Title: Isolation
Category: General; Het
Genres: Some Action, Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, hopefully some Humor
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Character(s) Death, Mature Situations (later chapters)
Spoilers: Season one
Disclaimer: I do not claim rights to any characters other than the ones I have created for this story and the sequel "Redemption".
A/N: Originally written in TV script format for the M.A.J.O.R. Sheppard centric Flanfic Writing Competition. I recently decided to rework it as a character study; which means it's not exactly the same and a LOT longer. It takes place mid-season one after The Eye but before Sanctuary. Any comparisons to season 2 episodes or events are merely a coincidence (or perhaps stolen from my previous script…which would be kinda cool, actually).
Feedback definitely welcome.
STARRING: Carson Beckett, Elizabeth Weir, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
WITH: Peter Grodin, Radek Zelenka, Aiden Ford, Teyla Emmagan
AND INTRODUCING: Ashri as OC
Day 1
Running at top speed for the Stargate, Major John Sheppard brings up the six of his off-world Atlantis team: Teyla Emmagan's in the lead followed closely by Lt. Aiden Ford and finally Dr. Rodney McKay, wheezing hard as usual. As they race through the beautiful meadow on MPX-446, planet Luminance, the exotic yellow-blue grass whips at their legs leaving tell-tale markings on their trousers.
No bleach in this galaxy's gonna get out these stains, John muses. The thought pops into his head and quickly vanishes when slashes of blue-white lightning spider-web across the clear pastel pink and green alien sky and over the mountain range behind the Stargate. Crackling thunder follows an instant later. John glances at the sky, marveling at the lack of clouds. He's heard of dry lightning on Earth, but never really experienced it…except for that one crazy trip to Las Vegas, but he'd been really drunk-
"Incoming!" Ford yells and all four dive to the ground and cover their heads as lightning zaps nearby, sending a plume of dirt into the air and onto the team. They all cough from the dust.
John checks his watch until thunder rumbles then marks the time and waits. He looks up and judges the distance to the gate. The Stargate stands maybe a hundred yards away in front of a mountain on an ancient, 'barely-survived-the-weather' stone altar next to a dark pond. Broken stone pillars with ancient symbols surround the area making it inaccessible by ship, which he regrets thoroughly now.
Only seconds have passed since the lightning strike. John waves a hand through the dusty air. "Think that should be in the brochure?"
"Yeah, Ford," McKay groans, lifting himself to his elbows. "Definitely a great vacation spot."
"You're the one who thought it was pretty," Ford grumbles.
Rodney wipes the dirt from his face as he sits up and glares at Ford. "Well, the MALP didn't show-" Lightning strikes the Stargate; sparks leap from it, igniting a nearby tree. Rodney points sharply at the explosion. "That!"
Ford rolls his eyes and they both turn to Teyla when she speaks. "My father never mentioned storms of this kind."
Rodney raises his brows. "Certainly explains the lack of civilization though, huh? I mean, who'd stay on a plan-" Thunder rumbles loud enough to cut him off mid-sentence. He can feel the planet's surface jar from the concussion.
Getting to his feet, Sheppard yells: "That's two! Get moving. Ford, dial it up."
Rodney knows they have little time before the next assault. The pattern hasn't changed for the past hour: lightning spider-webs the sky followed by a crash of thunder. Next a deadly strike finds a target on the planet followed again by thunder; then a second flash of lightning does its damage on the ground, after the peel of thunder, the spider-webbing starts again.
Unfortunately for them, the lightning seems to be drawn to humans more than anything else. Rodney can't understand why—possibly due to all the hardware they carry—but since the storm started, they've all had bright red bulls-eyes painted on them. He and Teyla heed Sheppard's call and are instantly in motion, following Ford to the DHD. The Lieutenant punches in the address for Atlantis.
Nothing happens. Rodney looks back at Sheppard.
The Major's watching the sky; worry lines deepen on his forehead. "Lieutenant! Less than a minute!"
"Trying, sir." Ford dials again. The wormhole whooshes out just as lightning once again spider-webs overhead. Rodney sees the young Lieutenant enter the IDC on his wristband and a moment later nod acknowledgment.
Sheppard sharply motions toward the gate. "Teyla – go!"
Teyla races up the stone steps of the altar, Rodney and Ford follow with Sheppard bringing up the rear. Teyla rushes through the event horizon as Rodney and Ford reach the top step. Thunder rumbles, rocking the Stargate platform. Rodney glances over his shoulder expecting Sheppard to be right behind him and push him through the gate. Only he's not there.
For some reason, Sheppard skids to a stop at the edge of the pond and looks down. It's a brief pause, mere seconds, but long enough for the first strike of lightning to find its mark! As Rodney watches in horror, Sheppard's body jerks and bucks as megawatts of electricity zap through him from head to toe and he falls into the water face down. "Major!"
Rodney makes a move toward Sheppard but thunder rattles the altar nearly knocking both him and Ford off their feet. Rodney hears Ford yell: "McKay down."
Next thing Rodney knows, the air rushes out of his lungs as Ford dives forward, hits his waist and they both go through the gate. Rodney falls hard on his right shoulder in the Atlantis gate room with Ford landing half on and half off of him as if they were just playing football. Dust and large altar stones follow them through the gate before it shuts down.
"Rodney! What happened?"
Rodney looks up, seeing Dr. Elizabeth Weir standing at the balcony railing. Teyla helps Ford and Rodney to their feet. "Dial it up. We're going back," Rodney shouts.
Elizabeth leans heavily on the railing. "Where's Major Sheppard?" He can hear the worry in her voice. Like everyone else in Atlantis—except perhaps Bates, but no one counts him—Elizabeth holds great esteem for the Major.
Rodney raises a hand. "He'll be fine, if we go back now!" I hope, he adds silently. Rodney never had a brother, only a sister who's blindly jealous of his brains, but in the few months he's shared with Major Sheppard, he thinks he finally knows what all the sibling fuss is about. Sheppard and he fight and curse each other, but he feels deep down there's a growing respect…dare he say, a friendship even.
Teyla's face creases with worry lines. "The lightning?"
Ford looks at them with pain in his eyes. Talk about hero worship. The kid would be lost without Sheppard. Rodney locks his eyes onto Teyla's and she clearly understands the urgency. He looks back up at Elizabeth again. "Now would be good."
Elizabeth nods to Peter and as the scientist starts dialing the return address, Rodney, Teyla and Ford move aside as to not get caught in the wave.
Ford taps his foot impatiently. "C'mon. Dial it!"
"It's not locking on," Peter says loud enough for them to hear.
Rodney looks to Ford then Teyla; sure that he's mirroring their worried expressions.