Chapter 12
David Parrish awoke with a start as the edge of a scream sounded off in the distance. He brought a hand up to his head and rubbed it gently. He hasn't had a hangover since he accidentally accepted a drink given to him by a nice young villager of one of the planets he had been researching the medicinal properties of the local plant life, and even then, he hadn't had a drink since college. As Lorne had put it, alcohol didn't treat him well, especially afterwards.
"Uhhh, T-Tesla," he called out to his double, assuming him to be nearby, he usually was. It was hard to think of him as a double, they were really nothing alike. Parrish's sobering mind thought warily about Tesla; he was a little envious of his strength. Parrish wasn't a fool, he knew he wasn't very brave, he was a botanist, he was always a docile person, and generally liked for his gentle demeanor and sweet personality, he couldn't change that, but Tesla, Tesla was the rock star of the scientists, a genius surpassing even Rodney McKay, and on top of that, he was an action star, accompanied with super powers and sex appeal. How could he compete with that?
David shook his head. It wasn't a competition, he never wanted to be like that, they were not the same on the inside, and they would never be, for as much as Parrish was not a rock star, Tesla would never find the joys in the small things, not like David did; Parrish stopped to smell the flowers, Tesla damn near trampled them over.
David groaned again, then something in him realized that he had not been acknowledged by the very man he was comparing himself to and he opened his eyes to look at his surrounding. It was dark, dank, and smelt like the inside of a wraith ship that had been left desolate for a few hundred years. It was also empty.
Parrish blinked to adjust his eyes to the darkness. There was no one in the room as far as he could see, which wasn't very far, there was one light casting a small halo of light for him to see dimly, but there were many dark and foreboding corners.
"T-Tesla?" Parrish said tentatively. He gulped when he, again, did not get a response.
Had they taken him? Was he in a similar place? Was he dead?
David shook his head again, forcing those thoughts away from him. There was no use into working himself up into a fit over nothing, that's what it was, it was nothing, just his mind racing to the worst case scenario. He knew he shouldn't have consented to joining that horror movie marathon, they were nothing but unhealthy.
Parrish begrudgingly made it to his feet, using the bars of the cell to pull himself to his feet.
He always hated this part in the movie, where the character wakes up all alone then reaches into the shadow and either get snagged by something hiding there, or find the corpse of his friend there.
Damn it, that wasn't going to help his already panicked state.
He stood frozen, not willing to leave the warm light to be swallowed by shadows.
He heard something in the distance and he nearly jumped out of his skin before he realized it was only a rodent.
Parrish whimpered slightly.
Please no wraiths, please no wraiths, anything but a wraith! How about a pack of fluffy newborn puppies? That would be nice wouldn't it? Of course it would you idiot, puppies don't have little suckers on their paws that slurp the life right out of you! The worst a puppy could do is lick you to death! Yes, but it would be a pleasant death, not a cold, drawn out, painful death, where the last thing you see is a green, clammy skinned soul sucker…
A door opened a fair distance away.
A stream of light lit more of the room and Parrish let out a slight sigh of relief to see that he wasn't trapped with anything dangerous.
But he tensed again when a figure stepped into the silhouette of the doorway.
"P-please…don't hurt me, I just want to go home," Parrish whimpered to the tall figure.
The figure took a step forward and David flinched, bringing his hands up to protect his face.
"I'll go quietly, just don't hurt me!" cried Parrish.
"Parrish! Shush, you ninny, do you want to get me caught!" the figure said in a very familiar face.
"Tesla?" Parrish dropped his hand, relief washing over him.
"Who else do you think it is? Your mother?" Tesla stepped into the light, a stern expression on his face. "Now quiet, you fool, I'm here to bust you out."
"What happened to you? Where'd you go?" asked Parrish.
"I escaped, these sickos tried to brainwash me, I let them believe they did, so they released me and I waited for them to leave before escaping to come and find you, I'd like for us to be long gone before they realize that," Nikola came up to the door and picked the lock, the cell door swinging open. "Lets get out of her quickly."
