Stargate Atlantis—S7 Fearful Symmetry 4
John had just settled onto the bed once more, trying to relax when another knock interrupted. He cursed and shouted. "My decision is final, Rodney! Go away!"
"John?" asked a very feminine voice.
"Shit." John moved to his feet and crossed to the door. His stomach twisted and he glanced round, as if guilty of something. There was no one there to accuse him. Darkness enfolded him. He waved his hand over the door and began to talk as it opened. "Look, I'm fine, okay? I just need some sleep."
Ann stared at the military commander, frowning in concern. He appeared unkempt, upset although his green eyes were alert and wary. "You are not fine, John. Everyone is worried about you. You weren't at dinner tonight."
"I prefer to eat alone."
"Since when? John, that's not healthy, especially not after…" She left the rest unsaid. He was a hard man to read sometimes and the situation was nothing less than awkward, given their history. After all, John had dumped her to be with Moira. He had chosen an awkward scientist over an efficient soldier, which still baffled Ann even now.
John let his gaze rake over his former girlfriend. Dark blonde hair normally in a bun was loose and fell to her shoulders. Instead of her Atlantis BDUs she wore a soft blue t-shirt and dark brown pants. John met her blue eyes and shrugged. "I've got a lot on my mind at the moment. As long as everyone does their job we can win this thing."
"You know that's not what I am talking about. John!" she scolded, stopping him before he could shut the door. "You have to talk about it!"
"I don't have to talk about anything!" He calmed his voice, his tone. "I'm fine. Let's just get through this latest disaster and see how it ends, okay? I won't be compromising my job."
Ann's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"Don't you think I know? Don't you think I can hear the whispers and see the stares? I know how things are now. I know how I can't really trust anyone, only a few."
"Don't you think you are being a little paranoid, like…oh…sorry! I didn't mean—" Ann realized in horror she had just hit a nerve.
"You mean like her? Like Moira? She had every right to be, and so do I!" John would have slammed the door, but Atlantis doors did not slam. Instead the door whooshed close quietly. He swore and stalked round the room, angry and guilty and wanting nothing more than to hit something, to hit anything.
Finally he sank down onto the bed and hid his face in his hands. He knew this was going to be hard. But he hadn't realized just how difficult it would be.
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Rodney wanted to pound his fist onto the desk. Instead he settled for slapping his hand on the arm of the chair in Richard's office. It wasn't as satisfying but at least it didn't hurt. "What do you mean I have to stay here?"
Richard allowed himself a small smile. The physicist sounded like a child who was told he had to stay behind and not go on a field trip with the rest of the class. "Exactly that. John and I agreed that you would be more valuable here in the city than on that ship."
"You two agreed? Well, I don't agree! I won't let John go up alone against those aliens!"
"He won't be alone. He will have a full complement on the ship with him, plus the Aegis, plus our allies. Plus the Wraith, if you could call them allies."
"You know what I mean! He will need me aboard the Tria!"
"No, doctor. We need you here. I'm afraid that's my final decision."
"As flattering as that is, and yes, I do know more about the city and its systems than anyone I still think I would be much more useful on the ship! We're going against an enemy the likes of which we have never faced before! I've seen them up close! I've seen the capability of their ships and their weaponry! I've intercepted their radio transmissions and even developed a prototype of their Penning trap to throw back at them! I've—"
"Yes, doctor, you've done all of that and more," Richard agreed, trying to interrupt the physicist before he launched into another rant, "and you have helped the mission immeasurably. You are more needed here. If things don't go well we will need you here to protect the city. Do you understand now?"
"Of course I understand! Of course I…oh." Rodney considered, sinking back into the plush confines of the chair. "I just…"
"I know."
The two men sat in silent commiseration.
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"Working late?"
John sighed and looked up from the data pad. He was ensconced in the conference room, going over the mission specs for the hundredth time and studying all of the information that they had on the Fugly ships and capabilities. He nodded, fingers stilled on the keyboard.
Teyla smiled and entered. She crossed the shadows, taking a seat near her friend. "Torren was fussy but finally went back to sleep. Unfortunately I cannot sleep now."
"Kids, huh?" John eyed the data screen. The sleek design of the Fugly ship met his eyes. It was compact, ending in a long projectile. It bore the curious marking like they all did; the same marking that was on the aliens' armor as well. John wondered if it was a logo or a tribal thing or a societal thing or just art. Feeling Teyla's eyes on him he finally met her gaze. "I'm fine."
Teyla studied him, tilting her head slightly. "Yes, I can see you are fine. John…if you—"
"Incoming wormhole!"
John leapt to his feet at the summons. He glanced at Teyla and strode to the control room. Teyla followed quickly. The Stargate was active, chevrons flowing as Atlantis was being dialed. Lights flooded the Gate room. "What is it?" he asked.
Chuck shrugged. "Awaiting an IDC, sir."
"Raise the Shield," John ordered. He stepped to the glass and eyed the Stargate below him. The KAWOOSH exploded then snapped into a shimmering pool. A second later the Shield frosted over the event horizon, preventing anyone or anything from entering Atlantis. A team of marines took up defensive positions, just in case.
"Receiving IDC…sir, it's Echo Base."
"Lower the Shield! Give me a secure line now!" John rushed to the console and tapped his earpiece. He touched the console and it purred to life, giving him access to every system. "This is Sheppard."
