Title: The Pi Covenent
Author: AshtakRa
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters: Ronon/Lorne, slight Lorne/Sheppard, Radek/Cadman
Rating: PG (for now)
Summary: A comrade recovered, but how much of him remains? Weir mentioned the existence of advanced civilisations but did not elaborate on their intentions - The Pi Covenent could be their doom, or their salvation.
Chapter Two
The lunchroom was almost full when Sheppard entered and took a seat up the back, Chuck and Radek were already there so he was able to blend in with the science staff. This was the first clue that the room was half full of new recruits – the fact that they segregated themselves from non-military personnel. After several weeks and enough missions they would learn that here in Pegasus there was no such thing as 'civilian' and they would mix just like everyone else; that or they would be packaged home – Sheppard had no time for soldiers who refused to accept reality.
Probably because he sat with Radek and Chuck the table of marines did not notice him – so that he was able to hear their conversation. A big guy, Texan by his accent, was holding court with a bunch of newbies.
"The first thing you guys gotta learn – we don't have any friends in Pegasus, even our so called allies can't be trusted; you wanna survive trust in yourself and the marines." His voice lowered as the others leaned in, as if he was conveying some secret. "Even some of our own can be turned – they don't tell us much but I've 'eard stories – the previous XO, they got him boxed up in a cell on the sub-level."
Sheppard stifled a hiss – Lorne's recovery operation had been classified to senior staff and his team-mates; the Texan had got the location wrong but the fact he knew they had Lorne back was a concern. He would have to have a chat with everyone involved since if Earth heard about it Sheppard didn't even want to consider what their orders would be.
"Air-force Major he was." This brought a few sniggers from the other marines which served to fuel the big man's story-telling. "Course, no marine would have allowed himself to be caught like that; they say some alien super-computer took him, hollowed him out like a pumpkin at Halloween and stuffed him full of hardware."
"What, like some kind of 'Borg'?" asked a fresh faced private, probably didn't even shave yet thought Sheppard.
"Yeah," chuckled the Texan, rubbing his jaw. "Some of the others have said that, not a sci-fi nut myself but they told me what it meant – 'course if that's true I say we should put it down before it calls its friends… but that'll never happen."
"Why not?" another asked, Sheppard couldn't see who this time.
The Texan paused and looked around, still not noticing Sheppard behind him. "Word is the XO had a special relationship with one of our pet aliens."
"Special relationship?" the same one asked again.
"Yeah," snorted the Texan, "The kind you don't ask 'bout – and for some fucked up reason that alien faggot has more clout round here than us marines."
Sheppard stood, knowing now he'd have to intervene before this went too far – but he was stopped as three marines, long-termers, walked up to the table. One, Sergeant Hillmer nodded at Sheppard, letting him know they'd handle this. It had been a long day so Sheppard turned to Chuck and Radek, motioning the door and they left with him. He just didn't have time to get involved and Hilmer was a good marine, she'd set the new people straight and if it ended in punches – Sheppard was fairly sure he'd never receive a report.
SGASGASGASGA
Chuck went straight for command but Radek walked with Sheppard as they went to a transport lift. Silence reigned until they exited half-way across the city and Radek cleared his throat.
"There has been quite a few people talking Colonel – I think it is what you call an open secret now."
"As long as nobody sees him its still just a story," muttered Sheppard. "Besides, he doesn't look like a 'Borg' does he?"
Radek shook his head. "I had to ask what that meant first time and was put through six hours of tortuous American television – honestly Colonel, where do your people get their ideas?"
"Hey," said Sheppard defensively. "I'll have you know Star Trek is a landmark production and come on…we live in another Galaxy with space vampires."
Radek gave a non-committal grunt as they entered a long hallway ending in a large set of re-enforced blast doors. Only after they both had their DNA scanned and codes input did the doors release in a hexagonal iris-like fashion, slamming shut as soon as they stepped over the threshold. Sheppard glanced back at the doors.
"That was Chuck's work wasn't it?"
Chuckling quietly Radek nodded. "He is more Star Wars fan I believe."
They came to the control room where Cadman was on duty.
"What's up today Major, anything new?" Sheppard asked and received a strange look from the Major.
"Sorry sir," she answered. "Still getting used to the new pronoun. Dave's taken him for a run – so far they've gone past three active consoles and Nox hasn't even looked at them."
She pointed at a monitor where 'Nox' was running next to Doctor Parrish, another member from the rescue team who had volunteered to help.
They'd refused to call him Lorne until they could be sure if it was him or the program running him. So far all he did was claim to be the integration, as he called it. Nox had come about since he prattled off some designation that only the short name could be understood.
The two runners stopped, Parrish obviously breathing hard but Nox just stood in that half-alert stance he seemed to have. It was unnerving at first to see; any human, even when standing still, would make little movements, muscle twitches, hand clenches… but not Nox. He just stood like a statue, his eyes constantly roaming and for all the lack of movement the air of threatened action hung like a cloud over him.
