Myths of Reality

A/N: After more than a month of excruciating slow progress due to various exams that demanded my whole and undivided attention, I’ve finished the final chapter of Myths of Reality which is my early Christmas present to you.

Chapter 6: Objects in motion

Continuity, the sixth myth of reality;
change is the only constant in life,
only the adaptable will prevail.

The nature of reality, Gith database

“Listen,” John said, hoping that the Gith wouldn’t execute him at once, “It’s not what it looks like!”

“Oh sure,” one of his captors said, “We have reports that Panopticon is under attack, Evincar Crovax is missing, you teleport into our mid with weapons draw and a high-ranking officer hold captive but it’s not what it looks like? You’re one of the worst liars I’ve ever met!”

“You only think that I’m a bad liar because I’m telling the truth!” John replied, though he guessed that trying to reason with the soldier was pointless, “And we didn’t hold Belbe captive but tried to help her!”

“He speaks the truth,” Teyla added, “We found her on our way out of Panopticon and decided to take her with us to a place where she would be safe. We don’t know who has stunned her and if she could, she would confirm our report!”

The Gith shot them a do-you-think-I’m-stupid-enough-to-buy-this-lousy-story look and started to say something only to be interrupted by the activation of the Door to Nothingness and the arrival of the last person John had expected to come to his aid. All Gith who weren’t busy with threatening him dropped to one knee as soon as Veldrin had completely materialized and Sheppard started to wonder if the streak of bad luck that had gotten him into this situation and seemed determined to make his life a living hell, had finally ended, for as new Evincar his unloved ally wielded enough power to get him out of this mess with a few well placed words.

However, his hope was replaced with worry and cold fury only a few seconds later because the former Highexecutor flashed him an icy smile and actually seemed to enjoy watching the Colonel’s predicament. More than a little worried, John wondered if Veldrin would have him captured and perhaps even executed for his defiance, after all there was no love lost between them and the Gith had shown more than once that he had no scruples when it came to dealing with enemies or securing his position. Besides he still owned his fellow Gith an explanation for the events of the last hours so it was possible that John would become his scapegoat and take the blame for the coup.

After a few excruciation moments of silence, the Gith that had interrogated him spoke up, interrupting his dark musings:

“Greetings Highexecutor, we’re glad to find you alive and well. We have reports about an attack on Panopticon and have arrested those intruders when they tried to escape. What happened and what are your orders?”

“I want you to search the city as well as Panopticon and to arrest every Lifestealer you find,” Veldrin replied, his face grim, “They and Commander Gix have started a coup and either killed Crovax or taken him captive. They tried to destroy Panopticon but I managed to charge the Ray Cannon and forced them to retreat!”

“Of course, Highexecutor,” John’s captor’s replied, a hint of insecurity in his voice, “Should I bring the intruders to the stasis cells then?”

“These ‘intruders’ have been crucial when putting down Gix’ conspiracy and getting imprisoned is not what I have in mind for them,” Veldrin stated, surprising everyone else in the room, “I’ll give you the details later Negator, now I want you to release them and take Necroshade Belbe to the infirmary. As soon as she’s up and running again, she’ll help you hunting down the remaining Lifestealers.”

The soldier’s face was inscrutable when he handed John his weapon, causing the Colonel to wonder if they actually believed Veldrin. Personally, he would be more than suspicious if his CO would order him to release some armed prisoners without a proper explanation but after all he wasn’t a role model for a soldier and had no idea if the Gith were used to getting left in the dark by their superiors.

Anyway, none of them objected and they quickly scattered, some using the Door to Nothingness to enter Panopticon while others headed back into the city. One of them had Belbe slung over his shoulder – to the Necroshade’s obvious displeasure who apparently hated getting transported in such an undignified way – and probably headed towards the infirmary while the rest followed the order they had been given and started to search the city. However, the guard that had interrogated John earlier seemed hesitant to leave them and only got moving when Veldrin flashed him some hand signals that probably meant ‘get moving’.

As soon as they were alone, Veldrin left the room and motioned them to follow him, wasting no time with explaining what this was about. Not as easily satisfied than his Gith subordinates, John caught up with him and asked him were they were going.

“The Stargate of course,” the Evincar stated dismissively, “We have a bargain after all!”

“Yeah but I didn’t expect you to let us go,” Sheppard admitted, “I contradicted you all the time and this would have been the perfect opportunity to pay me back.”

“Don’t think I haven’t considered it,” Veldrin responded with his typical icy smile, “But I have an offer to make that could be very rewarding for both of us and your freedom is a token of trust. Besides, if I had you arrested you would have told everyone that Belbe and not the Lifestealers started the coup. Not that any member of the Legion would put your word over mine, but such rumors could be very dangerous in the current, unstable situation!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep your secret,” John assured, deciding to play along in this sudden game of we-are-nice-to-each-other – at least until he knew what the Evincar was planning –, “But I don’t think they bought your story anyway!”

“Not necessarily,” the Evincar stated, “It might be hard for you to understand but out of their point of view it made sense and was absolutely convincing. The official version will be that Gix allied with the Lifestealers, offering them complete control over Shakuras in exchange for their loyal service. I was just busy with arresting you when I heard about the coup and enlisted your help because I wasn’t sure if part of the Legion supported the putsch and needed some reliable allies that had no reason to support Gix. As his prisoners, you were the perfect fit and together we entered Panopticon only to find Crovax’ personal chambers deserted. Gix tried to destroy the orbital fortress to make sure that none of his rivals could claim the Ray Cannon but I managed to retrieve the Seal of Dominion and forced him to retreat! Belbe was stunned while searching Panopticon with you and you had this unpleasant encounter with the Enforcers when you headed back to the Gate to enjoy your regained freedom. I know that it is not the most inventive story but I’m sure it’ll do its job.”

