Camouflage12

Rodney nearly leapt from his seat in the Jumper, staring out the open hatchway as John came into view. Hauling the prone body of the colonel. Both were clad in black. Both were bloody, bruised, brutal-looking. So alike that the scientist could not tell which was which. He swallowed. Stood. Pulled his gun as boots clambered up the ramp. "Stop! Which one are you?"

John met his gaze, dumping the colonel near the backseat. "It's me, Rodney."

"You who? John or Sheppard?"

John held up his left hand. Showed the ring. A gleaming, clean band of gold on his otherwise bloody, battered hand. "We need to get going, Rodney. That stun beam only lasts thirty minutes. He's a tough son of a bitch so we–"

"How do I know you are really you? You could have taken that ring, switched it to your finger!" Rodney accused, unconvinced. Gun wavering in his hand as he looked from one Sheppard to the other and back again.

John sighed. Thinking for a moment. Thankful for the distraction. "Rodney! It's me! You're making plans for a bachelor party for me, right? One I don't want, by the way. But Moira said no strippers. Not in this galaxy."

"Right, she did...which really spoils the whole bachelor party theme, I know, but I'm thinking we could get away with dancers to...oh. John! Thank God! You look like hell!"

John smirked. "Feel like it too, Rodney. You can lower the gun now."

"What? Oh! Sorry!" Rodney holstered it. Glanced at the prone body. "Wow."

"Let's go. Tie him up, would you? Just to be safe." J ohn moved past his friend to the front of the ship.

"You...um, you're sure he's out?" Rodney hesitated.

"Like a light. But you better be quick." John slid into the pilot's seat, leaned with a wave of dizziness. Temples pounding. He powered up the ship. Hit the comm. "Atlantis, plan's a go. Open the hatch." He glanced behind to see Rodney carefully tying the colonel's hands behind his back. "McKay!"

Rodney moved to the co-pilot's seat. "Remember, John, timing is everything. We have to be precise or–"

"Poof, yeah, I remember. It's all down to your calculations now. If you made the slightest mistake–"

"I didn't! At least I think I didn't," Rodney admitted as the ship rose, rose into the blue sky. Soared above the city. "The equations are accurate down to the last finite...God, I'll be glad when Moira's back. You've been a real bastard without her."

"I know." The colonel's words circled, baiting, but John shoved them away. He guided the ship around the city to a disused pier. A ship stood there. A hybrid of an Atlantean Jumper and a Wraith Dart. He landed near it. "His ship. Wish we could keep it." John stood. "All right, Rodney. You follow in this ship. I'll fly him down to the anomaly. Extend the shield between us and wait for my mark."

"You just be sure to haul ass out of there once you initiate the keycard, John," Rodney warned, handing it to him. "Or you will be pulled into that reality forever. And Moira will haul my ass."

John smiled. "That she will. Okay. Transfer of prisoner. Then we kick his fucking ass out of our reality forever."

Sheppard stirred. Felt aches and pains all over his body. Tasted blood in his mouth. He squinted, slowly opening his eyes. Body stiff from the energy of the stun gun. He looked round. Found himself prone in the back of his own ship. He turned slightly, feeling his wrists tied behind his back. Grimaced. Eyed the front of the ship. Saw John piloting the ship to the depths of the ocean, following the HUD as it guided him to the anomaly.

Sheppard inwardly swore. Blaming himself for underestimating his better version. He moved slowly. Towards the wall. Towards a slight projection of metal. He shifted the bonds to it. Began sawing at them with determined efficiency, ignoring the pain as the sharp edges cut into his flesh.

John was standing at the controls. The ship was settled on the ocean floor. Waters and pressure lapped at the shielded vehicle. He blinked as his vision blurred. Cleared. He removed the original keycard, installed the one Rodney had devised. It wouldn't fit. Frowning John tried it again, adjusting the angle. It slid in with a tiny click. Lights blinked, then faded. Relieved John pocketed the original keycard. He wiped his brow, his face.

Cursed feeling a gun at his back.

"What do you think you're doing, Johnny?"

"Getting you out of my city, colonel." John slowly turned as the gun was pulled back. The colonel's bloody, raw visage mirrored his own. Saw bloody wrists where he had cut through the bonds. "The formula. In my pocket. Carson refined it. You'll be able to eliminate not only the ATA Wraith but every Wraith in your galaxy with it."

Sheppard hesitated, suspecting a trap. A ruse. He felt in John's shirt pocket, pulled out a flash drive. Eyes never leaving John's as he pocketed it. "So there's nothing to stop me from killing you, is there?"

"I guess not," John agreed wearily, shrugging. Moving a little to block the control panel. "But you wouldn't leave an Atlantis without a Sheppard, would you?"

"No. But I can make sure you never see Moira again. The final loss. It's what you deserve, after all. For all the others. And the ones to come. There will always be more."

"I know. But Moira won't be one of them. You failed her, colonel. Not me."

The shot came. John dropped but still the bullet grazed his brow. Blood poured down his face as his flesh burned. But the bullet flew onwards, hit the control panel. Sparks flew. John slammed his hand onto the controls behind him, initializing the ship's power. He fell, rolled out of the way, vision a blurry, red haze as Sheppard lunged past him.

"Shit! What the hell have you done?" The anomaly flared brightly. Colors dancing in waves in the water. "You son of a bitch! What is this? I can't override!" The ship was being pulled towards the anomaly.