They could see Parrish engaging him in conversation and Nox gave some short responses. Strangely Nox had not tried to antagonise Parrish like he had Sheppard and Cadman and later McKay. Perhaps he did not consider it possible that Parrish would or could try and hurt him, but then it was difficult to understand exactly what Nox was trying to achieve. As if he knew Sheppard was watching Nox turned to the camera – Parrish saw his look and motioned back, once again it was surprising that Nox obeyed and they jogged off, towards his quarters.
Cadman shook her head and switched monitors. "Last time we spoke he brought up every death our team had suffered, and tried to blame it on me – calling me stupid and lazy and-," she hesitated but continued with a stony expression that failed to hide her hurt. "He called me a weak and ineffectual female, saying that Lorne was repulsed by my very presence."
"You know what he was trying Major, you gotta let it go." Sheppard knew well enough how sharp Nox's barbs were, knowing exactly how to hurt them.
Radek walked over and in a rare display of affection put a hand on Cadman's shoulder. "He wants your anger, remember what Doctor Keller says – he has some mutated form of survivor's guilt, he wants us to hurt or kill him rather than see truth." Radek shrugged and went to work on one of the terminals, he sighed after a short time. "According to this Rodney was here late again, that man will work himself to death."
Sheppard raised his eyebrows at that. He hadn't seen much of McKay lately but hadn't thought much on it. They had been on a few missions but mostly it was him, Ronon and Teyla. The only way to keep Ronon focused and out of here was to go off-world.
"What's he working on – I thought we had the implants worked out."
"We do," answered Radek. "It is the 'how' of the integration that seems difficult to fathom. We know what each implant does but not how it works with the others, Rodney believes if we can figure that out we can fix Lor-… Nox."
Shaking his head Sheppard checked his firearm and went to enter the next secured area. He didn't voice it but knew he didn't have to because they were all thinking it. What if he couldn't be 'fixed', maybe Lorne really was dead and this thing they had was just hardware?
SGASGASGASGA
With Sheppard gone Cadman wasted no time in jumping up and immediately planting herself in Radek's lap, stifling any protest with a deep and passionate kiss. After a minute of that the scientist finally held her back and stifling a laugh he pushed his glasses back in place.
"Laura," he murmured, avoiding another kiss. "While I think the Colonel knows about us you are supposed to be on watch."
She laughed and looked back on the monitor. "They're fine – besides, if Nox had wanted to escape he could have by now."
Radek frowned, "What did you do?"
"My own little test," said Cadman sweetly but with a twist to her smile. "I left several holes in the security system, hard to find but Lorne, or Nox, would have had no problem detecting and using them to his advantage – he didn't and that tells me he wants to be here."
"That could have been dangerous."
She sighed and touched his forehead with hers. "I had to know." She leaned in and clutched him tight and once more Radek was amazed that they had ended up together – or more accurately that she agreed to go out with him.
"Sometimes I think he's so lost that he doesn't want to find his way back – but then I test him and he stays; my logic may not be up to your standards but it works for me," she whispered the last, "I can't give up on him but sometimes its so hard."
Radek smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I think your logic is perfect."
SGASGASGASGASGA
"Doctor Parrish."
"Colonel."
"Nox." Sheppard nodded at him but received little more than a glance in return. Parrish grabbed his bag and left, he never said much but had then he never failed to turn up for a run. Parrish wouldn't say why he persevered and Nox wouldn't discuss why he allowed the man to take him running.
Nox stripped off his shirt and threw it on the small bed. While his endurance was impressive and he could out-jog Parrish easily his body still perspired like any normal human. He put his thumbs into the elastic of his gym shorts but paused and turned his head, giving Sheppard a challenging grin before whipping the pants off. It seemed Nox had little aversion to nudity but knew that it could make some uncomfortable.
Sheppard tried to seem unaffected but knew it was useless, his quick look to the side had been noticed and Nox smiled in victory.
"This body needs to shower Colonel, were you going to join me?" asked Nox as he strutted to the side-room where bathroom facilities had been set up.
"That's fine," said Sheppard with a smile of his own. "I can talk from here and I'm not the audience you want." He received no answer and heard the water start up.
"I'm here to discuss possible threats Nox, its time we discussed who and what made you." To be honest Sheppard had wanted to discuss the details earlier but Keller had warned against it, already concerned that although he had shown no signs of being suicidal – apart from trying to get them to kill him, Nox may suffer some kind of neural shut-down if asked to divulge his former captors identity.
"Sorry Colonel," yelled Nox, the metallic echo worse when louder, "I can't quite hear you out there."
Sheppard knew it to be a lie but was in no mood to play that game today. He went into the bathroom and took a seat facing the shower – some games he could play. Nox was lathering himself up to the side of the water-stream and turned to smirk at the Colonel.
