Fic: Where We Live (8/? Stargate: Atlantis)
Title: Where We Live (8/?)
Author: thefrogg
Beta: lindra
Rating: PG13-ish
Disclaimer: Everyone but Webber belongs to other people. Damnit.
Summary: Lorne's team has long been responsible for Todd's security. When they take Todd out to investigate an abandoned Wraith base, their changing attitudes towards the captive Wraith sparks a series of events no one in Atlantis is ready for.
Author's note: I know this is one scene, and I've been trying to keep to three-scene chapters. This was the Scene from Hell (tm) and the next one doesn't seem to be much easier, so.
Author's other note: Big big thanks to lindra for turning my brain into tapioca.::flees::
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Lorne strode into the office, having knocked on the doorjamb and pointedly not waited for Carter to invite him in.
Curiosity and dread warring, Daniel watched, unsure of whether or not Lorne had seen him in the corner. Carter's eyes flashed hard, flat anger, an answer to the Major's entrance; it had been typical O'Neill, or Sheppard. From Lorne, it meant there was a really fine rage bubbling up from somewhere.
"For a man whose team has been put on stand-down until further notice, you could act less--"
Lorne cut her off. "Less what, sir? Less like I've just been ordered to break a promise? One to someone who's already on shaky ground to begin with?" He shook his head, making a loud clicking noise deep in his throat. "Oh, but I forgot, he's just a Wraith. We don't care about them, do we?"
Confusion had Daniel sitting up straight; this didn't sound anything like what he remembered of Lorne, and he had to wonder where this was coming from.
"Major." Colonel Carter's knuckles whitened on the desktop. "I have been doing everything I can to help him. I've taken you and your team off mission rotation. I granted Todd official freedom in Atlantis. I did as you asked and kept Colonel Sheppard off your back, which believe me, was not easy. Nor was convincing Ronon that you and your team were enough security."
"That's all well and good, Colonel, you're giving the human side of things a lot of consideration. I suppose it hasn't occured to you to give Todd even a fraction of that."
"Major Lorne--"
"Colonel Carter," Lorne bit out. "Todd has been a productive member of my team for two months. You know that, you read the reports. You know damn well that he's not a security risk. What would it cost you to ask him if there's something you could do to make him more comfortable? Less than that, what would it cost you to acknowledge -- to Todd, not to the SGC -- that he has a right to be here?"
"I put you in charge of his security--"
"And you've circumvented that order every day since then."
"In what way, Major?"
"How much do you know about Wraith biology? Social structure?" Lorne's back straightened, and Daniel opened his mouth to interrupt, only to shut it again as Colonel Carter twitched a finger at him. "How about Wraith laws and customs? Can you even tell me what caste Todd belongs to?"
"Major, regardless of what I do or do not know about the Wraith, I'm still aware that eventually, we'll have to feed Todd."
Daniel could hear the breath Lorne took then, could see the fists he made at his sides.
"I had a great deal of respect for Dr. Weir. She wasn't perfect; some of the things she approved shouldn't have been. Her diplomatic experience was with humans, not completely alien species. I had high hopes in that regard, when I heard you were going to replace her. Your experience with the Tok'ra, the Nox, Tollans, Asgard..." Lorne tilted his head to one side. "Todd is the only chance we will ever have to end this war without completely annihilating the Wraith. Are you willing to do that?"
"It won't be the first time we've done it."
"Won't it? The Tok'ra and the Goa'uld are the same species. So are the Ori and the Alterans. Same species, different philosophy. Not only did we not have anything to do with the Asgards' extinction, they postponed self-termination in order to let us try and help. The Replicators - both kinds - were machines. We've never been directly responsible for the eradication of another sentient species."
"You're accusing me of condoning xenocide," Carter said flatly.
"No, I'm saying that, with very few exceptions, this expedition has been unwilling to pursue alternatives. Sir."
"I don't know about Dr. Weir's reasons for her actions while she was leader of the expedition, but I personally am not in favor of harboring a threat who, according to you, cannot even answer to me. Can he answer to the SGC? Can he answer to the IOA?"
"Todd is not. A. Threat," Lorne snarled. "If you'd give him half a chance he'd be able to prove that to you. As for who he answers to? I can't tell you if he'd answer to you, or the SGC, or to the IOA, because he's not in any condition to answer to anyone right now. He needs *time*."
