Dark Muse chapter five
Story: Dark Muse
Pairing: Sheppard/Lorne
Rating: M for the moment
Genre: AU from the beginning of season4, McKay is in charge and the Asurans are allies
Disclaimer: I own nothing but use everything without remorse
Warning: MM slash
Spoilers: none
Summary: After being freed from the Wraith Major Lorne must face a very different future to the one he imagined. Old friends will resurface and the tide of war will turn. Who will survive and who will fall? Sequal to Atlantis Manifest.
Link to other Chapters and Stories: AshtakRa Master File
Chapter 5: Spot on the Soul
“That system there,” commanded McKay and the technician hurried to bring it up, frowning in concentration. The Atlantis chief huffed irritably and the unfortunate soul made several mistakes before succeeding. The system expanded from a dot on the outer edge of the holographic galaxy to fill the entire top half of the room. The Stargate was down but their satellite feed still worked and the cloaked sensor grid now reached almost the entire galaxy.
A small purple dot flashed on the edge of a moon circling a gas giant. Narrowing his eyes Mckay murmured to himself before asking for the data. The dot was a personal locator beacon - but purple meant it was one that had been unused for some time.
“It’s a civilian scientist sir, listed as MIA six months ago.”
SGASGASGASGA
Teth entered his private quarters and removed the heavy coat, its weight hard to bare today. The polished metal wall served as a mirror and he examined his injuries, never to heal properly and for a Wraith that usually meant death. He had been saved, somehow and by means he could not yet understand. At least he knew who and turned to the seated figure in the corner of the room.
“It is as you said, although he plans to betray us, the clones do function.”
“Of course,” answered the other. “Ba’al is insidious but he is thorough - his lies work best when covered in truth - as long as we can replicate the process let him have his plans.”
“I cannot help but think that his plans may succeed - Sheppard and Lorne despise him but speak highly of his strategic ability.”
The figure waved derisively, “Do not concern yourself my friend - have I not guided you thus far without incident?”
Teth absently stroked his chest armor, one of the pieces of technology keeping him alive. “Perhaps that is your strategy - what we do here is beyond dangerous…it will change the balance of power in Pegasus and you have yet to reveal why you help us.”
The seated speaker merely stared at Teth intensely for a time before answering. “By helping you I move this galaxy one step closer to lasting peace, a goal I have been working towards longer than you have been alive.” He stood and moved closer to the Wraith, his eyes darkening in slighted anger. “You cannot begin to understand my motives nor realize with what eyes I view you and your kind. All that I once loved was lost in that war, everything I knew and my whole culture waned and died because of your appetites.” He now stood close enough to look up into the Wraith’s face. “And now the war is happening all over again - but I promise you the outcome will be very different this time.”
“How can you be sure?”
The ancient known as David Parrish turned his head and half-smiled. “Because I am quite familiar with the future my friend, very intimate indeed.”
SGSGASGASGASGA
“What!” spluttered McKay and pushed the tech out of the way, checking the information himself. There was no mistake, the beacon belonged to that damned ancient soothsayer who had managed to fool not only every security screen test but the two most senior military officers in Atlantis. Although McKay begrudgingly admitted that David had not done anything malicious, his awe of ancients had lessened after years fixing up their mistakes.
They had tried to locate Sheppard but had only found Teyla’s and Ronon’s beacons on the world they had been assigned to. A search of nearby systems had found this weak signal and McKay could guess why it was so weak. The gas giant was emitting high levels of radiation, easily disrupting sensor equipment - even the powerful ones designed by Chuck. At the thought of the injured man McKay’s eyes moved to the twisted metal blast area that had been the Stargate controls. His blood was still there, more important matters made cleaning a low priority. Swallowing his emotion McKay made his way to the centre of the room, standing right underneath the holographic display of the orbiting moon.
This was no coincidence he knew. If Parrish was there and they could not locate Sheppard or Lorne on the sensors, then odds on they were there too. Also, if Parrish had suddenly decided to reveal his location then the message was clear.
“Prepare the city for immediate launch,” McKay yelled at no-one in particular, assuming someone would pass on the orders.
After a shocked silence one brave technician finally asked for a destination.
McKay just glared for a moment, tempted to question the person’s lineage, but time was short and his friends were in trouble - when weren’t they?
“Here,” he pointed at the gas giant and moon. “And since there is no gate listed for that system we have to lift off - now!”
“Sir, the Daedalus is still docked-.”