"When we lost Major Lorne he was on a planet inhabited by farmers with little in the way of advanced technology," Sheppard continued, not about to repeat his former question. "They obviously didn't do this," his hand indicated Nox's body, even though apart form the tattoos no technology was apparent. Under the hot water the tattoos almost glowed, their metallic nature becoming more visible when exposed to energy. They could feed off ambient heat apparently, their internal power supply so efficient that they required little more energy than a wristwatch would to keep them activated. Keller, with McKay's help, had ensured most of them could not fully activate since some may be weapons – but they had to at least keep them in some kind of stand-by mode or Nox's organic organs started shutting down.
"They did not," answered Nox flatly. He washed away the body-soap and even seemed to be enjoying the feel of the water as he ran hands over his now clean skin, giving the tattoos special attention. Perhaps he was doing it subconsciously or maybe he was trying to unnerve Sheppard? The exact psychology of Nox was impossible to determine and there was no way they were risking exposure by calling in an expert; besides which Keller was quite well versed on the subject and kept them informed as best possible.
Several times Nox had been either subtly or overtly trying to seduce Sheppard, again whether it was on purpose or just for amusement they could not figure. Sheppard suspected it was to further antagonise him but he played along to a certain extent – if he had a problem with such things he would never had survived in Pegasus this long.
Ronon was a different matter. The first time he watched Nox do it Cadman had to block him entering the room and it had taken two hours of beer and movies to convince Ronon that he, Sheppard, had no intent of taking up Nox's offers. Nox was no doubt well aware Ronon would be watching and Sheppard figured that's why he did it – more need to punish those around him and himself.
"So you want to tell me what happened?" asked Sheppard a little more softly. They were entering delicate territory and he had no idea how this might play out. The fact was if there was an alien civilisation with this level of technology they had to know if they were a threat, or a possible ally – knowing Pegasus they would be both. The Texan had been right about that.
Turning off the water Nox grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, not bothering to dry himself. They kept the heat higher than normal anyway to feed his implants so he would dry soon enough. Leaning on the basin and holding his arms clasped across his abdomen Nox stared off into space.
Sheppard kept his expression blank but inside he wanted to shout in anger. The stance, the arms and even the way he leaned back screamed that this man was Major Evan Lorne – but Nox still claimed that 'entity' was dead. They had all had similar experiences; be it how he pronounced words, smiled, ate, his humour (he still had some) and even the way he blinked before looking up at you. All these actions were not a result of stolen memories – they were sub-conscious motions of a man who was not dead but could not admit it to himself.
"The Major's memory of that is difficult to access." Nox frowned, blinked and looked at Sheppard through dripping hair. "Is it not enough to know that you left him, he died and we retrieved the body for integration?"
Nox was trying to inflict another jab at Sheppard; they had left him – he had died because they had abandoned him. It was not entirely correct but enough truth to make it painful. It was enough for Sheppard to hear the catch in Nox's voice when he said 'you left him' –
you left 'me'
That is what Sheppard knew Nox wanted to say – but couldn't, not yet.
As a commander Sheppard may have been easier going than most but he was not a 'touchy feely' one, regardless of that he did want to go over and hug Nox, assure him that no-one had abandoned him. They weren't there yet though and he waited, seeing if Nox would elaborate.
"Integration?" he prompted.
Nox flexed an arm and traced a bronzed latticed wheel tattoo on his bicep. "You know of what I speak."
"I know you have technology in you, stuff we can barely understand… but why?"
Nox stood and walked past Sheppard. Following him out Sheppard waited as Nox put on clothes, black pants and a long-sleeved red and black spiral patterned shirt. For a man claiming to be a machine implanted in a man he had remarkable fashion sense.
"Why not," shrugged Nox. "Your culture can see it as recycling – ours saw a vessel that could be useful and acquired it."
Now that he was dressed and looked more Lorne than Nox Sheppard's temper flared just a little. "Listen to yourself – recycling… a vessel?" He walked over and grabbed Nox, no Lorne, by the shoulders. "This is not just a vessel, not just a body!"
He pushed him back, only slightly but the fact that Nox gave way spoke volumes. "This is Evan Lorne," he poked a finger in the other man's chest. "You are Major Evan Lorne – whatever happened on that planet, no matter what's been done to you it doesn't matter – you are still that man."
Expecting an outburst, some kind of physical response Sheppard was surprised when Lorne/Nox did not move. The man's expression was blank and he did not try to get out of Sheppard's hold. His head moved from side to side very slowly.
"No," he whispered. "I am not."
"You have to be," answered Sheppard, his own voice almost breaking.
Nox looked confused for the first time. "You are all so adamant about this – why must I be this man, why is it so important that you have him back?"
Releasing him Sheppard stepped away. "Because there is someone else who is lost," unsure if he should continue but deciding it was time for some risks Sheppard continued, "This man cares for you very much and needs Evan Lorne back; if not we may lose you both."
At Nox's completely confused stare Sheppard's jaw fell open. While Nox had never mentioned Ronon and they had not allowed the two to meet he had thought Nox was simply avoiding the issue.
"Ronon," rasped Sheppard. "I'm talking about Ronon."
"I…" Nox squinted his eyes as only Lorne would do when perplexed. "I have no memory of this person."
Tbc…