Fic: The Tyranny of Numbers (No Precious Time Series, 20/28)
Title: The Tyranny of Numbers (No Precious Time Series, 20/28)
Author: The Time Being/SGAtlantisLight
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Genre: Smutty angst, H/C
Rating: NC-17 overall, though some chapters are lower
Author's Notes: Part of the No Precious Time Series. Beta and encouragement from a lot of people, but especially lapislaz, mice1900, and inkscribe.
Warnings can be found here for those who can't read without them. These contain plot spoilers so do not read unless you can't live without knowing.
Disclaimer: I own them all! But, alas, not in this universe.
Previous chapter
"Although he may not always recognize his bondage, modern man lives under a tyranny of numbers." - Nicholas Eberstadt
A low moan sounded from the bathroom, causing heat to curl within Carson. He drew Rodney tighter, fighting his arousal.
"Why didn't you talk to him when he woke up?" Rodney whispered.
Carson shook his head. "Not when he's desperate."
Rodney nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
Carson slowly caressed Rodney's body, keeping the touch as non-sexual as he could, but needing the contact. He stopped and drew away when the bathroom door opened, John emerging shirtless and looking a bit sheepish.
"Hey," John said quietly. "So... sorry about falling asleep on your couch. I'll just get my clothes and go."
"Before you do that, there's something Rodney and I would like to talk to you about," Carson said.
"Oh? Okay. Just let me pull on my pants first."
Carson nodded. "That's fine."
Carson nudged Rodney and they sat up while John pulled his jeans on and settled in a chair facing them. He was too thin, but the look of him shirtless and barefoot, the scent of semen lingering around him, only made Carson want him more.
"So, what's up?"
Carson felt Rodney tense beside him and placed a hand against his thigh to calm him. "Teyla spoke to us the other day, telling us about how among the Athosians, if one of a couple is injured or has been life-drained and lived, they'll seek a third partner to share their lives and their beds, equally with the original two."
John raised an eyebrow. "And she was telling you this why, exactly?"
"She thinks Rodney and I are in that situation. While neither of us is ill, Rodney's having trouble... keeping pace with my libido under the virus and it's caused quite a strain."
John's eyes widened. "She thinks you should take another lover?"
"She thinks we should take you," Rodney blurted.
"Bring you in as an equal partner," Carson clarified. He took Rodney's hand. "And after some discussion, we've decided it's what we want to do."
John stared at them. "You want to have a three-way?"
"More than that," Carson said, trying to keep his voice calm. "We both care for you, John. We know this hasn't been easy on you, either, and we want to help."
John looked wary. "And you were going to discuss this with me tonight before I fell asleep?"
"Aye, we were."
John stood, arms across his chest, closing off. "I... um..." He shook his head as if trying to clear it.
"You don't have to decide tonight, John."
"But, you know, the offer's open," Rodney said.
"Okay. I'll... I'll think about it."
"We're serious about this," Carson assured him.
"And it's not just about sex," Rodney added. "Though the sex would be--"
"Rodney!"
"Sorry sorry."
"Just think about it. We'll wait for you." John was getting that deer-in-the-headlights look and Carson squeezed Rodney's thigh to signal him to be quiet.
"Sure. I'll... I'll do that. I've got to go."
"We'll see you tomorrow."
***
John leaned back against the wall of the transporter, practically shaking. He'd so wanted to just crawl into bed with the two of them, but he knew it couldn't be that easy, couldn't be so perfect as to just fall into his lap. He had to think, to consider whether the pain would be worth the pleasure. Much as he'd like it to be, he figured it wouldn't be when he examined it in the cold light of day.
He stepped out of the transporter to find Sergeant Lenoir standing just outside the off-limits area, looking anxious. "Sergeant?"
Lenoir turned to him. "Colonel! Er... um..."
"Just John."
"Right. Um. I don't suppose you could ask Amaro to come out here and talk to me? Tell him I'm sorry-- really, really sorry and I'll do anything..."