Parrish nodded and followed.
"Thank god, I don't know what I would have done if they had actually managed to get to you," Parrish sighed gratefully.
"Probably died, you are kind of useless," he muttered.
Parrish deflated slightly; he was wasn't he? Tesla had done everything, and all he had done was fall into even more danger. Tesla was the real hero on this mission. Parrish's earlier envy of the man's strength came back. If he even had a fraction of the strong will Tesla had he could at least save himself.
He looked down and decided not to say anything more, so he didn't look even more like the fool he felt.
Nikola wordlessly marched out of the dungeon.
~~~~On the Daedalus~~~~
Kate sat across from Hayley Kiang in the cafeteria.
Neither were talking, and neither were eating, they just stared, arms crossed, pointed gaze at each other.
Kate was growing increasingly uncomfortable under this woman's heated gaze.
Both women could sense the similar attraction to the gentle botanist, even though it had gone unspoken. Kate could tell from her obvious eagerness to have her colleague returned as soon as possible. Hayley, on the other hand, just didn't like her.
Eventually the silence got to Kate and she had to break it.
"Sooo," she sighed. "You work with Parrish, huh?"
"Dr. Parrish to you," muttered Hayley.
Kate was taken aback by her aggressiveness.
"Must've been pretty weird when Tesla popped up in his place," Kate tried a different angle.
"If you mean it was weird when your friend Tesla physically assaulted me under the persona of my colleague, then yes, it was weird," Hayley's cool gaze continued to boor into Kate's soul.
"Yah, he can be a bit of a bastard sometimes," mumbled Kate.
"I don't think so, he may be self-serving and opportunistic, but he's got a good heart," Hayley's tone remained even.
"Are you just going to disagree with everything I say, because if so, I would like to take this time to pull out my iPod and drown out all the sarcastic comments," Kate leaned over, looking very seriously. What was this girl's problem?
"I'm not disagreeing with you," she shook her head.
"Yes, you are," Kate groaned.
"No, I'm not," Hayley shrugged.
"You're doing it now!" cried Kate.
Hayley sat back in her chair and hmphed.
"Look, what is your deal? I have done nothing to offend you, have I? And if you thin that babysitting you is a barrel of sunshine, it isn't, I want them back safely just as much as you do so let it go!" Kate crossed her arms again, growing tired.
"I'm sorry, I just don't like the fact that I've been ordered to sit here and wait when one of my friends is in danger," she relaxed slightly.
"It's hard not to be worried, I know, I want David back in one piece as well," Kate accidentally blurted out.
Hayley tensed again.
"You call him David?" she asked, more shocked and hurt than angry.
"N-Nikola too…I use all facets of everyone's name, you can call me Kate…or Freelander if you wish," Kate tried to cover.
"You like him, don't you?" Hayley accused.
"He looks exactly like one of the most obnoxious colleagues I have ever had," Kate said cryptically.
"Yah, but it doesn't matter, David Parrish is one of the single-most gentlest souls this side of two galaxies and it shows. He is sweet, sincere, passionate, caring, and when he looks at you he sees a person, a genuine person, not a piece of meat that he can use, I can see it in your eyes," Hayley pointed her finger at Kate.
"It's not that hard to see it in yours," Kate muttered in response.
"Of course not, I've been working along side him for almost three years. He was the first person in Atlantis to greet me like I was a real person, not just a woman, or a new liability, or a pretty face. I get to see that genius mind work in progress every day, how he finds the ray of hope in his work even when it has failed, and the unquenchable joy when he's made a new discovery. Small of big, the look on his face is more than anyone could ask for. People treat him like he's just some crackpot plant lover, they all do, Lorne, Sheppard, even McKay, but do anything stop to see his brilliance, or his passion for his work. No! But Parrish is vital, to so much."
"You are in love with him?" Kate looked at the young woman.
"We- uh," she was struck speechless. "Well, yes, I guess I am."
"Ever tried telling him that?" asked Kate.
