Camouflage10
John limped into Elizabeth's office. She was sitting at her desk, chatting with Steven. Both looked over as John closed the door. Remained standing.
"John? What is this about?" she asked.
John looked at Steven. "I need you to add another passenger to your manifest, sir. For the trip to Earth."
"Oh? May I ask whom? And why?" Steven inquired, glancing at Elizabeth. She shrugged, as much in the dark as the colonel.
"Moira. It's the only way to keep her safe until this ends."
"Moira?" asked Elizabeth.
"Until what ends?" asked Steven.
"This situation with the alternate reality," John explained. He sighed. Took the empty seat next to Steven. "In brief, Moira's the key to destroying the ATA Wraith in the colonel's reality. Somehow they created an enzyme that specifically attacks her DNA and her ATA gene. He experimented on her. Carson discovered it and will develop the full, fatal toxin to deliver to him. That will buy us time for Rodney to find a way to shut down the anomaly leading to that reality for good. He's coming soon, in a week or two. So we need to be ready. I need Moira safely out of this galaxy."
"Consider it done, lieutenant colonel," Steven agreed.
"Thank you, sir," John replied, relieved. He had expected more of an argument.
"Wait! By the colonel you mean you. This dark side version of–"
"Yes, Elizabeth. But he is not me. He's fighting for the very survival of his people since his Atlantis fell to the enemy."
"Naturally you feel an obligation to help but I don't see how Moira–" Elizabeth began, bewildered.
"Moira is his primary goal. Along with the formula," John explained. "They go hand in hand. He will take her and it won't be pretty. What he will use her for to win the war."
"But John, if he's you, a version of you he would never–"
"No. He's a darker version of me who had to watch his Moira die." He swallowed. "He will take her, Elizabeth. And he will never let her go. I need her safe on Earth until this is over. For however long it takes."
"Will he come alone, or with company?" Steven asked as Elizabeth stared at John, still not quite believing him.
John considered. "Alone, I think. Yes. He can't spare the manpower from multiple fronts. I have a plan to catch him. To give him the formula and get him back through the anomaly and then to shut it down. But it all hinges on Rodney."
"All right. You obviously know him better than any of us, so we will play this your way, Sheppard," Steven decided. "Moira is more than welcome to come to Earth with us. Don't worry about her."
"Thank you, sir."
"Wait! Excuse me, but I'm not sure about this plan of yours. Such as the details!" Elizabeth protested. The two men seemed to have quickly reached an understanding with only the minimum of suppositions. "You are planning to catch him how? Force him back to his reality how? How do you even know he is coming here? Or when?"
"I just do. No," John raised his hand, "I'm sorry, Elizabeth, you will just have to trust me on this. No one will be hurt as long as they play along."
"Play along? What does that mean? You are just going to let him stroll into Atlantis unchallenged?"
"Yes."
"Yes? John! That is crazy! Dangerous! When he finds Moira gone he will be capable of–"
"Anything, yes, but I will be here. He will want that formula. Leave it to me. I can out think him," John assured. Silently hoping that he could.
"I hope so, lieutenant colonel," Steven noted.
"John, this is too risky! We should position marines at every–"
"I will, but subtly. If we spook him now he will merely bide his time indefinitely. Or worse take the city by force. If we don't catch him now he will be a constant threat. I can't allow that." He stood. "I'll iron out the details tomorrow. If you will excuse me I'd like to spend some time with my wife before she leaves."
"John! We need those details now! I can't let you endanger everyone here just to–"
"Go on, Sheppard. We will go over those details before I leave."
"Thank you, sir. And no, I will not endanger anyone," John replied. Limped out of the room.
Elizabeth sighed, shook her head. "I can't believe you are onboard for this!"
"He's right. If we don't eliminate this threat now we will be looking over our shoulders indefinitely. And no one knows this colonel better than Sheppard. You are going to have to trust his judgment on this, Doctor Weir."
Moira sat at the data screen in her room. Stared at the enzyme strands. She had on an earpiece as she talked to Carson. "There's something else there, Carson, like you suggested. Look at the tertiary strand. In the enzyme. The colonel said it was in the proteins."
"Yes," came the Scottish voice in her ear, "I see it. Good call, Moira. It's entirely lacking in the plant enzyme."
"I think the plant enzyme was the original source. The natural origin. Each development adds more chemicals, more DNA, more proteins. An evolutionary progression from plant to bug to Wraith and human. Each time being altered. But look at the one that infected me."
"It's markedly different, Moira. Wait a second."
Moira waited, staring at the spirals of the chemical breakdowns. Unhappy. Upset. Clinging to the science lest her emotions overpower, overwhelm her. Knew she was being foolish, knew it would only be a few months at the most. But she couldn't help the sorrow, the worry. The dread. "I...I can't go. Maybe it would be better if I just went with him," she wondered.
"I'd rather die than allow you to do that."
She gasped, turned in startled surprise. John was standing in the threshold between their rooms. He had been watching her work, fondly musing on her serious expression. Her bright mind. Fighting every urge to keep her with him. To steal her away with him and avoid all of the hell to come. Knew that he couldn't. "John–"
"Moira, look at this!" sounded Carson's voice in her ear. Prompted she turned back to the screen. "It's there. The formula! See that section I have highlighted? This one protein has been altered, but not enough. To make it lethal, truly lethal I would need to add one component."
"What component?"she asked, tensing. But John had moved to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. Leaned close to listen.
"The cellular divide. Oh my God...there is...I'll have to test this but there's a trace of the Hoffan serum...not as pure as our own samples, as if its development hadn't been as matured as ours was. As I was able to develop it."
"That's the thing missing. To make it lethal to the rest of the Wraith, to any Wraith. Oh my God...genocide on a scale..."