John held up his hand, not wanting to hear more right now. "I'll tell him."
"Oh, thank you! I--"
"It's no problem." John nodded and headed off quickly. It was still early in the morning, which probably meant Amaro and Lenoir had argued in the middle of the night and the Canadian had been pacing outside the off-limits area for a few hours.
He arrived to find Veza and Ri curled up with a red-eyed Amaro. Ri spotted him and gave him a raised eyebrow. "Did you have fun with Carson and Rodney?"
"Not as much as you're thinking," John answered, sliding onto the couch next to Veza. "Hey, there's a certain sergeant pacing just outside our area looking rather hangdog who begged me to tell you he's 'really, really sorry.'"
Amaro looked up, blinking. "Really?"
John nodded. "He'd like to talk to you."
Amaro's eyes lit up, but Ri shook his head. "You should make him wait. You can't go running off to him as soon as he beckons or it'll happen again."
"You don't know that!" Veza said, glaring at Ri.
"It happened to you, too, Veza," Ri answered. "They use us, insist we don't fuck anyone else, and then when it becomes too much of a challenge, too exhausting to them, and we look for other outlets, they get angry at us and it's all our fault!"
John shook his head. "Guys, I'm exhausted. This new drug they've got me on wipes me out."
Veza squeezed his hand. "I'll join you in a little bit?"
He kissed her. "Fine. I may not be awake."
She chuckled, patting his crotch. "I only need one part of you awake."
John headed into the room he'd claimed and dropped onto the bed. As he closed his eyes, he remembered Carson saying, "Rodney's having trouble... keeping pace with my libido under the virus and it's caused quite a strain." He remembered the dark circles under Rodney's eyes and something... desperate in his gaze. Maybe Teyla was right. Maybe pairing of a virus-carrier and a non-carrier was too great a strain to maintain the relationship.
And maybe he was just trying to make an excuse to say yes to their invitation.
***
"Thank you, Colonel Sheppard."
John stood and walked back to his seat as the defense JAG sat down and the prosecutor stood. It hadn't been too difficult, but he expected to be recalled.
"Prosecution calls Ri Adranni to the stand."
John nodded as Ri stood and passed him. Like the other former slaves, Ri was looking worn out and ill. Ri sat down, looking nervous, and was walked through taking the oath.
John slouched back and listened as Ri answered questions about how often he'd been propositioned by the Marines on trial.
"Were any of the other former slaves present at any of these times?"
Ri nodded. "Yes, sir. Jastain was there one time when Vandeventer sought us out and Lein was there with Hurley."
"Just to be certain we're all clear, since they have yet to be called to the stand, you're speaking of these two, Jastain and Lein--" The prosecutor turned and pointed to an image of the two teens and then to Jastain in the audience. "--both of whom are underaged."
Ri nodded. "I'm speaking of those two, yes. I understand that by the standards of your culture, yes, they're both underaged."
"And did either of these encounters result in sexual relations between Vandeventer and Jastain or Hurley and Lein?"
"Yes."
"Objection! Unless Mister Adranni was witness to these supposed relations, it's hearsay."
"I was witness," Ri answered.
There were murmurs in the room. The judge looked at Ri. "You witnessed actual sexual relations taking place between one or more of the defendants and these two young people?"
"Yes, sir. Sergeant Vandeventer wanted both of us."
John hid a grin as Ri's testimony damned the head of the group of Marines that had taken advantage of the former slaves and their tenuous situation. The defense wisely didn't cross-examine.
"You may step down," the judge instructed.
Ri stood, took two steps, stumbled and then suddenly crumpled, body jerking. Everyone rose, crowding the aisles, until Carson barreled through.
***
"How is he?" John asked.
Carson nodded to the crowd of rescuees standing and sitting in the waiting room. He'd left Ri in Dr. Cortes' capable hands. "He's all right. They're keeping him overnight to observe, but there's no reason to suppose he'll have another seizure."
"So, John's seizure was just the first," Veza said. "Any of us could have one?"
