TITLE: Knowing My Enemy
RATING: K+
SUMMARY: What Sheppard was thinking during 'No Man's Land' when Michael offered him help...A drabble that popped into my head at 2 am last night.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't profit from it, so don't sue me.
SPOILERS: The first episode of the new season (No Man's Land).
Someone famous talked about knowing your enemy. After two years in the Pegasus Galaxy, I'd say I know the Wraith pretty well. I haven't exactly invited them over for dinner, but at least we're acquaintances. I've flown their ships; I've blown up their ships. They've captured, tortured, shot, and snarled at me; I've returned the favor. I've given them nicknames, like Bob. Hell, I've even—almost—turned into one of them.
And I can remember exactly what it felt like, being part Wraith. Like part of me was seething and dark, raging against anything in my way. It kinda made me understand why the Wraith snarl so much.
But another part of me was cold, dispassionately calculating and perfectly willing to kill or hurt my own friends. That's the part that scares me the most about them: the Wraith can't be reasoned with. Despite all of Dr. Weir's negotiating skills and McKay's self-proclaimed logical genius, there's no way to compromise with them. Because we can't possibly trust them.
All of this is running through my mind as I hear Michael's voice on the radio. He is a Wraith, therefore he can't be trusted. Seems simple enough. But two of my friends are inside that Hive ship. And I've never been good about leaving team members behind.
So I ignore my misgivings and decide to cooperate with a Wraith. Because even though I know this enemy a lot better than I'd like, I'm hoping that I'm wrong.
AN: Please tell me what you think! Oh, and "know your enemy" is from Sun Tzu's Art of War, in case anyone was wondering.