“And by blaming the Lifestealers you eliminate your major rivals in the process,” John added, impressed and worried at the same time by the Evincar’s talent for intrigue.

“Exactly,” the Gith responded, “I’m sure you realize that it’s far more fun to work for me than to work against me and that you will keep this in mind when considering my offer.”

“Ok, now you’ve got my attention!” Sheppard said, tired of this I-know-something-you-don’t attitude, “What kind of offer are we talking about?”

“I’ll tell you when we have reached the Gate!” Veldrin replied with a smile mischievous enough to be Belbe’s, “I hate having to explain things twice so the rest of your team should be present when I fill you in. All I can tell you now is that it’s one of the best and most generous offers I have ever made and that it would be wise to accept it!”

Somehow Veldrin’s sudden friendliness disquieted John even more than the mixture of arrogance, cruelty and cattiness the Evincar usual displayed. He couldn’t help but wonder whether he and his unloved ally had a similar understanding of what a gracious offer is.

* * * * *

Elsewhere

Lieutenant Ford sighed when the Gate shut down behind him, leaving him once again alone somewhere in the Pegasus Galaxy. A part of him regretted leaving his old friends behind while another part was still fuming about their – and especially McKay’s – ignorance and constant attempts to trick or force him back to Atlantis. Aiden had always hated being manipulated and since he was taking the enzyme, he had become a lot more cautious with trusting other people for he expected them to cheat or backstab him. McKay had been stupid enough to test his caution and had experienced the consequences firsthand.

However, he couldn’t deny that meeting his old team had made him feel even lonelier and lost in the vastness of this foreign galaxy than before. He missed having his team, his friends around him and was longing for some company – Belbe would also be a welcome sight right now, even it that meant he had to face whatever she had in mind for him. He just had to find a way to make them see the benefits of the enzyme and raked his mind for a way to convince them. He was sure that if the just tried the enzyme themselves, they would change their minds but he wasn’t naïve enough to believe that this would happen.

Suddenly a truly brilliant idea hit him, a wonderful, outrageous idea that would change everything and solve two problems at once. The sweet feeling of triumph filled him and he was just busy with contemplating the details of the plan when sudden dizziness ended his euphoria by forcing him to lean against the DHD to avoid falling over. He guessed that the fight with Gix was now taking his toll and that he’d better find a safe place to rest before he dropped unconscious next to the Stargate. He remembered that there was a village nearby and decided to search there for a hot meal and a place to stay. As soon as he was fit again – what probably wouldn’t take long thanks to the enzyme – he would work out the details of the plan that would make them see the truth.


* * * * *


Later, the gate room

They walked the rest of the way in silence and John was completely lost in his thoughts which had the unpleasant attitude to center around betrayal of all kind. Dawn was approaching on Shakuras but the faint light did little to banish the shadows that still seemed to leer at him and the soft wind that had come up sounded more like dark whispers telling of the grisly fate of the trusting.

John tried but failed miserably to shake off his gloomy thoughts and came to the conclusion that the City of Traitors was even creepier in twilight than in the deep of night. He felt threatened by all sides, not only by Veldrin and whatever insidious plan he was hatching at the moment but also by Ford who had chosen the most inconvenient moment to change back into a paranoid maniac. Though he had no idea what the Lieutenant wanted to discuss with McKay but he was pretty sure that the scientist would say the wrong thing and get himself into serious trouble.

After what appeared to be an hour but was probably not longer than 15 minutes, they finally arrived at Shakuras’ gate room and John’s worries were confirmed as soon as he stepped into the vast hall. Rodney was lying flat on his back next to a wall which – judging from the blood stains on it – had made contact with the astrophysicist’s head. While Teyla moved to the scientist’s side, John searched the room for Ford but found nothing that indicated the Lieutenant’s presence. Logic told him that the renegade Marine had disappeared through the Gate but in an act of almost childish defiance John refused to accept this unless he had sufficient proof. An almost inaudible groan caused him to concentrate on McKay again and he sighed in relief when Teyla told him that the scientist probably had a concussion and some nasty bruises but was in no imminent danger, both because Caldwell – and Elizabeth probably too – would have his ass if something serious would happen to Rodney and because Atlantis wouldn’t be the same without the eccentric astrophysicist.

“You okay, Rodney?” he asked, hoping that he scientist’s injuries weren’t more serious than Teyla had thought.

“Apart from the sudden and intensive impulse to murder this little bastard, I’m fine!” McKay responded, sounding angry enough to actually make his threat true, “What the hell were you thinking when you ordered me to go with him? I KNEW that it was a terrible idea but did you listen to me? Noooooo, you were too caught up in this no-one-gets-left-behind complex to listen to me and almost killed me with your stupid heroism!”

Anger welled up in John and he struggled to keep his voice calm when he answered, “What happened? And where is Ford?”

“Not here and that’s all I care about!” the scientist snapped, “He disappeared through the Gate after – I’m quite aware that I’m repeating myself – almost killing me!”