Carson considered them all and nodded. "It looks like that's the case. Any of us-- myself included-- could suffer a seizure due to the virus."
"Is it serious?" someone asked from the back.
"It could be, depending on the circumstances surrounding the seizure and its severity. The medical staff is discussing what can be done, at which point we'll have a meeting discussing options."
He wished he could offer them more hope, but he couldn't. All he could do was advise anticonvulsants and continue working toward a cure. He looked up, meeting John's eyes, seeing fear and despair and pain. As the rescuees began filing out, he reached out and squeezed John's arm before turning and heading back into the infirmary.
***
The next couple of days were tedious as the trial dragged on, delayed by the need for frequent breaks for the chief witnesses. In between the trial and the requisite fucking-- and John was more than a little depressed to think how tired he was of sex-- most of the former slaves were packing up their meagre possessions to move to the Mainland with the Athosians.
There were bits of drama with Lenoir and Amaro, and Veza and Nguyen, over it all.
In the midst of this, Carson and Rodney's proposal lay heavily on his mind. Whenever he met one or the other of them, they always met his eyes, a question in theirs, and he had to look away.
He knew he should say no, stop dragging it out, but he couldn't.
"Are you moving with us?" Jastain asked. John had lost track of how often he'd been asked.
"I don't know."
"It's only temporary, till Carson cures us."
"If Carson cures us..."
Jastain sat up from where he'd been slouched in an easy chair in the common area. "You don't think he can?"
"I don't think it's that easy."
"But he is suffering just like us. And his man, Rodney."
John blinked. "What?"
"Rodney suffers. Surely you've seen it." Jastain sighed. "I hope I find someone who loves me as much."
John laughed, thinking of what a challenge Rodney was... and how much Carson obviously loved him anyway. What were they thinking, risking their relationship to bring in John? He closed his eyes, remembering Carson's anger after he'd jumped Rodney that one time. Could Carson really mean it, sharing his lover with the man who'd nearly ruined it for them?
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hm?" John blinked his eyes open to see Jastain watching him curiously. He shrugged. "Just stuff."
Jastain's mouth curved into a smile. "You're thinking about them-- Carson and Rodney? When I realised the resemblance, I understood why you always favoured Amaro and Ri."
"What!?"
Jastain laughed. "They have the same blue eyes and build. From the first, you sought them out. We have all wondered if you were not once lovers."
"They got together first," John answered.
Jastain nodded. "And your people don't ever join with more than one?"
John remembered Jastain's family and realised it wasn't the default here. "No. We don't."
"Hm. That's too bad. You three would be pretty together." Jastain looked up and smiled at Nikal, slipping out of the chair to follow the other teen to his room.
"You and half the aliens I know, apparently," John muttered and closed his eyes again, thinking of blue eyes and broad shoulders.
***
Elizabeth listened tensely as the verdicts were read, guilty, guilty, guilty... the litany went on for each man. She didn't know whether to be elated that justice had been served or saddened that such acts had been carried out in her city. She'd watched the four men over the course of the trial-- Freeman had accepted Lorne's offer of non-judicial punishment, leaving Vandeventer, Romero, McCray, and Hurley. As the testimony and evidence had piled up against them, the latter three had gotten more and more dejected, hopeless, but Vandeventer's eyes grew colder and angrier. She was thankful the man was going. As the judge essentially threw the book at the four, she could see Vandeventer's back straighten and stiffen.
And then it was over and the men were being led from the room. They'd be returning to Earth in the Daedalus brig.
She had just turned to speak to John when a commotion broke out behind her and she found John shoving her to the floor and getting between her and whatever was happening. Noise and motion and confusion. Gunshots sounding like they were right above her. John's body covering her. And then all was silent for a moment. It had been so loud before and she was so disoriented that it took a second to realise John was wheezing, struggling to breathe with a strange hissing sound as he inhaled, and to note the warm liquid running down onto her and then to the floor.