“Yes,” snapped McKay, “I am aware of that, they can come along for the ride - if Caldwell has any problems put him through to my office.”
“Uh, Dr McKay,” Major Cadman’s voice carried from the stairs, she had obviously come in for the last bit. “Are we making an assault or is this a rescue mission.”
A steely glare answered her and she turned away a little embarrassed. “Of course,” she muttered to herself. “Its Sheppard, a rescue mission is an assault.”
SGASGASGASGASGA
“Why did you have me bring Lorne here?” Teth demanded, changing the subject from what he knew from experience Parrish would never answer properly.
“I didn’t bring him here, you did.”
“At your suggestion,” prompted the Wraith.
“No,” answered Parrish. “I said to use Sheppard to get in touch with Atlantis, Lorne being with him was…unexpected.”
“I think you knew he would be there - I believe you know of our connection and think to unsettle me with it.”
“Connection?” asked Parrish, feigning ignorance, “With a human? How undignified for you.”
Teth growled but his menace was wasted on the ancient who just shrugged and smiled.
“It is not unknown to form a bond with humans when we share our life-force,” explained Teth, suspecting Parrish already knew this. “But it is usually as a master to a slave, not like this.”
Parrish lifted his brows in surprised comprehension, maybe he did not know as much as he claimed thought Teth.
“You like him don’t you?” the ancient asked with just a touch of awe. At Teth’s non-committal scowl Parrish continued. “Fascinating - I well know the charms of Evan Lorne but he has managed to win over even a Wraith.”
“What I feel for Lorne is something you cannot comprehend,” muttered Teth. “Wraith do not engage in your animalistic mating rituals - our bonds are of the mind and soul.”
“I always wondered,” said Parrish half to himself. “Besides, you might find Sheppard watching you closely if you try to ‘connect’ with Lorne anymore.” At Teth’s confused expression Parrish gave a laugh. “Perhaps jealousy is not something Wraith know either - but I think you’re about to find out.”
SGASGASGASGA
The absence of pain is what woke Chuck up first, mostly because he knew he should be in agony - and if he wasn't then perhaps he was dead. He was not a religious man, in fact being a scientist he felt compelled to be an atheist, but he still thought there was the possibility of life after death; if the ancients could ascend then it pretty much proved that a part of their consciousness could be pure energy. It was not a case of wanting to die, far from it, but he had seen what Major Lorne had gone through with his injuries and the prospect was not attractive. Of course then Chuck took a breath, felt a hand in his and knew that no matter the pain he wanted to be alive.
No pain was good too, damn they had the best drugs here in Pegasus. His reality coalesced to the dim lighting of the infirmary, wait, why was it set so low? Opening his eyes a little wider he could see Radek by his side, catching a little sleep by the look of it. Chuck smiled at the sight but was secretly thrilled that Radek was here, and not busily running the science section in what had to be some kind of emergency. Although his memory of the events that led him here were hazy Chuck knew enough that being attacked through the Stargate had to be a precursor to a larger assault.
Speaking of which, Chuck dared to look down at himself and winced in unfelt pain. His chest was wrapped firmly in a swathe of bandages with tubes and wires running in and out. Some tubes held clear fluid while others were blood and one was a dirty yellow - he really didn't want to know what that one contained. Something was telling him he really shouldn't be alive, let alone conscious and able to move.
His last memory had been looking up at McKay as blood filled his mouth and choked off his air supply. He had even felt the ripping of sinew in his chest and the release of arterial blood, like a tap being left on and running hot across his skin. Unable to talk he had formed Radek's name with his last bit of energy before oblivion claimed him. Now here he was, alive somehow and Atlantis had obviously not been overrun by Wraith - his overload must have been successful.
The lights flickered and a deep rumble shook the bed. Maybe his assumption was a little off - they were under attack. Another shock woke Radek who blinked away and took back his hand to rub at his weary eyes. Now that they were open Chuck could see how red they were and he had to assume Radek had been working non-stop before coming here.
"Are we in deep shit?" Chuck managed to rasp out. Of course all Radek probably heard was mumble mumble 'eep' 'it' but he nodded anyhow, his ability to discern garbled words pretty good after a life-time working with other languages.
"The Aurans have been destroyed, the Wraith have mounted full attack and Jaffa have been attacking as well - we are now mobile and barely able to maintain hyperspace" Radek sighed heavily and his initial smile at seeing Chuck awake slipped. "Colonel Sheppard's team are out of contact and we have already evacuated non-essential personnel."