Sheppard felt his worries confirmed and was too stunned to hear the rest of the scientist’s retort. He had failed once again to save Ford from himself! Usually John was quite good in coping with failure but this ended as soon as lives were on stake which was definitely the case here for the kid would continue to waste himself with the enzyme and would probably die while hunting down Wraith for his next fix.

The guilt he had felt this morning returned with full strength and wiped every other thought from his mind. For a few moments nothing else mattered anymore, it was just him, Ford and his series of failures. The voice of reason and his military training told him to get a grip for he was still within the City of Traitors – which probably wasn’t the right place to face your inner demons – but John paid them no heed. With his inner eye he saw Ford, trapped into a cocoon after one of his hunting trips had gone wrong, as well as a female Wraith who sucked the life out of him. In his vision he was standing right next to the Wraith, unable to move and he was sure that Ford glared at him accusingly before he perished. Fortunately, Teyla’s voice shook him out of his stupor before his imagination became even more tormenting and he realized that he had been staring at the Gate for what felt like hours.

“Are you well, Colonel?” she asked, sounding worried, “You seem a little …distant.”

“I’m okay,” John was quick to reply, not wanting to discuss his feelings in public, “Do you have any idea why Ford did attack you Rodney?”

“Well apart from the fact that he is crazy..” McKay started before stopping suddenly and glancing nervously onto something right behind John.

Curious what might be able to stifle the talkative scientist when he was just about to curse a blue streak, Sheppard turned around and saw that Veldrin was currently playing with his daggers, having a rather irritated look on his face.

“As interesting as your conversation is,” he said without taking his eyes from his whirling knifes, “I have an offer to make and would prefer it if you could finish this little discussion later.”

John didn’t knew how but the Evincar managed to make this innocent remark sound like a threat and playing with the very same daggers which had gutted his predecessor made this act even more convincing.

“Ok, tell us what you have in mind,” he said, guessing it wouldn’t be wise to test his ally’s patience any longer.

“I’m sure that you remember that Belbe and I had a long discussion before we attacked the Door to Nothingness,” Veldrin started, mirroring the mischievous smile John had seen on him earlier, “Of course, it was not about the best way to strike – we had discussed this much earlier – but what would happen to you if our coup was successful. Belbe wanted to form an alliance with you but I fully expected you to betray us in the cause of the mission and didn’t want any unreliable confidants. Then the Necroshade said something that made me discard my original plan – which was to kill you – and made the thought of an enduring alliance between our people far more interesting. After all as current inhabitants of Atlantis you might have resources that could prove invaluable for us!”

“You TOLD her that we are from Atlantis?” Rodney snapped, automatically addressing John much to the latter’s confusion, “Really, why can’t military guys control themselves when alien women are around? The army should consider castrating all their recruits right along, that would spare us a lot of trouble!”

“I just answered her questions about Ford so I could get the information to avoid getting us killed,” John replied hotly, “She might have overheard us talking about Atlantis back on P3X475 and put one and one together! Besides, why do you think I’m responsible for this?”

“Because we have yet to meet an alien woman who couldn’t twist you around a finger,” McKay responded matter-of-factly, “Do you even realize how screwed we are? If the Wraith learn that Atlantis isn’t destroyed..”

“They will return and bomb you into oblivion,” Veldrin finished the astrophysicist’s gloomy prophecy, “But don’t worry we won’t pass knowledge of your survival to the Wraith. They are our enemies and turning Atlantis over to them won’t bring us any advantage. In fact, you are far more useful to us as allies for even though the Ray Cannon will destroy every Wraith fleet that threatens Shakuras, we can’t defeat them on our own – at least not at the moment. So I offer you an alliance, together we can break the Wraith’s rule over this galaxy once and for all!”

John considered this unexpected offer for some time, suspecting that the Evincar had conveniently left out several important details. He doubted that he would like working with the Gith but they could use some friends in this galaxy and Elizabeth would want him to push his personal feelings aside and at least consider allying with them. Torn between his instincts – which told him not to trust Veldrin – and his loyalty to Elizabeth he decided that it would be best if she handled this herself.

“Your offer is very generous but I have to consult my superior who is responsible for any kind of diplomatic negotiations,” he said, hoping that the Evincar would accept this.

“Of course,” Veldrin said smoothly, “Go ahead and inform your CO about my offer. Oh, one more thing: To make this bargain perfect, I want a ZPM as a token of trust from you!”

It took some time for the message to sink in and McKay was the first to realize what their possible ally demanded from them:

“You cannot be serious!” he said, “You want a ZPM in exchange for what? Being nice to us?”

John wondered whether using sarcasm was the right thing to do when dealing with someone as dangerous as Veldrin but he had to admit that McKay got a point: the Evincar’s demand was outrageous and unacceptable.

“It’s not like you’re not getting anything in exchange for the power source,” their would-be ally stated, “Our information about the Wraith could prove invaluable for you and together we might be able to find dozens of ZPMs! But I can’t risk giving you this information without a guarantee that you won’t abandon us once you have what you want, so I want something as useful and precious like a ZPM as security. Remember that this is a small price to pay for becoming the ally of a powerful empire that will break the Wraith’s rule over this galaxy once and for all!”

“Why do you need a ZPM?” McKay asked, “Isn’t your Ray Cannon powered by several of them?”