John took her earpiece, spoke into it. "War. Carson, that is what he wants. Apparently your counterpart either wasn't able to develop the same serum, or wasn't smart enough to complete the Hoffans' work. Create that formula. Every little detail."
"John? I don't think I can, in good conscience," Carson objected.
"Then do it in bad. Carson, we're playing for keeps here. Write up the formula. Sheppard..." he paused, smiled. "Sheppards out." He set the earpiece on the table. Closed the data screen. Ran his mouth along her throat. "My Moira."
"John?" She scooted free, stood to face him. "You would do this? Eradicate an entire species?"
"He would. They are at war, Moira. And don't pretend we're not trying to do the same. Don't look at me like that, sweetheart. You know we have no other option. Or would you prefer the cullings to continue?"
"Of course not! It's just...just..."
"Don't care." He pulled her into his arms. Kissed her. "Moira...we only have until oh seven hundred. Let's not waste time on ethics. Let's not waste time talking." He guided her to the bed. "We'll start sweet and slow. Then go full fucking throttle. I have to have that pert little ass, baby. A double. All night. Go for ten, baby?"
She smiled. "Seven, sweetie...oh John...John, I don't want to leave you! I can't–"
"No. No more talking. Love me, Moira. Love me," he wooed, kissing her. Moving her onto the bed. Pulling at her clothes. "Give yourself to me, baby. Give me all that love and that sweet, sweet center."
The beeping sound roused him. John blearily opened one eye. Shifted in the bed. Found himself sprawled on his back. Moira snuggled on top of him, fast asleep. He smiled, recalling the sex. Hours of passion. Positions. Until both fell into an exhausted, sated sleep. He blinked. Yawned. Checked his watch. Sighed. Nudged her. "Moira. Moira. Wake up, sweetheart. We have an hour before you leave. Moira!" He smacked her rear.
She mumbled, shifting on him. Snuggling. "Not again, sweetie.."
He smirked. "We have...let's see...six to go before we reach our goal of ten. Hmm...an hour...let me see..."
"John?" She lifted her head, awakening. "Hilarious. Let's go back to sleep. Go...oh." Realization crashed on her. Dimming her happiness, her pleasure.
"Yeah. I know." He kissed her. Rolled so she was beneath him. Kept kissing her, moving his body to align with hers. "Again? Before we have to get out of bed and you have to pack?"
"No." She kissed him, gently pushed him. He rolled onto his side as she sat, holding the blankets around her. "I couldn't bear it. I should pack. I should..."
He sat. Turned her face to his, kissing her. "Ssh, sweetheart. I know. Only a few months, Moira. I will come for you myself when it's done."
She forced back the tears, the worry, the sorrow. "Just think of the sex when I do return, flyboy. We better be off world for that exuberance."
He smiled. "Yes. We will be entwined for days." He glanced at his watch. "You better pack, sweetheart. Crap."
She sighed. Felt around and produced her panties from the sheets. "Here, colonel. I know they are not as, um, prepped as you like, but they will have to do for now."
He smiled, taking the lacy green material. "They will do for now, I guess, until I can get a properly prepped panty. Let's get dressed."
Moira stood on the docking bay. The Ancient ship looming behind her, like a monster about to devour her. Except it was going to take her to safety. Take her far from John. She shifted her bag from hand to hand, watching as John hastened to her. "John? Be careful! Please, be careful! Don't do anything, anything–"
"Reckless? Me?" He glanced behind him. A crowd was watching. Concerned friends. Curious onlookers. He had wanted these last moments to be private. He scowled, looked back at her. Gentled his expression. "Moira...take this." He placed a credit card in her hand. "Don't hesitate to get anything you need, Moira. Anything at all."
"Even popcorn for Rodney?" she jested, sliding the card into her pocket.
"If you must," he sighed, but smiled. "And chocolate."
"And what do you want, sweetie?"
His arms slid around her as he drew her close. "Only you. That's all I ever wanted , Moira. You. Your love. Oh...and beer."
She smiled. "Got it, John. Beer. Do you, you think it will be a month? Or two?"
He shrugged. Reluctant to free her as the seconds ticked past. Shortening the time they had together. Steven stood on the ramp, waiting. "A month, or two. Honestly I don't know. However long it takes, Moira. To make certain you will be safe when you return."
She nodded. "Okay, John." She moved free. Slowly stepped backwards towards the ship, gaze locked on him.
He watched her. "That's it? Not even a goodbye kiss? At the very least a goodbye quickie?"
"Hilarious, John. No. I...I can't. If I start kissing you I won't be able to stop. I won't be able to let go," she sadly admitted. Tears in her eyes. "Be careful, John!"
"I will be, Moira. You too." He sighed. Watched her turn and head for the ship. Forcing himself to be calm. Collected. Knew it wasn't forever. Knew she would be back as soon as it was safe. Knew that nothing and no one would come between them. "Fuck this. Moira!" He strode to her as she whirled. Dropped her bag and met him halfway as she ran.
"John! Oh John!" she whispered as he caught her, kissed her passionately. Not caring who was watching. Only needing this. One last, deep kiss to savor until she returned. Wanting more but knowing he would have to wait.
He freed her slowly. "Moira. Get that pert little ass onboard, baby, and wait for me."
She smiled. "Yes, colonel. I'll be waiting for you. Only you."
He nodded. Watched her move to the ship. Pick up her bag and enter it, not looking back at him. He watched Steven board. The ramp close. Knew that he could relax once she was safe. He could plan, anticipate his opponent's next move. Could act freely since she would be in no danger whatsoever. Now that he had the leverage. The advantage at last. He turned away as the ship lifted, lifted into the blue sky.
He walked into the city.
Alone.