Chuck mumbled a response and only the Czech's raised eyebrow showed that he had understood. Radek's expression changed again as he put a hand on Chuck's shoulder, a public gesture they often used to discreetly show concern for the other. "Do not try to talk my friend, doctor said your vocal chords all 'busted up'." Chuck was fairly certain the doctor wouldn't have put it that way but the real term was either too technical or sounded too hopeless for Radek to say aloud.
"We had to patch you up old fashioned way, other patients were more critical and needed nanites." The tone in his voice implied he believed Chuck was more in need than anyone else - but he was bias. Another sigh escaped and Radek leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You scared me and are a stupid brave fool."
Giving his most winning smile Chuck felt warmth in his chest - the good kind not the bleed out all over the floor kind. For Radek to speak like that was a first. Their relationship was mostly rushed and definitely behind closed doors, more for their own privacy than worrying about other people's sensibilities. For several weeks now Chuck had wanted to say more, and be more public but Radek was hard to read and even harder to get talking. He would take the other man's statement as a declaration of love, and add stupid romantic fool to his bravery title. He couldn't talk but hoped with his eyes to convey the message to Radek, he thought perhaps he had failed when the Czech harrumphed loudly.
"You say that now while on drugs but we will see." Yes, Radek had got his unspoken message loud and clear.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Shutting the door Lorne rounded on Sheppard, "Do we have a problem?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You just threatened to thrust him out an airlock - just because he was showing me the cloning booths."
"He was getting too close," said Sheppard between his teeth.
"To the booths?"
"To you!"
Lorne just let his mouth drop and he tried not to laugh. He failed and had to lean against the wall as his eyes watered.
"Are you done?" asked Sheppard, his patience obviously wearing thin.
"You-are-jealous…of Teth?" Lorne managed to get out before another fit of laughter erupted.
"Well, yeah. He's always touching you and standing next to you and I'm pretty sure he sniffed you when you weren't looking," Sheppard gesticulated wildly, trying to emulate the Wraith's actions.
"What, you think he wants me?" Lorne stopped laughing and thought about it, but it was just ludicrous. "You're mad, we're different species and if their idea of eating is to suck the life out of someone I hate to know what sex would be like."
"Funny." Although Sheppard was definitely not amused. "I'm telling you there's something weird going on between him and you - and I don't like it."
Lorne moved forward and put his hands on the other man's hips. "You're cute when jealous."
"Deadly, loveable maybe - but never cute." Sheppard ruined his response by giving Lorne the puppy dog eyes. "I just don't want anyone moving in on my man."
"Oh, so we're exclusive?" Lorne grinned and moved even closer, moving his hand up under Sheppard's black shirt.
"Wait." Sheppard stepped back and gave Lorne a very close examination. "This isn't you - I mean I want it to be but for the last few months you've been all, you know - and now this?"
"I think I proved what I wanted back on the planet John."
"Yeah, and that was great but I'm talking about this newfound playfulness - it’s a bit sudden."
"You don't want to play? I think maybe I should be worried." Lorne tried to deflect the question.
Avoiding Lorne all together Sheppard moved to the other side of the room. Whatever this place was it was not constructed by the Wraith, it was all sharp angles and silver tubing. To Lorne's eyes it seemed more like a twentieth century film version of a space station, instead of being the real thing. Teth claimed it confused Wraith sensors being this close to a gas giant, something about the isotopes escaping from the dense mix of hydrogen and helium and creating a dampening field effect. Also the system was uninhabited, so no reason to be here. This particular room had no obvious function but then few of the rooms did until non-indigenous furniture or equipment was spotted.
"I know you were seeing things back in Atlantis…and you were scared of them." The colonel's eyes bored into him and Lorne tried to avoid the scrutiny. "Parrish did something to you, I know post-traumatic stress and you don't have it, at least not fully." A tight smile removed the inference from being hurtful but Lorne was beginning to feel caged and looked for another exit, finding none his brow started to sweat. Sheppard may not know how close he was to the mark about PTS.
"Last time I saw him we were in an imaginary café and he was saying goodbye." He had told Sheppard this already but what was the alternative? Would John really believe him if he told him about Atlantis being overrun by Wraith and him being a brain dead prisoner? "He helped me with the immediate mental crap John but he didn't do anything to me."
