AN okay, this has been bugging me for ages and I finally wrote it so if it seems a little… off that's why.
Rating - G
Summary – Most of the time the Pegasus galaxy feels familiar to Rodney, not in the way Atlantis does to Sheppard, more in a better the devil you know kind of a way. Gen Buffy Crossover
Not-So-Comfortably FamiliarThere were times when Rodney McKay hated the Pegasus galaxy, that wasn't that surprising, there were times when everyone did but most of the time it felt… familiar.
Not in the way Atlantis did to Sheppard, more in a better-the-devil-you-know kind of a way.
When Rodney was in the sixth grade he had been questioned by the CIA because of his science fair project. He hadn't lied to Sheppard when he'd told him that. What he had omitted however was who questioned him after the CIA had left.
The Watcher's Council had been very interested in such a smart child.
They'd made a mistake though, because even as they'd explained the intricacies of their organisation, even as he'd gaped in awe the first time he'd seen a slayer at work he'd seen their corruption… And he'd wanted to stop it.
Working to bring down the Council from within had been extremely tedious work and it hadn't been made any easier with the removal of those with any potential at all, such as Rupert Giles and Wesley Wyndham Price. Even if the last one was so unbelievably English at times!
Nevertheless, even as he'd researched he'd plotted and schemed and eventually he'd been successful.
For when the attack finally came the council was so not ready it was quite amusing and partly thanks to this, partly thanks to his tip, the attack had been a complete success. Leaving the slayers free to save the world, again, without interference this time. So it was a bit heartless, some sacrifices were necessary.
The Council had taught him that.
By that time though he'd been tired and so he'd requested a leave from the Oracles first to go to Russia and then Antarctica. They'd agreed but he'd known that it was just temporary and he'd never expected them to agree to his appointment to the Atlantis Project.
They had though, their permission given freely and almost immediately in the form of a dream the night after Major John Sheppard had sat in the control chair. He'd heard of Rupert Giles' appointment as the new head of the Council and had hoped that with the new generation in charge they hadn't needed him anymore. After all, he'd been in their service for nearly twenty-five years at that point, surely it was about time for a break.
Really he should have known better because they reached Atlantis and then had gotten their first reports of this galaxy via Sheppard's team and he'd understood completely. Wishing fervently that he'd done more actual fighting and less research during his time with the Council.
Naturally the first thing he'd done was to make sure he was on a first contact team, someone needed some experience of the mindset of creatures that thought you were delicious and Earth's technology after all.
Some retirement.
He stared at Steve, considering the hive mind the Wraith seemed to possess and wondering if it was in any way similar to the ability of vampires to sense any of their bloodline at any time.
Probably not, he decided ruefully. Despite the fact that they were, in essence, space vampires they'd shown little to no similarities other than the cheesy dialogue and their penchant to consider humans 'happy meals on legs'. As Spike had so tastefully put it.
Still, what he wouldn't give for a few dozen slayers at this point. He'd inquired subtly of Teyla about this galaxy's equivalent but once she'd understood she'd been completely horrified at the idea that anyone would face the Wraith alone. He could sympathise, he could still remember his reaction to the Powers, 'one girl' policy.
They must have a weakness though, crosses hadn't worked so it was doubtful that the religion path was the one to go down but sometimes it felt like he'd tried everything else.
Reaching for his clipboard he wondered idly if there was a priest on Atlantis.
Right, the test tonight was selenium, which, as he had discovered when he was thirteen, worked nicely in dissolving the exoskeleton of the Taltesh demon. If he had the chance, he would try platinum too, which, far from being a scientific method was more due to the fallibility of many Earth demons when faced with silver. Most Earth demons didn't have such expensive taste.
Sighing he opened his bag and pulled out the necessary ingredients. Despite the fact that it was three in the morning and he hadn't slept for two days his hands were perfectly steady as they administered the first test, he'd spent most of the first half of his life doing similar research anyway.
He had to be quick though, if he lingered too long there was always the chance that one of the soldiers on guard would alert Sheppard to his location and this was not something he wanted to try and explain. He didn't think that Sheppard would catch him but you never knew.
Sometimes, for all-powerful beings, the Powers had a lousy sense of humour.
Fin
AN Erm… yeah, I've wanted to write Rodney into the Watcher's Council for ages.