“Sure it is, but we can’t remove them without rendering our most effective defense useless,” the Evincar responded, “The rest of the City of Traitors was originally powered by ZPMs but the Ancients stole them during the Extinction, so we have to rely on geothermic energy instead which is by no means as effective and reliable as a ZPM would be.

“No way Veldrin,” John said, steel in his voice, “We need this ZPM ourselves and won’t trade it with anyone!”

“Well, I didn’t expect you to accept but I know another way to get what I want!” Veldrin said and suddenly several Gith soldiers stormed into the room, weapons drawn and ready, “Excellent timing, Negator! Be so kind and escort out guest to the stasis cells!”

“What’s going on?” John asked, “We had a bargain you treacherous bastard!”

“Since you have declined my generous offer, I have to use the more radical way to get this ZPM!” the former Highexecutor stated, “So here’s a new bargain: Your freedom in exchange for the ZPM. Drop your weapons and there will be no need for any permanent damage!”

While John concentrated on suppressing the sudden impulse to wipe the arrogant simile from the Evincar’s face, he noticed that McKay was edging closer to one of the consoles, careful to move slow enough not to attract the Gith’s attention. What the scientist was trying to do became obvious a few seconds later when the energy shield that he stopped them from reaching the Gate earlier reactivated, separating them from their captors.

“What? That’s impossible! Get this shield down!” Veldrin yelled at his confused-looking subordinates, having lost all of his usual composure.

“How did you do this?” John asked Rodney who was just busy with dialing the Gate.

“I expected that something would go wrong and using this energy field to cover our retreat seemed like a good idea so I passed my time waiting for you with modifying the security systems,” the scientist replied, “But hurry now, I have no idea how long this will last or if CMGs can penetrate it!”

After sending his id-code John ordered Teyla and McKay to get through the Stargate while he covered their six. Right when the scientist crossed the event horizon, the distinct sound of something hitting an energy shield got Sheppard’s attention and he realized that the Gith were trying to shoot him with their CMGs but apparently the field was strong enough to block the projectiles – at least for the moment.

“This isn’t over yet!” Veldrin yelled, “We’ll meet again Sheppard and than I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!”

“Same back to you,” John replied, amused by the Evincar’s anger, “And don’t worry, I’m a swift learner!”

Chuckling at the expression of pure outrage on Veldrin’s face, he turned around and ran into the event horizon, glad that this horrible day was finally over.

* * * * *


Conference Room, Atlantis

“We dialed the Gate and got back here,” John finished, “Veldrin seemed quite angry about being beaten in his own game.”

They were sitting in Atlantis’ conference room, looking exhausted and battered but glad to be home in one piece. Elizabeth doubted that their relive could match her own for she had bolted into the Gate room as soon as the first chevron had locked and had been dizzy with relieve when John’s id-code had been identified. She had been tempted to hug him but had discarded the thought when the Gate room had started to fill for she had no desire to become the object of the city’s gossip. Besides she was quite sure that Caldwell was only waiting for her to do something like that so he had a pretense of getting John replaced. So she had held her emotions in check and had scheduled a debriefing as soon as possible.

Beckett had wanted to examine them first but John had waved his concern off by saying that they were okay and that he would drop in as soon as he had explained what had happened. Now, Atlantis’ inner circle was gathered in the conference room – including Bates and Caldwell who had invited themselves – and had spent the last 15 minutes with listening to John’s report. Elizabeth’s mind was swimming with information and she had to admit that the events of the past day had managed to make leading Atlantis even more complicated.

“I know it sounds pretty bad but I’m sure that we’re quite safe at the moment,” John said, probably realizing how disturbing this piece of news was, “We just have to watch out for unfriendly guys dressed in black.”

“He has a point,” McKay stated, “The Gith have other things to do right now than plotting against us. Their society is in upheaval and their recovery from 10000 years of slavery under the Wraith will keep them busy for the next time. Besides they have no ships so there’s no way they can attack Atlantis as long as no one in here helps them. But I have to admit that – given enough time and resources – they have the potential to defeat the Wraith!”

“Are you serious about this?” Elizabeth asked, breaking the shocked silence that had filled the room after this revelation.

“Absolutely,” the scientist replied, “They’re Ancients after all – a twisted and more sinister version but still Ancients so unlike us they don’t have to tinker with a technology which is far superior to theirs. Of course, part of the City of Traitors is destroyed and the Ancients have deleted part of the Gith database but that’s only delaying the inevitable. I hate to admit it but there will be a Gith empire which commands an incredibly powerful weapon and holds a serious grudge against us!”

“If they are so powerful why did they want our help in the first place?” Caldwell asked, “What do they have to gain from allying with us?”

“Time,” John said, “With our help they could overcome their current difficulties a lot faster and could concentrate on paying the Wraith back for enslaving them. They don’t need us to win but with us they would be able to claim victory way faster than without us!”

“And Veldrin wanted to find out whether working with us was worth the risk,” Elizabeth concluded, “But you failed his test when you refused to give him the ZPM. I know you have done the right thing, but we could have used some new friends.”

“You must be kidding!” Rodney interrupted, “They are paranoid, violent and have the unpleasant habit of plotting against you! I guess we’re better off without maniacs in our mid!”

“I disagree with Dr. McKay,” Teyla said, “Not all Gith are as distrusting as Veldrin! Belbe for example seemed to be quite eager to ally with us and she has helped us a great deal during the last hours.”