"Bullshit." The other man sat on what was a some kind of box like table and crossed his legs. Typical Sheppard body language for 'we're not leaving here until I'm done'. "You have been seeing the future."
"No."
"Yes. Enough witnesses have confirmed it and I know what Parrish really was remember."
"I'm not a seer."
“Neither was he - seers see what will happen, David saw possibilities.”
Lorne muttered a yes and hung his head. "I see terrible things John - my friends dead and Atlantis in flames… Wraith everywhere and," his eyes watered again but this time not from mirth. "I feel like I'm responsible, that everything that has happened is my fault."
"Like Cassandra of Troy," whispered Sheppard. "Except Atlantis has not fallen and no-one is dead."
"Yet, but how do we know? We've been out of contact for days and if the Asurans are really gone then Atlantis is vulnerable."
"No worse than when we first got to this galaxy."
Lorne snorted loudly. "You and your damned optimism. There was what? A fifty percent casualty rate with front line teams in the first year - you have the record as most visits to the infirmary - and the Wraith didn't see us as a threat then." He went and stuck his face right in Sheppard's. "David and I spent every mission thinking it may be our last, its what pushed us together in the first place."
"Everyone knew what they were getting into Evan, we in the first group knew there might be no return." Sheppard cupped Lorne's chin and gave him a quick kiss on the lips and stood up still holding him before Lorne could pull back.
“We’re at a crossroads John but nobody sees it,” mumbled Lorne into Sheppard’s chest.
“But you do?”
Breathing deep Lorne answered, looking up at Sheppard. “Yes.”
“Parrish used to talk like that.”
“It was not David who made me think war was the wrong path.”
“What! The Wraith? All they know is war, if he tells you different he’s lying.”
“He was dying when he told me - it wasn’t part of some elaborate trap.”
“Don’t trust them, don’t believe them - they only want us broken and destroyed.” Sheppard was starting to get truly angry. Lorne was a good soldier but if he started caring for the enemy then how could they rely on him - how could Sheppard trust him with his life?
“There are many who want people like us broken and destroyed,” muttered Lorne darkly and stepped back flexing his bionically enhanced hands. “I was different even before this happened but could blend in - but now… and what about this,” he indicated himself and Sheppard. “Our own government would hang us out to dry if they knew, no matter how many times we save the universe.”
“Its not about us.”
“Yes it is,” hissed Lorne and placed his open hand over John’s heart. “This is what we fight for - to have a life that is free and good and… and one where we can love without fear.”
“I’m not afraid of loving you,” said Sheppard simply and wrapped a hand around the other man’s.
Lorne smiled at that but shook his head. “Not our fear - other’s. People fear what we have, it changes what they see as normal and change is scary. Just as we will fight to free this galaxy - if we went back to Earth people would fight to see us destroyed.”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Sheppard. Lorne had calmed considerably and his eyes now held a kind of excitable knowledge that was catching and Sheppard found himself caught up in the flow.
“I’m not going back to Earth - no matter what happens here Pegasus is my home now.” Lorne held Sheppard for a moment longer then stepped back. “David did give me something - he showed me what it was to love another and forget about the stares, and the sneers.”
Sheppard’s eyes creased in puzzlement. “I thought you kept it quiet - I never heard or saw anything.”
“Didn’t you?” smirked Lorne. “We pretty much shared quarters, had almost every meal together and when on mission…”
“Yes?”
“Well let’s just say that many of our hosts were quite accommodating, and most never had to ask - they just gave us our own hut.”
Sheppard snorted, “So that’s why McKay and me were always being put together - with only bedding for one…stop laughing at me.”
“Sorry,” his eyes didn’t show it though. “But even the new recruits thought that you two were,” he used the common hand language for getting it on.
“Well,” said John as he encircled Lorne with his arms again. “I think they know my interest is most definitely with a more military man.”
“Caldwell?”
“You’re an idiot sometimes Major.”
Lorne smiled and relaxed in his arms. “Would it be corny to say love makes me loopy.” When he didn’t get an answer Lorne looked up and followed Sheppard’s gaze to the window.
Half a dozen, then double that amount of hyperspace windows had opened and Wraith hive ships appeared. Seconds later a dozen more appeared until the area was thick with hive ships and smaller corvette size attack ships. Wave after wave of darts streamed from the hives and like a swarm of wasps streaked towards the station.
The men spoke in unison.
“Fuck me.”
Tbc…
Next: Chapter Six