"Help!" she screamed, trying to shove him off without hurting him, wanting to see. "Colonel Sheppard's been shot."
Next chapter
Author: The Time Being/SGAtlantisLight
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Genre: Smutty angst, H/C
Rating: NC-17 overall, though some chapters are lower
Author's Notes: Part of the No Precious Time Series. Beta and encouragement from a lot of people, but especially lapislaz, mice1900, and inkscribe.
Warnings can be found here for those who can't read without them. These contain plot spoilers so do not read unless you can't live without knowing.
Disclaimer: I own them all! But, alas, not in this universe.
Previous chapter
"Although he may not always recognize his bondage, modern man lives under a tyranny of numbers." - Nicholas Eberstadt
A low moan sounded from the bathroom, causing heat to curl within Carson. He drew Rodney tighter, fighting his arousal.
"Why didn't you talk to him when he woke up?" Rodney whispered.
Carson shook his head. "Not when he's desperate."
Rodney nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
Carson slowly caressed Rodney's body, keeping the touch as non-sexual as he could, but needing the contact. He stopped and drew away when the bathroom door opened, John emerging shirtless and looking a bit sheepish.
"Hey," John said quietly. "So... sorry about falling asleep on your couch. I'll just get my clothes and go."
"Before you do that, there's something Rodney and I would like to talk to you about," Carson said.
"Oh? Okay. Just let me pull on my pants first."
Carson nodded. "That's fine."
Carson nudged Rodney and they sat up while John pulled his jeans on and settled in a chair facing them. He was too thin, but the look of him shirtless and barefoot, the scent of semen lingering around him, only made Carson want him more.
"So, what's up?"
Carson felt Rodney tense beside him and placed a hand against his thigh to calm him. "Teyla spoke to us the other day, telling us about how among the Athosians, if one of a couple is injured or has been life-drained and lived, they'll seek a third partner to share their lives and their beds, equally with the original two."
John raised an eyebrow. "And she was telling you this why, exactly?"
"She thinks Rodney and I are in that situation. While neither of us is ill, Rodney's having trouble... keeping pace with my libido under the virus and it's caused quite a strain."
John's eyes widened. "She thinks you should take another lover?"
"She thinks we should take you," Rodney blurted.
"Bring you in as an equal partner," Carson clarified. He took Rodney's hand. "And after some discussion, we've decided it's what we want to do."
John stared at them. "You want to have a three-way?"
"More than that," Carson said, trying to keep his voice calm. "We both care for you, John. We know this hasn't been easy on you, either, and we want to help."
John looked wary. "And you were going to discuss this with me tonight before I fell asleep?"
"Aye, we were."
John stood, arms across his chest, closing off. "I... um..." He shook his head as if trying to clear it.
"You don't have to decide tonight, John."
"But, you know, the offer's open," Rodney said.
"Okay. I'll... I'll think about it."
"We're serious about this," Carson assured him.
"And it's not just about sex," Rodney added. "Though the sex would be--"
"Rodney!"
"Sorry sorry."
"Just think about it. We'll wait for you." John was getting that deer-in-the-headlights look and Carson squeezed Rodney's thigh to signal him to be quiet.
"Sure. I'll... I'll do that. I've got to go."
"We'll see you tomorrow."
***
John leaned back against the wall of the transporter, practically shaking. He'd so wanted to just crawl into bed with the two of them, but he knew it couldn't be that easy, couldn't be so perfect as to just fall into his lap. He had to think, to consider whether the pain would be worth the pleasure. Much as he'd like it to be, he figured it wouldn't be when he examined it in the cold light of day.
He stepped out of the transporter to find Sergeant Lenoir standing just outside the off-limits area, looking anxious. "Sergeant?"
Lenoir turned to him. "Colonel! Er... um..."
"Just John."
"Right. Um. I don't suppose you could ask Amaro to come out here and talk to me? Tell him I'm sorry-- really, really sorry and I'll do anything..."
John held up his hand, not wanting to hear more right now. "I'll tell him."