“She may be nicer than Veldrin but that doesn’t mean that we can trust her,” John responded, “She follows her own secret agenda and I think the only person that really matters to her apart from herself is Ford. Besides, I don’t think that she will get rid of Veldrin anytime soon so the chances that we’ll come to an arrangement with the Gith a quite slim.”

“Speaking of Ford, where is he now and why didn’t he return with you?” Bates asked, causing John to scowl at him out of some reason Elizabeth didn’t know.

“As if you really care,” he growled, “You only see him as a threat which has to be neutralized and either don’t realize or don’t care that he is a friend who need our help!”

“Unlike you I don’t allow my personal feelings to cloud my judgment but that doesn’t I don’t want Ford back as much as everybody else on this base!” Bates snapped back, “You’re angry because you failed again to bring him back and need someone to blame so you can look into a mirror without seeing the incompetent sucker you are!”

John looked ready to beat the crap out of Bates for this and Elizabeth decided it was better to intervene before the argument changed from words to other, more primitive ways, of solving a dispute. She wondered if the Sergeant had hit a nerve with his comment for Sheppard usually wasn’t as short-tempered as he was now and if Ford’s fate had hit the Colonel harder than she had thought.

“Get a grip, both of you!” she said, putting steel into her voice, “Arguing is not going to get us anyway and I can’t allow that two important members of this expedition are coming to blows without any reason. Bates, you will pay the Colonel the respect he deserves and John, you will stop snapping at people who are just doing their job or I’ll put you out of duty until Dr. Heightmeyer has found the reason for you sudden aggressiveness!”

“I’m not going to see a shrink only because I had a rough day and if you had any idea of how it feels to see a friend killing himself..” John started but Elizabeth had no intention to let him finish this sentence.
“I know how it feels to lose people, Colonel, probably better than you do!” she replied acidly, “Now be quiet before you say something you’ll regret! Rodney, tell us what happened back there and why Ford attacked you!”

McKay didn’t seem too eager to share this experience but a well-placed glare of Sheppard made him stifle the angry monologue that had started to unfold and give them the report they wanted

“Fine,” the scientist said, “I was just busy with modifying the security system and speaking with Colonel Sheppard over radio….


* * * * *

”Ford what the hell are you doing?” McKay asked when the Lieutenant turned off the radio, “And why do you want to talk with me about Atlantis?”

“I want to know if I can return there without being thrown into the brick as soon as I cross the event horizon!” Ford said, throwing the radio away, “I have no desire to become a human sized lab rat for you!”

“Why don’t you talk with Teyla or Sheppard about this?” Rodney asked, feeling quite uncomfortable about this arrangement, “I’m sure they can tell you more about this than a scientist who hardly ever gets out of his lab!”

“Maybe but Sheppard can lie to me and Teyla can twist me around her finger but you can do neither,” Ford stated with a wolfish smile, “Now answer my question: Is it safe for me to return to Atlantis?”

“Of course it is safe, we’re your friends after all!” he said, hoping that the Lieutenant would like his answer.

“And you won’t force me to quit taking the enzyme?” Ford asked an expression of wild hope on his face.

Rodney wondered if naïveté was another side effect of the enzyme for of course they would try to get him off the enzyme. Caldwell would probably have him arrested as soon as he rematerialized on the other side and no one, not even Sheppard who was still on his Ford-isn’t-dangerous complex, would consider not trying to wean him off. Telling the Lieutenant this, sounded like a really bad idea so Rodney guessed he had to test his rather limited talent in lying to get himself out of trouble.

“I sure that Beckett will find a way for you to keep your superpowers and if you act normal no one should have a problem with that,” McKay said, hoping that this would work better than last time, “Think of it: You can come back to Atlantis, keep you superpowers and I’m sure that Sheppard will take you back in his team – all you have to do is to come with us!”

“I was right: you really can’t lie to me,” Ford stated, the hope on his face changing to resignation to anger within seconds, “Why just CAN’T you see that the enzyme is the best thing that ever happened to me? It’s so obvious that I’m stronger and faster than before, hell without it I would have drowned or frozen to death when I fell into the ocean during the siege! It’s like blaming the personal shield you found for dampening your fall when Sheppard threw you from this balcony!”

“That’s a lame comparison because the shield didn’t make me act like a maniac!” Rodney snapped his temper getting the better of him, a grave mistake judging by the murderous expression on Ford’s face. Rodney tried to get his gun out of its holster but the Lieutenant was quicker and snatched the weapon before grabbing him at the throat much like he had done with Beckett when the doctor had ordered him to return to the infirmary.

“You didn’t really think I would let you shoot me twice, did you McKay?” Ford snarled, “I guess I’ll finish now what I started on Radiation Planet!”

The dangerous edge in Ford’s voice sent a cold shiver down McKay’s spine and the scientist had enough time to hope that the Lieutenant didn’t mean what he thought he meant before Ford slammed him into a wall, causing everything to become fuzzy. He somehow felt Ford standing over him, aiming at him with one of his 9mils and waited surprisingly calmly for the end to come.

After what felt like an eternity he heard Ford taking his gun down and moving away from him, followed by the sounds of a dialing Stargate. The scientist had no idea why Ford was suddenly sparing his life but at the moment he could care less because he was still fighting back unconsciousness and – judging from the sluggishness of his thoughts – losing this battle.

