive a perfect signal. McKay to–"
"It's the storm, Rodney," a voice whispered from behind.
McKay twisted around in his chair, startled. "Are you doing this?" he accused.
The colonel was leaning against the bulkhead casually, arms loosely crossed. He gave an enigmatic smile, and walked slowly towards McKay. "We need to go to the north side of Atlantis."
"Just like that. Why?" Petulantly, Rodney turned back to the control panel. "And you didn't answer my question. We're going straight – well semi-straight – to Atlantis. And you," he pointed a severe finger at the colonel, "are going directly to Beckett." After a moment, McKay glanced back at the colonel. "Well? Did you set this up?"
Sheppard softly laughed, and dropped wearily into the co-pilot's chair, slightly shivering in his wet BDUs. "Don't be ridiculous, Rodney." Looking up from the control panel, he caught McKay's attention. "And we're not going back yet. I have to do something first."
"Still avoiding the question, Colonel. What could you possibly need to do on the north pier?" McKay turned and stopped mid-glare. "Your eyes. They're different. Again." He could not shake the feeling of uneasiness that enveloped him. The man's eyes had gone from no color to bright green to deep blue marbles. The scientist resisted the urge to lean in closer, knowing how quick and concise a blow from the ranking military officer could be. Not that Sheppard would hit him, but right now, anything was possible.
The colonel had the decency to at least look concerned; his expressive face showed exhaustion, mixed with amusement. "For now," he said dully, swiveling to face forward. "I have to do this, then we'll go home."
"Well, I'm the pilot right now, so your little errand will have to wait," the scientist said smugly. Yes, yes, yes, this time, I'm in control of the situation, Sheppard. Not you. Me.
A light chuckle came from the co-pilot's chair. "Check this out," Sheppard whispered. Suddenly, his control board lit up, and the main pilot board dimmed. With ease, the 'jumper gracefully tilted to port.
McKay futilely shifted the controls, mouth gaping. "What? You can't do this– How?"
"I can do anything when I put my mind to it, Rodney," the colonel said simply. "And I'm going to fix those calculations for you from the obelisk."
"What do you mean, fix? How could you possibly know, huh Sheppard? You weren't even paying attention to what I was calculating." McKay crossed his arms tightly, huffing. Glancing sideways, he found the colonel staring blankly at him. "What?"
"You already knew the calculations were wrong, didn't you?" Sheppard smiled again, his unfathomable blue eyes now matching the water below.
"Wasn't it obvious? The thing wasn't working properly, so I assumed the readings would be false. Jeez, Sheppard, do you think I'm that stupid? And will you quit doing that with your eyes!"
The colonel shook his head, instantly regretting the movement. "Sorry. I didn't think it would show up physically. Usually, it just makes me tired, but this felt a little different."
"Usually? How often do you predict the weather, Colonel?"
"It's not like that. Call it a weather report. I get it every morning when I wake up. Sometimes alerts in the middle of the night, but Atlantis has learned that I only need those if people are in danger. I can't even tell you the headache I had during our first storm. Man!" He allowed a brief tired grin, strange eyes glinting in the dim light.
"You're doing it to me again, aren't you?" McKay mumbled, more to himself than directly at the colonel.
"What?"
"Sitting there, acting as if nothing has happened. Making me worry over nothing."
Sheppard shifted uncomfortably, refusing to look at McKay. "It's not that nothing's happened. You just don't– you shouldn't worry about me. Everything's fine," he said quietly. For now.
"Are you serious?" McKay swiveled to face him. "Not worry? Tell that to Beckett every time he sees you haunting the corridors in the middle of the night. Tell that to Elizabeth every time you go through that gate." He paused when the colonel winced. "It seems in your short time residing in the Pegasus Galaxy, you have managed to piss off Fate and Death at the same time! Now you say you get atmospheric information from a building?"
"It's not an ordinary building, Rodney–"
"I know! Genius here!" He stood quickly and stomped to the back of the small ship. "I can't believe you, Sheppard," he yelled from a bench where he sat, stewing. "You attract danger like a two-year-old with a pair of scissors, and you tell everyone not to worry. Do you have the slightest idea how stupid that statement is?" McKay angrily dug in his pack, fishing for a power bar.
To be honest, Sheppard tried not to think about it. As much as he wanted to explain things to his friend, there were just some things he'd rather keep to himself. Having the gene was enough, but then it was the math thing. Then it was the MENSA thing. And now, the grunt military guy just came up with an idea to temporarily charge the ZPM.
The 'jumper suddenly bucked as turbulence rocked the small vessel. The pilot let out a gasp as lightning flashed across the bow. A shiver of panic fluttered down his spine as The City reached out to him, breaking his rigid concentration. "McKay?" Sheppard's voice came out as little more than a squeak.
"What do you want?"
"I need you right now, Rodney," the colonel said breathlessly. His control over the ship was slipping; the demands of an unseen force gnawed at his mind, threatening to pull him into a deep abyss. If he didn't reach the northern obelisk soon, he'd have to wait for the next electrical storm. The northernmost part of the city appeared when he dropped below the clouds, filling Sheppard with relief. Stomping footfalls indicated McKay had heard his request. Now he could relax, and let The City take over.
McKay slipped into the pilot's chair with a hrrmph, placing his hands on the controls. He watched the strain on the colonel's face as his hands hovered over the dimming panel. When McKay knew he had the ship, he focused on getting to their next destination. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Sheppard slump back in his seat. Heaving a great put-upon sigh, McKay turned his attention straight ahead.
"Wait a minute. This is the eastern pier."
Sheppard gave another chuckle. "Would you believe 'Lantis says it's north?" He closed his eyes, listening to every sound. I suppose different rules would apply in this galaxy, right?" Opening his eyes, he rounded them on his companion. "And we'll just keep that between you and me, 'kay?"
It was McKay's turn to finally chuckle. "I have no problem with that." The chuckle became a full laugh. "I can just imagine Radek's face if we told him," the scientist snickered. They both laughed at their own versions of Radek Zelenka freaking out.