"Well…no, I haven't," Hayley looked away shyly. "Parrish is such a sweet man, never in all my years of working with him have I seen him on a date with anyone, I don't know if he even…sees me that way."
Kate let out a soft sigh.
"Really? Or are you just scared that he will laugh in you face when you tell him the truth?" Kate crossed her arms.
"What does it matter? Why do you even care? It's not like you even know him a fraction the way I do," Hayley said dismissively.
"You're right, I don't, but I understand all of what you just said, David is remarkable, despite is similar appearance to Tesla. I've known him only for a few days and I knew I liked him. And I know that if you just told him a snippet of what you've told me, he will understand. He's more perceptive than he looks. Tell him how you feel, and he will tell you how he does. If it's not the answer you want that's alright, he will not laugh, he won't throw you out of his life because you have feelings," Kate patted the girl's shoulder. "He may surprise you if you just give him the chance. Now I'm going to get some jello, do you want some?"
Hayley looked up at Kate as she got to her feet.
"Uh…sure," she smiled, a weak smile to be sure, but it was the softest look she had given Kate all day and Kate took that as a success and nodded, secretly gesturing in triumph.
~~~~Elsewhere~~~~
Nikola and Parrish walked in silence through the winding halls and corridors of the castle.
Parrish stayed a few steps behind Tesla, being sure not to do anything to upset him. He still felt like a burden and he was trying to lessen it as much as he could.
Tesla chanced a brief glance back at him.
Their eyes met, and Tesla could see the worry in his double's eyes.
"Don't worry," he said, breaking away to look forward again. "Once we find the stone of Ramanak we'll be home free."
"Oh, uh, good," Parrish scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Once we make it to the other side we'll destroy both those devices so no one else can end up stuck here, it's the only way we can defeat these bastards," Nikola growled.
"And you think this stone of ram-"
"Ramanak."
"Yah, you think it will actually send us home, not to someplace worse?" asked Parrish.
"Of course it will send us home, just trust me," Tesla kept walking.
Parrish nodded silently.
They were moving pretty fast through the many corridors of the massive palace, it was amazing how they haven't seemed to get lost.
Parrish paused; a thought had struck him.
The stone. Tesla hasn't called it by its name since they learned of its existence, he had called it the stone of whatever, how did it come that he remembered the name now. Something about Tesla's whole demeanor was off. He didn't walk the same way either, Parrish remembered the way his double swaggered, it was practically part of his personality, and the way he held himself, it was almost robotic, not the graceful movements he had observed. He wondered if it was just the change of circumstance, or if it was something else.
Parrish coughed to get his double's attention.
"Uh, Tesla, one more question, if you don't mind," Parrish caught up with him and fell into step alongside with him.
"Fine, make it quick," muttered Tesla.
"That bitch that has this kingdom in the palm of her hand, what are we going to do about her?" Parrish winced at using such language, but for this test it was necessary.
It worked, Tesla visibly stiffened at her mention.
"What do you mean?" he said coolly.
"Well, she's corrupting their minds, she has to be stopped, right?" Parrish watched Tesla's reaction carefully. "I mean she did try to brainwash you, you of all people must want to see her dead."
Nikola seethed at his words.
"Let's just get out of here in one piece, without any bloodshed," he said, his tone even, but Parrish could sense the stress behind his words.
"No, I think we should give her a taste of her own medicine, I'll hold her down, and you can use your talented hands to beat the snot out of her, then take her down like the bitch she is. Because, you're right, she's a bitch, a spiteful, contemptible, manipulating bi-"
Suddenly Nikola swung his hand around to grasp Parrish's throat tightly.
"ENOUGH!" he cried, slamming Parrish against the wall.
"I was right!" Parrish choked out. "You have been brainwashed, this is all a set up! You're working for her now, aren't you?"
Nikola brought his hand back to punch David but was stopped.
"Ah, ah, ah, Nikola, wouldn't want to harm our guest now, would you?" Galidriel stepped out, around the corner, followed by her horde of girls.