"What's happening?" Richard ran into the control room, staring round.
"Colonel Sheppard, this is Collins. Sending new coordinates. We have movement of the fleet," announced the crackling voice of the man in charge of Echo Base.
"Receiving," John said, glancing over as Chuck quickly secured the transmission. "Status?"
"Fleet's on the move, colonel. Rapid…expansion…planning a vector to… planetfall…we've almost transl…river…" Collins's voice was breaking up with static.
"Repeat that! Collins! Damn it!" John glared at the console. Lights grew brighter as if the city was sharing his anger. "Can you boost the signal?"
"Negative, sir. There's too much interference, like always." Chuck shrugged apologetically. "Shall I send a MALP or—"
"Negative. Shut it down. Translate those coordinates now." John looked at Richard. "Looks like my meeting with Todd just got moved up." He began to leave.
"John? Are you going to contact them from-"
"Not here." John paused, turning to view the expedition leader. "I will contact them from a more secure location, nowhere near Atlantis. In fact…" He debated, debated. "Chuck, get ready to dial up the Alpha site. I'll access the systems and contact them from there for our rendezvous."
"Are you certain about this, colonel? I mean I know that we need the Wraith as our allies in this…but all of this subterfuge makes me…nervous."
John shrugged. "It has to be this way. We know we need them, but we also know we can't trust them. Especially now."
A knowing look passed between the two men.
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Todd strolled into the command chamber and bowed. "My queen, we have contact. John Sheppard is—"
"Requesting a meeting?" Elizabeth finished for him. Her back was to him as she stood staring out the viewport at the vastness of space. There was a long stretch of silence. Only the beeping of the computers broke the heaviness. It seemed to take an interminable time until finally she spoke. "Accept."
"As you wish."
She turned to Todd, gaze thoughtful. Greenish light played across her face, making her even more ghoulish. "You will go to a neutral planet and negotiate this alliance. Find out exactly what he has at his disposal and do not reveal our true numbers. Promise him half of what he needs, only half."
"Yes, my queen." Todd bowed and exited. He felt a sense of relief upon being free of her scrutiny as much as he would hate to admit it. He missed the days when he was head of the alliance and bowed to no one. Much had changed in the intervening years, however, and with the entire Wraith species united they would be unstoppable
The galaxy was theirs for the taking.
Once these new aliens were eliminated, that is.
They were a curious enemy. Supposedly human, a different species of human according to the Lantean scientists, and yet the Wraith could not feed upon them. They were unintelligible, communicating in a language that was impossible to decipher. Their weaponry and ships were impressive, and they wore armor that was difficult to destroy. They bore cybernetic implants but were mostly organic beings. They were highly advanced, yet their hyperdrive systems were not as complex as any in the Pegasus galaxy.
In any event they were a threat and needed to be eliminated.
Todd stepped to the control console and tapped a button. "Send the coordinates and we shall meet you there, John Sheppard."
"Sending coordinates," rasped the voice of John Sheppard. Lights played across the screen as a series of intermittent data bursts infiltrated the computer. "One ship only and just you, pal. Got it?"
Todd smiled. He had always found this particular human both fascinating and amusing. The man's annoyance was audible. "Of course, John Sheppard. You are not calling from Atlantis," he observed, as the signal was proving difficult to trace. The signal bounced around in a most peculiar manner.
"I'll be waiting for you at those coordinates. Sheppard out."
Abruptly the transmission ended. Todd frowned, eying the data as it scrolled and located the planet upon which the meeting would take place. It was on the outer edges of the galaxy, somewhat near the enemy fleet but far enough away to be safe. At least for now.
"Access all information on this planetary system," Todd ordered. There was something nagging him, something familiar about this location but he couldn't place it, at least not yet. His long fingernail tapped the console as he waited for the information to be displayed.
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John shut down the transmission and shoved his hands into his pockets. It was always cold on the Alpha site, but where he was headed next it was even colder. He walked over to the waiting marines. There was always a security team on the Alpha site, just in case. John eyed the men. "Keep monitoring for any traffic. If worse comes to worse we'll be sending people to you."
"Yes, sir."
"With any luck you'll be recalled to Atlantis soon, after all of this. Stay sharp."
John exited the Quonset hut and strolled down a pleasant pathway to the DHD. Sporadic warmth kissed his skin as the sun shone brightly in the chilly air. The planet was mostly uninhabited but viable. Trees towered in the distance on either side of him.
He reached the DHD and dialed Atlantis, brooding on the mission ahead of him. It would be dangerous, which was nothing new to him, but this time it was for all the marbles and there could be no mistakes. There could be no failures. He knew he would lose some men, and probably some ships. He just hoped that he had enough to once and for all end this conflict and send the Fuglies back to their own galaxy.
He glanced round at the green trees, the green grass softly swaying in the breeze. It reminded him of that day, that day that played in his mind repeatedly until his job allowed him to shut it off if only for a little while.
"Moira!" John shouts as he lunges forward, grabbing her and flinging them both onto the hard sidewalk. The car screeches so close the heat from the tires scorches his skin. Tires race so close that John can make out every tread, every line of rubber as it burns the road. The engine rumbling is a roar in his ears and the rush of wind shrieks like a banshee in warning.
But it is the awful, awful knock of a head onto the hard, hard sidewalk that is the worst of all.
The worst of all.
The worst.