"Oh, thank you! I--"
"It's no problem." John nodded and headed off quickly. It was still early in the morning, which probably meant Amaro and Lenoir had argued in the middle of the night and the Canadian had been pacing outside the off-limits area for a few hours.
He arrived to find Veza and Ri curled up with a red-eyed Amaro. Ri spotted him and gave him a raised eyebrow. "Did you have fun with Carson and Rodney?"
"Not as much as you're thinking," John answered, sliding onto the couch next to Veza. "Hey, there's a certain sergeant pacing just outside our area looking rather hangdog who begged me to tell you he's 'really, really sorry.'"
Amaro looked up, blinking. "Really?"
John nodded. "He'd like to talk to you."
Amaro's eyes lit up, but Ri shook his head. "You should make him wait. You can't go running off to him as soon as he beckons or it'll happen again."
"You don't know that!" Veza said, glaring at Ri.
"It happened to you, too, Veza," Ri answered. "They use us, insist we don't fuck anyone else, and then when it becomes too much of a challenge, too exhausting to them, and we look for other outlets, they get angry at us and it's all our fault!"
John shook his head. "Guys, I'm exhausted. This new drug they've got me on wipes me out."
Veza squeezed his hand. "I'll join you in a little bit?"
He kissed her. "Fine. I may not be awake."
She chuckled, patting his crotch. "I only need one part of you awake."
John headed into the room he'd claimed and dropped onto the bed. As he closed his eyes, he remembered Carson saying, "Rodney's having trouble... keeping pace with my libido under the virus and it's caused quite a strain." He remembered the dark circles under Rodney's eyes and something... desperate in his gaze. Maybe Teyla was right. Maybe pairing of a virus-carrier and a non-carrier was too great a strain to maintain the relationship.
And maybe he was just trying to make an excuse to say yes to their invitation.
***
"Thank you, Colonel Sheppard."
John stood and walked back to his seat as the defense JAG sat down and the prosecutor stood. It hadn't been too difficult, but he expected to be recalled.
"Prosecution calls Ri Adranni to the stand."
John nodded as Ri stood and passed him. Like the other former slaves, Ri was looking worn out and ill. Ri sat down, looking nervous, and was walked through taking the oath.
John slouched back and listened as Ri answered questions about how often he'd been propositioned by the Marines on trial.
"Were any of the other former slaves present at any of these times?"
Ri nodded. "Yes, sir. Jastain was there one time when Vandeventer sought us out and Lein was there with Hurley."
"Just to be certain we're all clear, since they have yet to be called to the stand, you're speaking of these two, Jastain and Lein--" The prosecutor turned and pointed to an image of the two teens and then to Jastain in the audience. "--both of whom are underaged."
Ri nodded. "I'm speaking of those two, yes. I understand that by the standards of your culture, yes, they're both underaged."
"And did either of these encounters result in sexual relations between Vandeventer and Jastain or Hurley and Lein?"
"Yes."
"Objection! Unless Mister Adranni was witness to these supposed relations, it's hearsay."
"I was witness," Ri answered.
There were murmurs in the room. The judge looked at Ri. "You witnessed actual sexual relations taking place between one or more of the defendants and these two young people?"
"Yes, sir. Sergeant Vandeventer wanted both of us."
John hid a grin as Ri's testimony damned the head of the group of Marines that had taken advantage of the former slaves and their tenuous situation. The defense wisely didn't cross-examine.
"You may step down," the judge instructed.
Ri stood, took two steps, stumbled and then suddenly crumpled, body jerking. Everyone rose, crowding the aisles, until Carson barreled through.
***
"How is he?" John asked.
Carson nodded to the crowd of rescuees standing and sitting in the waiting room. He'd left Ri in Dr. Cortes' capable hands. "He's all right. They're keeping him overnight to observe, but there's no reason to suppose he'll have another seizure."
"So, John's seizure was just the first," Veza said. "Any of us could have one?"
Carson considered them all and nodded. "It looks like that's the case. Any of us-- myself included-- could suffer a seizure due to the virus."