“I’m sorry McKay but you shouldn’t have tried to trick me into coming back,” he heard Ford whisper, “Greet everyone from me and don’t worry I’ll be fine – maybe even better than fine.”

The last thing Rodney heard before passing out was the sound of him crossing the event horizon and the omnipresent, unsettling whisper that filled the City of Traitors, making him wonder if Colonel Sheppard would find him before the Gith did.

* * * * *

“Teyla woke me up later when she and Sheppard came back to the gate room,” McKay finished, “Ford was gone by then and I have no idea to which planet he went.”

“So we have lost him once again,” Elizabeth concluded, feeling more than a little depressed about this. Losing the very same person three times in row was frustrating at the least and she had her fill of losses for about the next 20 years. Teyla and John looked similarly distressed while Caldwell seemed to be boiling with rage about something and Bates’ expression was inscrutable.

“Well, I guess it’s a good sign that Ford didn’t kill you Rodney,” John said, “Not only because competent astrophysicists are hard to come by, but also because this shows that there is some of the old Ford left in him.”

“That’s beside the point,” Caldwell hissed, “Ford is a serious threat for the security of this base and you have not only let him escape again but have almost gotten your whole team killed and compromised Atlantis’ position to a race of former Wraith conspirators. Even for you that’s an unusual amount of incompetence, Sheppard! If you had followed my orders and had subdued the Lieutenant when you had the chance….”

“We wouldn’t be here, for Belbe would have captured as anyway and without Ford we would still be stuck in those dammed stasis cells!” Sheppard snapped back, “The Lieutenant is still my friend and there is no way I will kill him just because you don’t care enough to even consider helping him!”

“I always knew that you were too reckless and irresponsible to run this mission but unfortunately not everyone shares this opinion!” Caldwell said with a pointed look into Elizabeth’s direction, “So there’s not much I can do about this besides hoping that your constant disobeying of orders won’t get us all killed!”

Elizabeth stifled the rest of the argument by ordering John, McKay and Teyla to see Dr. Beckett and headed back to her office where she hoped to get some rest or at least some time without anyone dieing, getting missing in combat, getting stuck in the Stargate or getting hit by what ever fate had in mind for them today.

To her surprise, she managed to get back there without getting delayed by yet another catastrophe and when she sat down in front of her laptop, intending to translate another part of the Ancient database that could be anything from scientific notes to someone’s diary, she felt more relaxed than she had the whole day. She wondered if this made her a workaholic but digging into 10000 years old knowledge was just far more entertaining than watching several military guys arguing with each other.

After translating a few sentences she felt her mind wander towards John and the very same issue she had avoided thinking about since he came back from Shakuras: the big enigma that was their relationship. Nearly losing him had been terrible and the thought of never having told him about her feelings had tormented her the whole day and caused her to wonder whether she should tell him now to avoid coming into the same situation again. She guessed that this was the reason why her anger at him had completely extinguished and wondered if she would be as forgiving if someone else had questioned her empathy and feeling of responsibility that badly.

As much as she wanted to be with him, there were several good reasons why she shouldn’t. First of all, he was her chief military advisor and she feared that a relationship between them would make working with him close to impossible as well as short-lived for Caldwell would almost certainly find out and have one of them – probably John – replaced. Also Atlantis needed a competent and rational leader who wasn’t busy with sorting out her love life while yet another enemy had joined the picture. Elizabeth had never been a gambler and putting her heart on stake in these difficult times, when a tiny mistake could alarm all Wraith in the Pegasus Galaxy sounded far too reckless in her opinion. She decided that she couldn’t risk telling John about her feelings and wondered if this would be different someday.

* * * * *


“Ok Sheppard, you can do this!” John said to himself while standing on the gangway that led to Elizabeth’s office, “You vowed to do this after all, so stop acting like a dammed teenager, go in there and tell her! Let’s just hope that she isn’t mad about what you said to her.”

He had managed to escape the infirmary by telling Beckett that he had something important to discuss with Elizabeth and that he would come back later. He seriously doubted that the Scot had believed him but he had been too occupied with McKay – who was whiney enough when injured to drive everyone within a two-mile radius mad – to stop him. Perhaps it would be smarter to get his arm properly treated first but John knew that once he had getting started with doing so he would probably postpone speaking with Weir about his feelings forever. At first it had seemed fairly easy but right now he felt as nervous as a teenage boy who wants to ask the love of his life out – or so he thought because his first girlfriend had actually asked him out and spared him this usually embarrassing procedure. Apart from being jumpy he felt terrible for what he had said to her during the meeting and knew he owed her an apology for she was one of the best leaders he had ever met and hadn’t deserved to be treated that way.

Feeling the glances of everyone who had enough timing to be in the Gate room right now on his back, he gathered all the courage he had and entered her office, trying to act as usual despite the fact that what he planned to say would probably hit her like a bomb. He decided that if she was attracted to him, he would follow his old principle ‘screw the rules’ and take her right on her desk, no matter what Caldwell would make out of this.

“Didn’t I order you to go to the infirmary, John?” Weir asked, looking up from the laptop she had been typing on, “Perhaps I should also order you to stay there the next time you manage to get yourself almost killed.”

“Hey, I even promised to come back later,” John said, relieved that she didn’t seem to be too angry about what had happened earlier, “I don’t think Beckett believed me, but he had been all busy with 80 kilo of whiny astrophysicist so I guess this doesn’t matter. Got a minute?”

