Stargate Atlantis: S7—Fearful Symmetry2
"Tricks? Tricks? Am I some charlatan now, some magician who can just wave a magic wand and presto change fix everything and create a weapon out of mid-air?"
"Aren't you?" John asked with a smirk as he sat in the physics lab. Upon entering Rodney had begun a litany of outrage and complaints, which oddly felt normal. The two men were alone and John allowed himself to relax, if only a little.
"Of course not!" Rodney flared, pacing around the room like a caged animal. "I've told you and told you and told you that it can't be done! You always want the impossible, and yes, brilliant as I am even I can't do the impossible!"
"Maybe I should have asked Zelenka," John slyly noted.
"Oh ha ha very funny! Maybe you should have!" Deflated Rodney slumped into a chair next to his friend. He sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair.
John took a generous swig of beer from a bottle. He licked his lips, setting the bottle down amidst a maelstrom of papers and files and data pads. "You can do it, Rodney. You know how damn important this is and I know you relish the challenge. You'll do it. If only to shove it in Ellis's face."
"There is that." Rodney took a sip of his own beer. "It's a dangerous game you're playing, John." Rodney gestured with the beer bottle, sloshing the alcohol around in it like a tidal wave. "Too many questions are going to be asked, if not by Ellis than by the IOA or even Woolsey. I know you don't want all of your eggs in one basket but you have too many baskets spread out across the galaxy, and I can't be in charge of one of them."
John took the bottle from his friend's grasp before the precious fluid spilled out of it. He set the bottle aside, shaking his head. "I've got everything under control. You just get your part done and the rest will follow."
"You realize that if I can't get this ship up and running we're doomed. There, I said it. Without the Tria we don't have a chance against those Fugly ships. You've seen the schematics! You've seen the energy readings! It took a modified Penning trap to destroy one of those ships and cripple the other one! And that was their own weapon! Even my brilliant mind can't conceive how to make another one, not quite like that anyway! You do realize that we are seriously outgunned here!"
"So you're saying you can't do it?"
"I've been saying that for weeks!" Rodney exclaimed, but he sighed and shook his head. "That is to say even with the additional ZPMs I'm not sure if I can get that wreck back in working order, let alone get the weapons online and the hyperdrive working. It's a long shot."
"It's all we got, Rodney. You can do it. It's our ace in the hole and you know that. She's in a stable orbit now and so far the repairs are holding."
"So far." Rodney took a sip of beer. "I don't like all of this deception," Rodney admitted, voice lowering as if the walls could hear him. "I understand the necessity, yes, but I still don't like it."
"Nor do I…but the stakes are too high and we can't risk it. I…I can't risk it." John eyed his beer bottle, as myriad memories tangled.
"John…don't push yourself too hard," Rodney warned. He reached out to touch John's hand, but refrained, as the military commander seemed lost in himself, in his own thoughts. "John?"
John merely shrugged. He was jolted out of his musing when a voice came over the intercom. "Colonel Sheppard to the control room. Colonel Sheppard to the control room."
"What's that about?" Rodney asked.
"I have no idea. Keep working at it." John pointed at the pile on the desk as he moved to his feet. With a sigh he downed the last of the beer and left the empty bottle behind. He made his way to the control room. The Stargate below was active, chevrons spinning.
"Colonel Sheppard, incoming. Authenticating now." Chuck Campbell listened as he typed on the computer. "Authentication code Zulu Alpha Tango?"
"Echo Base. Open the Iris and put me on a secure channel," John ordered, tapping his earpiece and moving to a console. The Iris dropped and the KAWOOSH filled the Gate room, receding to a glimmering pool in the Stargate. He glanced over to see a squad of marines at the ready. With a wave of his hand he dismissed them. He spotted Ronon Dex heading for him, ignoring the gesture.
"What's happening?" Richard asked, joining them. He eyed the Stargate for a moment.
"Incoming message from Echo Base," John said, eyes on the Stargate as well. "This is Sheppard. Report."
"Colonel Sheppard? Sending updated intel on the fleet's current position. We've intercepted several radio transmissions and are working on a translation." The man's voice was interspersed with static, but his words were comprehensible.
"Acknowledged. Receiving transmission." John pointed to a computer as Chuck typed. "Firewall that." John glanced at the data stream, watching as it became deciphered into words and information. "Status?"
"Transmission complete," Amelia Banks-Dex, reported. Her auburn brows formed a frown as she transferred the data stream to another console. "It looks like the fleet is on the move, sir, but not in any significant numbers. At least not yet." She glanced at her husband. Ronon was still looking at John, unmovable.
"Any visitors?" John asked the disembodied voice.
"Negative, colonel. So far we are completely undetected. Security protocols are in place," assured the disembodied voice.
"How's the twin?" John asked, referring to the second planet locked in orbit with the first one. Rodney had theorized that the gravitational pull of the larger planet would eventually pull the smaller planet into a spectacular collision with it, but he didn't know when, only that it would happen. Already orbital decay was evident.
"Stable for now."
"Let me talk to Doctor Green." John glanced round the control room. Technicians were busily engaged in tackling the new information. Richard was reading over a man's shoulder. Ronon was standing near, gaze on Sheppard, face unreadable. "Secure channel number two." John hit a button and turned away to eye the shimmering Stargate. He tapped his earpiece. "Green?"
Richard moved to eye the data streaming along. "Do we have an exact location now? And from that can we determine a trajectory? This could move up our timetable considerably? John? John, are you listening to me?"