She stepped up right behind Tesla and wrapped her arms around his lithe torso, her hands sliding down over his abdomen.
He looked over at her admiringly.
"Put him down, my sweet," she pressed a light kiss to the side of his head.
He looked over at Parrish with disdain, but obligingly released him.
"That's my good boy," Galidriel cupped Nikola's cheek and kissed him solidly on the lips, the sight disgusted Parrish. "Now, go stand over there while I teach our good friend a lesson."
Nikola nodded in compliance.
"As my lady wishes," he extricated himself from her arms and went to stand with the rest of Galidriel's gang.
Parrish was horrified at Tesla's supplication, how could they have gotten to him, and how was he going to get him back?
"What have you done to him?" he snarled to the evil woman.
"I just changed his views on our ways and our people, he sees the truth about what we do and why we do it, and he accepts them, just like his predecessors before him."
"Like Roger, did you brainwash him to?" cried Parrish.
"All men need a little incentive," Galidriel shrugged.
"Incentive! You're brainwashing husbands and setting you're young girls after them like wolves!" Parrish understood Tesla's previous dislike for the woman. She was pure evil.
"To continue our survival! We cannot die out! We must live on, by any means necessary. Tesla will marry Princess Ailenna tomorrow, and father many daughters with her, as well as satisfying the needs of many others, this is not a punishment, Mr. Parrish, this is a gift, he is helping us to save our people, you should be happy for him."
"It's hard to be happy for a zombie!" Parrish cried; a strength bubbling up inside he didn't know he had. "Look at him! He's mindless! You've taken one of the greatest minds of the last century and turned him into a pile of mush! He will never be happy, he will only think what you tell him to think! How is that living? How is that a gift to anyone? You have stolen his life! You have stolen many lives! How could anyone be happy here?"
Galidriel brought her hand back and slapped him, almost crippling, hard.
His knees buckled slightly with the force of the hit and he leaned against the wall to regain his strength.
"You are just as simple minded as he was! But that will change. Lilia, take him, I leave him in your charge! If you do this well he may be yours to keep."
Galidriel turned back to Tesla, running a hand through his slick hair gently.
"Come with us Nikola, we have a wedding to prepare for," she leaned up and kissed Tesla and Parrish's stomach lurched at how he willingly kissed her back.
Lilia separated from the group and came towards Parrish, taking his arm gently.
"Come with me," she said softly.
She was stronger than she looked, and he complied, not really wanting to hurt the young girl.
Parrish kept his eyes on Nikola as he was led away by Galidriel and her group of adolescent sluts.
When they went out of view he turned to his new captor.
She attempted to lead him away.
"I will never love you, despite what bullshit she's fed you," he said uncharacteristically harsh.
The poor girl gasped slightly, her face looking hurt by his words.
"Please, just come this way," he tried to ignore his statement.
Parrish complied, but his face was furrowed in a permanent scowl. He had to come up with a plan, he couldn't let Tesla become a mindless sex drone for these heartless people.
But he couldn't do it right now. For the moment he would have to find his inner Tesla to influence and, god forbid, take advantage of his situation to find and save Tesla. He asked himself what he would do if he lost Tesla; the answer came to him simpler than he thought it would.
Anything he could.
~~~~Author's Notes~~~~
Sorry for such the long wait guys, life's been mighty busy with school and everything, but thankfully this weekend has seen me with some time to update a chapter or two, so i hope you enjoy it.
I've realized that Parrish has been pretty much in the background for the most part of this story, but from this point he's going to show off his inner fighter. Not as much as Tesla, but he's been pushed to his limits, i hope you like it. Parrish is going to kick some evil Gal ass, just because i want him to :)
Thank you all for your lovely comments, they have been really such a blessing to me, especially in writing this story. Thee have been several times when i have not wanted to complete it, and have nearly given up on it, but because of you guys i have kept going and have pushed through all the writer's block i have been experiencing, so i hope you guys enjoy it as it continues and keep reviewing, you guys are awesome :)