"Is it serious?" someone asked from the back.
"It could be, depending on the circumstances surrounding the seizure and its severity. The medical staff is discussing what can be done, at which point we'll have a meeting discussing options."
He wished he could offer them more hope, but he couldn't. All he could do was advise anticonvulsants and continue working toward a cure. He looked up, meeting John's eyes, seeing fear and despair and pain. As the rescuees began filing out, he reached out and squeezed John's arm before turning and heading back into the infirmary.
***
The next couple of days were tedious as the trial dragged on, delayed by the need for frequent breaks for the chief witnesses. In between the trial and the requisite fucking-- and John was more than a little depressed to think how tired he was of sex-- most of the former slaves were packing up their meagre possessions to move to the Mainland with the Athosians.
There were bits of drama with Lenoir and Amaro, and Veza and Nguyen, over it all.
In the midst of this, Carson and Rodney's proposal lay heavily on his mind. Whenever he met one or the other of them, they always met his eyes, a question in theirs, and he had to look away.
He knew he should say no, stop dragging it out, but he couldn't.
"Are you moving with us?" Jastain asked. John had lost track of how often he'd been asked.
"I don't know."
"It's only temporary, till Carson cures us."
"If Carson cures us..."
Jastain sat up from where he'd been slouched in an easy chair in the common area. "You don't think he can?"
"I don't think it's that easy."
"But he is suffering just like us. And his man, Rodney."
John blinked. "What?"
"Rodney suffers. Surely you've seen it." Jastain sighed. "I hope I find someone who loves me as much."
John laughed, thinking of what a challenge Rodney was... and how much Carson obviously loved him anyway. What were they thinking, risking their relationship to bring in John? He closed his eyes, remembering Carson's anger after he'd jumped Rodney that one time. Could Carson really mean it, sharing his lover with the man who'd nearly ruined it for them?
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hm?" John blinked his eyes open to see Jastain watching him curiously. He shrugged. "Just stuff."
Jastain's mouth curved into a smile. "You're thinking about them-- Carson and Rodney? When I realised the resemblance, I understood why you always favoured Amaro and Ri."
"What!?"
Jastain laughed. "They have the same blue eyes and build. From the first, you sought them out. We have all wondered if you were not once lovers."
"They got together first," John answered.
Jastain nodded. "And your people don't ever join with more than one?"
John remembered Jastain's family and realised it wasn't the default here. "No. We don't."
"Hm. That's too bad. You three would be pretty together." Jastain looked up and smiled at Nikal, slipping out of the chair to follow the other teen to his room.
"You and half the aliens I know, apparently," John muttered and closed his eyes again, thinking of blue eyes and broad shoulders.
***
Elizabeth listened tensely as the verdicts were read, guilty, guilty, guilty... the litany went on for each man. She didn't know whether to be elated that justice had been served or saddened that such acts had been carried out in her city. She'd watched the four men over the course of the trial-- Freeman had accepted Lorne's offer of non-judicial punishment, leaving Vandeventer, Romero, McCray, and Hurley. As the testimony and evidence had piled up against them, the latter three had gotten more and more dejected, hopeless, but Vandeventer's eyes grew colder and angrier. She was thankful the man was going. As the judge essentially threw the book at the four, she could see Vandeventer's back straighten and stiffen.
And then it was over and the men were being led from the room. They'd be returning to Earth in the Daedalus brig.
She had just turned to speak to John when a commotion broke out behind her and she found John shoving her to the floor and getting between her and whatever was happening. Noise and motion and confusion. Gunshots sounding like they were right above her. John's body covering her. And then all was silent for a moment. It had been so loud before and she was so disoriented that it took a second to realise John was wheezing, struggling to breathe with a strange hissing sound as he inhaled, and to note the warm liquid running down onto her and then to the floor.
"Help!" she screamed, trying to shove him off without hurting him, wanting to see. "Colonel Sheppard's been shot."
Next chapter