John staggered to his feet. Grabbed a gun, backing up towards the hatch. "Say goodbye, colonel. You will never reach us again! You will never, never see my Moira again!"

Sheppard whirled, reaching for his gun but John smiled. Shook it in front of him. Shot his darker self in the shoulder. John slammed the hatch open, staggered backwards into the shield extended between the two ships.

"John! Haul ass! The anomaly's spiking!" Rodney warned.

John heeded Rodney's warning. He slammed the hatch shut as Sheppard was working frantically at the controls. Unable to override the new programming. Unable to remove the new keycard.

John watched as the hybrid ship was inexorably pulled into the anomaly. The lights bright, dazzling as they swallowed the vessel. He stumbled, fell as the shield between the two ships began to fail. Water and pressure were racing towards him. "Shit, shit!"

"John! The shield's failing!"

"I noticed! Go, go!" John scrambled to his feet, ran. Fell onto the ramp as blood and dizziness blinded him. "Go!" he croaked. A wave of pressure squeezed his lungs as water surged in a cold, cold grip.

Rodney swore. He hauled John up into the ship. Slammed the hatch closed before they were both inundated. "Hang on! The inertia dampeners are holding against the anomaly but it is still open!" He ran to the controls, trying to force the ship away from the blinding lights. But it was being pulled towards it. "It's like a traction beam! I'm at full power but it's stronger!"

John climbed to his feet, glancing out the hatch's window. "Is the colonel through?" he rasped, placing a hand on the wall to steady himself. He could feel the ship sliding on the ocean floor. Could feel its straining systems like a living thing.

"Yes! He's through! And so are we unless we can stop this!"

John limped to the front of the ship. Fell into the pilot's seat. "Why isn't the anomaly closing?"

"I don't know! It must be the additional intake of power! We have five minutes, maybe less before we are in the event horizon and won't be able to break free!"

"Crap." John blinked, clearing his mind. His vision. He grabbed the controls. "Get ready. I am shutting down all systems for a final thrust. That should do it."

"Are you crazy? We'll lose everything! Life support, the shielding, the heat, did I say life support?"

"For a few minutes! It's either that or get sucked into that hell! Trust me, Rodney, you do not want to go there! Hold on!"

The ship stalled. Went abruptly dark. Still. Dead in the water. The anomaly's light filled the ship in streaks of color. Yanking it closer, closer. Faster now as there was no power to fight against it. John waited, trying not to breathe. Perspiring, bleeding. Then he grabbed the controls, powered up forcefully. Using his mind, his gene to activate the ship in a way he had never attempted before, controlling it utterly with his willpower. Accessing systems, directing all of them to one goal, one purpose.

The ship was a living thing in his hands. Screaming as the pressure crushed. Frozen as the waters chilled. Dragging on the sands towards the light threatening to swallow it whole. Until the power flared to life. The ship shot forward, off the ocean floor and out of the clutches of the anomaly. The power settled. Lights flickered, remained on. Air circulated. The shield enfolded the ship in a protective embrace. Pressure easing. John sped through the waters, turned. Turned the ship to see the anomaly's crimson glow fade. Then abruptly wink out of existence.

"Rodney! Is it shut? Rodney!" He roughly shook the other man.

Rodney gasped, taking in a deep breath. He opened his eyes. Straightened from his cringe on the seat. "What? We're still alive! We're clear! Yes!" He checked the console. "It's shut! No energy readings! We'll need to scan to be sure but I think it is permanently locked!"

"Good. Take...take controls...of..."

"What? You did it, John! You...John?"

John was sliding sideways out of the chair. He fell to the floor. "I don't feel so good...take over...to Atlantis...you...good job, Rodney..." The blackness submerged him and he fell almost gratefully into its blank, dark depths.

Voices. John tried to focus, but his head was pounding. Pain lacerated his body in a dozen places. He blearily opened his eyes. Squinted at the harsh lights of the infirmary. Felt the hard cot underneath him. He could make out a woman standing near the bed. "Elizabeth?"

"John? Carson, he's awake!"

Carson rushed to the bed, past the others. He checked John's pulse. Eyes. Head. "About bloody time, colonel. How do you feel?"

John stared, uncomprehending for a moment. "Huh? Oh...like I kicked my own ass. Damn special ops training...how long this time?"

"Three days this time, John," Carson informed. "You took a hell of a beating. Plus you suffered blood loss, the bends, injuries, the–"

"So did I, well, the bends, and I did cut my finger," Rodney noted. He shrugged as all glanced at him, then back to John. "What?"

"The anomaly?" John asked, gaze raking over the scientist. Then Elizabeth. Then Carson.

"Shut. So far all scans are negative. No energy readings whatsoever," Elizabeth soothed.

"We should attempt to trigger it, just to be certain, but for all intents and purposes that door is locked forever," Rodney agreed, smiling. "Which means we can bring Moira home to you."

"As soon as we can contact the Daedalus, that is," Elizabeth added with a smile.

"Yes. And then she can take care of you and make certain you heal properly," Carson agreed. "Moira's safe now, John. You can bring her home. John?"

John was staring at his friends, puzzled. He blinked. Eying their smiling faces. Their concern, their relief. He had completed the mission. Had kept them safe. Had kept them alive. The enemy had been eliminated with no additional loss of life. But one thing still puzzled him. Made his brow furrow with incomprehension.

"Who's Moira?"