“Sure, I don’t make much progress with this translation anyway,” Elizabeth stated, “What is it?”

“Uh, I’ve got something important to tell you..” John started but got interrupted by McKay who stormed into the office, looking really excited about something.

“It is amazing,” the astrophysicist said, “Zelenka just told me that he has decoded part of the Gith data I’ve brought from Shakuras and we’ve found out that the Ray Cannon’s power source is virtually inexhaustible for it somehow manages to recharge the ZPMs that powers it while firing. I don’t know how it works yet but that could be the way to recycle drained ZPMs we have been looking for…”

“That’s fascinating Rodney, but I don’t think Dr. Beckett has cleared you to work yet so why don’t you go back to the infirmary and finish whatever test he wants to run?” Elizabeth replied, looking a little irritated by the scientist’s sudden appearance.

“I don’t like it but you’re probably right,” McKay said while turning to leave, “After all nothing works on this base without me correcting the other scientist mistakes so I should make sure that Ford didn’t inflict any permanent damage to the brilliant mind that saved us so often. Well, I’ll see you around then.”

“I guess I should have a word with Carson about how to keep patients from leaving the infirmary prematurely,” the expedition leader stated when McKay had left, “But what did you want to tell me Colonel?”

John really wanted to tell her, but somehow Rodney’s appearance had caused his courage to vanish and he just couldn’t get the words out. Once again something stopped him from spilling his heart out and all he wanted now was to find a graceful way out of this mess. He raked his mind for something he could tell her instead but finding none, he decided to do something extreme. It was perhaps a stupid thing to do but it would help him getting out of this room without giving too much away and he had wanted to do it anyway so he threw all caution in the wind and leaned forward to kiss her.

Though it lasted not more than about 10 seconds, the kiss seemed to like an eternity to John who waited in vain for Elizabeth to kiss him back. When he broke it, he realized that the expedition leader goggled at him as if she couldn’t believe what just happened.

“Sorry for snapping at everyone back in the debriefing,” he said, feeling the sudden urge to give her at least some kind of explanation, “It has been a rough day and I was frustrated because I have failed to bring Ford back. You’re always backing me up when Caldwell is trying to get me sacked and I shouldn’t have questioned your skill as a leader, for you are the best CO I’ve ever had – and the sexiest by the way.”

Elizabeth still seemed too shocked to reply but John guessed that this meant that she had forgiven him and decided to leave before she came back to her senses to avoid any embarrassing explanation. He told her that he would go back to the infirmary to let Beckett take a look at his arm and left the room before she could find a way to hold him back. Once outside he leaned back against a wall and wondered what he had been thinking to kiss her. Sure she hadn’t struggled or pushed him away but he guessed that she would have if she hadn’t been so surprised by his actions and if she had feelings for him, she would have followed him by now.

“Crap,” John muttered, “I am so screwed!”


* * * * *


“To victory,” Veldrin said, raising his glass.

“Victory,” Belbe answered, finishing the toast and taking a sip of the strong Gith wine they were drinking.

They were sitting in Crovax’ former throne room which had already been changed to suit its new occupants’ – which would be Veldrin’s – needs. The former Evincar had left most of his room bare which was a good thing in Belbe’s opinion for the Wraith/human hybrid had had a hideous taste for furniture, adorning each piece with spikes which – judging by the faint stains of dried blood on them – had been used several times to impale whoever had fallen out of Crovax’ favor at this moment.

Following his usual pragmatism, Veldrin had filled the room with the same items that had littered his old office in the Academy which stood in odd contrast to the massive, spiky throne that had remained unchanged, officially because the new Evincar didn’t want to risk damaging it but Belbe suspected that he wanted a reminder of the victory he had won today, the very same victory he was just celebrating with her.

While she had lain in the infirmary, waiting for the feeling to return into her limbs, the Enforcers had searched the city for the remaining Lifestealers, either arresting or – if they resisted arrest – executing them on the spot. The survivors would soon be brought to an uninhabited planet whose DHD had been disabled and left there to rot, a surprisingly gentle punishment in her opinion but Veldrin didn’t seem to share her profound hatred regarding the collaborators and probably considered this the easiest way to get rid of them. Crovax himself had somehow managed to escape Shakuras, much to the bounty hunter’s displeasure who was longing for another fight with the former Evincar and had appreciated doing so without having to search the whole galaxy for him. To clam her nerves, she took another sip of the heavy wine and had to remind herself not to overdo it for Gith wine was one of the strongest alcoholic drink in this part of the universe, probably because Gith needed much more alcohol than other races to relax due to their inborn watchfulness that bordered on paranoia.

“I must admit I was surprised by your decision not to become the next Highexecutor of the Legion,” Veldrin said, “Why do you want to remain a Necroshade when you could have more power as Highexecutor without having to strive through the many primitive worlds out there?”

“I prefer working alone and I can be more useful out there,” she replied, “My many contacts on other worlds will be invaluable in our war with the Wraiths and I have to admit that I couldn’t stand being on Shakuras all the time, I always have the impression that someone sneaks up to me! Other worlds may be more primitive but their inhabitants are by no means scheming enough to be any threat for me.”

“Of course they aren’t,” Veldrin agreed, “The only real threat to us are the Wraith and the Lanteans but once I’m finished they will either be eradicated or part of the new Gith empire!”