A smile curved John's lips as he was listening to the private transmission in his ear. He nodded, grunted and interrupted the flow of words in his ear. "Just get me that translation ASAP and I'll come to you. Sheppard out."
He gestured and the event horizon winked out of existence. John turned to view Richard. "I want this up on the board now. If that fleet is moving quickly we need to do the same."
"And the translation?"
"Green's got the team working on it. We should know soon. More importantly we need to move up the timetable, as you said. We'll need to contact our allies and set up the rendezvous point. ETA is in about a week to get there and coordinate. I'll need to contact the Wraith from a secure location and set up a meeting out there," he vaguely gestured, "so our position isn't compromised."
"All right. I'll get the ball rolling. What about the—"
"Rodney will get it working in no time, trust me," John assured. He turned and nearly knocked into Ronon. "What?" he snapped. "If you're wondering about the teams going I was considering asking you, even though you'll just be stuck on a ship. But if they hit the hull like they did on the faux Daedalus they might board and that would complicate things."
"John…"
"Crap," John muttered, seeing the sympathy in his friend's eyes. "I'm fine, okay?"
"I just wanted to say…I'm sorry."
"All right, you said it. Now can we move on?"
"John! Surely you can't be that heartless!" Carson Beckett joined them, blue eyes aghast at the military commander's seemingly cavalier attitude. "I know that everyone grieves in their own way but you must allow your friends to aid you. Och, man, the loss you've suffered is one that I would wish on no one. We've all lost a dear friend in the loss of her," the doctor continued, Scottish brogue becoming more pronounced.
John scowled. "Really? You really want me to believe that, Carson? You all want me to believe that? After what we all went through? After what she went through, what she endured in my stead and how you all turned against her? All of you!" His glare cut like ice as he viewed the people staring at him. His so-called friends who had belittled her condition and had even participated in her torture, however unknowingly.
"John—"
"No! I'm fine. I said I'm fine. Now leave it."
With a final glare John stalked out of the control room.
XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX
They rush down the steps of the courthouse, dazzled, laughing, caught in the moment. A wind whips the jacket of John's dress blues and the white lace of Moira's skirt. They pause at the sidewalk, both out of breath and Moira fumbles with the roses she is holding. Red petals flutter and swirl around them, riding the breeze.
Moira laughs and steps away from John to snatch the fallen flowers from the road.
The car comes screeching around the corner and right for her, speeding too close to the curb.
Too close.
John woke with a start, nearly jolted out of the bed. He stared at the darkness, heart thudding wildly in his chest. He took several deep breaths to calm himself as his fingers grasped tightly at the blankets tangled around him. The city was silent, soothing. The quiet susurration of the waves below was comforting, familiar.
John swallowed and fought free of the blankets. He swung his legs off the bed and planted his bare feet onto the floor. The solidity and coldness centered him. He rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock before he sighed and dropped his hands to his lap.
He sighed. He stood, stalked to the window. He stared at the dark waves below. City lights sparkled sporadically on the ebb and flow of the deep waters. He could imagine the cold; the unceasing cold, chill as the grave.
He shut his eyes against the motion beneath him; against the lights sparkling among the city's windows and turrets.
He shut his eyes against the darkness outside.
The darkness within remained, however.
XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX
Space was vast.
It was a never-ending sea of darkness, lit sporadically by distant stars and distant planets. Across mind-numbing distances there was only an endless void of darkness and nothingness wherein ships traveled to and fro, forever seeking sustenance. Even farther out a crab nebula glinted. Gaseous waves of red and blue seemed to creep across the darkness of space like some monster spreading out its limbs.
Connecting the planets was a network of Stargates, created by the Ancients centuries ago. For most of the galaxy they were the only link between worlds and civilizations.
But not for all. Some had spaceships capable of traveling the terrifying distances between planets and stars. These were the masters of the galaxy, and would continue to be so once dominance had been established. Once the Wraith regained control after eliminating their rivals, one by one.
The view from the Hive Ship was enormous, all-encompassing. It was a view that would humble many. It even made the large ship seem small. It was an island lost amid an ocean of darkness.
The creature which had once been Elizabeth Weir or at least parts of her consciousness turned from the impressive viewport and let her gaze glide along the control panels of her command center. Lights blinked and data scrolled along screens in the language of the Wraith. It was easily understood, for she was more Wraith now than human, more Wraith than Replicator. She was a strange amalgamation of all three which rendered her more powerful than any other Wraith queen.
She turned her head to gaze upon her servant quietly waiting. His head was bowed, but she knew he was not as acquiescent as the others were. Instead of angering her she found this amusing, and useful. "Report," she said. Her voice was a gravelly mockery of Elizabeth Weir's. A stray dark curl bounced across one pale cheek.
Todd raised his head and shrugged. It was a very human gesture. "Nothing yet, my queen. So far John Sheppard has neglected to contact us. Shall we contact him?"
"No. He will contact us when the time is right. Then we will crush this new threat once and for all." She moved to her throne and sat. Black sleeves spread along the chair's arms, melting into the darkness of the room.
"He is withholding information from us."
"Of course he is. As we are from him. I would expect nothing less."
"And then?"
Elizabeth smiled, revealing the many teeth of a Wraith between her red, red lips. "And then? And then we will conquer the only remaining threat to us. We will conquer Atlantis." She paused, savoring her next words. "We will conquer John Sheppard."
Todd smiled.