“May I speak openly, Evincar?” Belbe asked, wondering if Veldrin would listen to what she had to say.

“Your are my second-in-command, fellow conspirator and most trusted advisor so you don’t need my permission to speak,” the Evincar said softly, “I think I already know what you want to tell me.

“We should have allied with the Lanteans instead of declaring war to them,” the bounty hunter responded, careful to keep any traces of anger or accusation out of her voice, “They would have been a great help in our war with the Wraith and you shouldn’t have demanded a ZPM from them as exchange for our help. I know that we could use additional power but defeating the Wraith together would be much easier. When I first told you about them, I expected you would be thrilled to find such a powerful ally in the coming war but it seems like I was wrong. Is your dislike of Sheppard important enough to take such a big risk?”

“My feelings regarding this insolent whelp are of no importance for my decision,” her CO stated matter-of-factly, “You should know that there are no equal relationships, one partners is always the dominant one. The same is true for alliances and I wanted to find out what the Lanteans would give up for allying with us so I started with a truly outrageous claim to tell them that a bargain with the Gith is never cheap. If they had accepted it, I would have known that they could be coerced into servitude once the Wraith are finished and would have allied with them. But they have shone backbone and will now have to face the consequences!”

“What are my orders then?” Belbe asked, knowing that Veldrin had made up his mind so further arguing was pointless. Out of a long-term perspective his reasoning sounded solid but she had the nagging feeling that he was so focused on the time after they had defeated the Wraith that he risked losing this war.

“I want you to get back out there and collect as much information about the Wraith as possible,” the Evincar said after a few moments of consideration, “We need to know where they are, what they are doing at the moment and how well organized they are before attacking them in the open. Information about their ships is particularly interesting for out lack of ships is our greatest weakness and recycling their technology would greatly speed up the process of overcoming this disadvantage. Too bad that all information about Ancients ships have been removed from our database, things would be a lot easier if we didn’t need to rely on savaging Wraith technology.”

“That’s quite a challenge,” Belbe stated, “It will be outrageously difficult to sneak into a Wraith ship, hack into their computers and get the information you want!”

“That’s why I’m sending my best agent,” Veldrin said, smiling disarmingly, “Kill as many Wraith as you have to but avoid attracting too much attention. I want them to have as little information about our plans at possible until we are ready to strike. Oh, and should you encounter Sheppard or any other Lanteans, I expect you to treat them as you would treat a Wraith, regardless of whatever you think about my policy in this matter. Am I clear?”

“As glass, Evincar,” she replied, not quit stupid enough to voice her real opinion. Veldrin might trust her at the moment but trust was a rare and fleeting thing on Shakuras so she would play along – temporarily at least. The former Highexecutor seemed satisfied with her answer and the conversation moved away to more casual measures what gave her the opportunity to contemplate what to do next.

She appreciated having finally the chance to make the Wraith pay for enslaving her and quite agreed with Veldrin’s strategy to bring them down. However, despite her best efforts to prevent it, she and Aiden had ended up on different sides and she wondered how she would react if the Evincars’ crusade against the Lanteans would force her to capture or even kill Aiden. Usually her choice would be clear but something she couldn’t quite explain made her feel sick by the mere thought of hurting the Lieutenant.

This kind of feeling was completely new to her and she wondered when he had become that important to her. Physical attraction had caused her to sleep with him in the first place, combined with the unexplainable and foolish thought that she could somehow defy the Wraith by spending the night with one of their enemies. She hadn’t thought much of him until Gix ordered her to capture him, causing her to feel an unexpected pang of regret. Nevertheless, she hadn’t even considered not delivering him to the Commander until the use of a voidstone had forced her to return to Shakuras and had given her an opportunity to break free of her chains as well as to save his life.

While working with him, she had realized that there was more than physical attraction between them and – though she had no idea what exactly it was – this relationship was important to her. Her feelings were an important reason why she wanted to ally with the Lanteans and why she had rejected the position Veldrin had offered her. She knew that Aiden hadn’t returned to Atlantis and was somewhere out there, killing Wraith to refill his supply of enzyme and that he would almost certainly get into serious trouble.

She felt that she owned him to watch his back because he had helped her to regain at least part of her freedom, the very thing she had given up to stay alive on Shakuras. Aiden had sacrificed his home, his friends and a great part of his sanity in order to survive and probably could use someone who made sure that he didn’t get himself killed. She wasn’t sure if she should try to get him off the enzyme for he felt pretty reasonable to her – perhaps because she hadn’t known him until his addiction – and power was power after all. Deciding that she would leave this decision to him, she brought up her glass to a silent toast:

‘To us Aiden, two survivors who are trapped on opposing sides’


A/N First of all I want to thank all my readers for being such a great audience, especially my brother Felix “Mishra” Roth who agreed to be my beta reader despite his dislike of Stargate Atlantis fanfiction.

I’m planning to write a sequel taking place after the events of “the Hive” which won’t be limited to being a missing episode. I can’t tell you too much about it right now, only that you’ll meet many familiar faces and not all of them will survive the story. I have no idea when the first chapter will be finished but I’ll inform everyone who was kind enough to give me feedback when I up it. Speaking of feedback: I’m unsure whether I’ll start every chapter with a quotation in the sequel like I did here so I’m asking you if you liked them for if you didn’t I won’t bother to make new ones for they’re quite difficult to make up.

Anyway, merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you