"I'm sorry, Major, time is something I can't give him without a better reason."
"You want a better reason? How about the lab full of Wraith tech even Teyla can't activate? The Dart Rodney and Zelenka have been trying to reverse engineer?"
Carter's lips thinned for a moment before she answered. "You think Todd would help us with it."
"He swore to help us with anything asked of him, Colonel, it was part of his bargain in seeking asylum here."
"That's assuming he knows anything about it."
"Sir, with all due respect, you've seen him work with McKay. If you think he doesn't have anything to contribute to this expedition, you're deluding yourself."
Color stained Carter's cheeks with anger. "Major, you're out of line."
"Am I, Colonel? Ever since you were posted here, you've been questioning your own orders with regards to how the IOA would take them. What happens if we get cut off from Earth? What happens if Earth gets in trouble and you're the officer in charge of bailing them out?"
Carter was on her feet, hands planted flat on the desk as she leaned over it, by the time Lorne was halfway through. "Major, you are out of line."
"Um, actually, no, he's not, Sam," Daniel managed, drawing both their attention. "Yes, you -- theoretically, and in practice -- answer to the SGC, and the IOA, but realistically speaking, the only things keeping Atlantis bound to Earth are loyalty and habit. You don't think that way, and the IOA was counting on it when they sent you here."
"Colonel," Lorne said when Carter didn't respond, the anger in his voice tempered, "even if we did nothing, even if we all went back through the Gate back to Earth and left Pegasus forever? We've already done things that will probably mean the Wraith's extinction. Between Michael, the Hoffan drug, the Genii, and the sheer hope we've given people here because we were able to fight back and survive? Todd's the only chance we have to maybe -- maybe! -- stop the xenocide that's already going on."
"Sam, you know why I'm here," Daniel said, getting to his feet.
Carter took a deep breath and held it, glaring at Lorne balefully. "Get out of here, both of you. And Major?"
Lorne paused mid-pivot.
"If you don't keep me up to date with Todd's...progress, I'll see him back in the brig."
Author: thefrogg
Beta: lindra
Rating: PG13-ish
Disclaimer: Everyone but Webber belongs to other people. Damnit.
Summary: Lorne's team has long been responsible for Todd's security. When they take Todd out to investigate an abandoned Wraith base, their changing attitudes towards the captive Wraith sparks a series of events no one in Atlantis is ready for.
Author's note: I know this is one scene, and I've been trying to keep to three-scene chapters. This was the Scene from Hell (tm) and the next one doesn't seem to be much easier, so.
Author's other note: Big big thanks to lindra for turning my brain into tapioca.::flees::
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Lorne strode into the office, having knocked on the doorjamb and pointedly not waited for Carter to invite him in.
Curiosity and dread warring, Daniel watched, unsure of whether or not Lorne had seen him in the corner. Carter's eyes flashed hard, flat anger, an answer to the Major's entrance; it had been typical O'Neill, or Sheppard. From Lorne, it meant there was a really fine rage bubbling up from somewhere.
"For a man whose team has been put on stand-down until further notice, you could act less--"
Lorne cut her off. "Less what, sir? Less like I've just been ordered to break a promise? One to someone who's already on shaky ground to begin with?" He shook his head, making a loud clicking noise deep in his throat. "Oh, but I forgot, he's just a Wraith. We don't care about them, do we?"
Confusion had Daniel sitting up straight; this didn't sound anything like what he remembered of Lorne, and he had to wonder where this was coming from.
"Major." Colonel Carter's knuckles whitened on the desktop. "I have been doing everything I can to help him. I've taken you and your team off mission rotation. I granted Todd official freedom in Atlantis. I did as you asked and kept Colonel Sheppard off your back, which believe me, was not easy. Nor was convincing Ronon that you and your team were enough security."
"That's all well and good, Colonel, you're giving the human side of things a lot of consideration. I suppose it hasn't occured to you to give Todd even a fraction of that."
"Major Lorne--"
"Colonel Carter," Lorne bit out. "Todd has been a productive member of my team for two months. You know that, you read the reports. You know damn well that he's not a security risk. What would it cost you to ask him if there's something you could do to make him more comfortable? Less than that, what would it cost you to acknowledge -- to Todd, not to the SGC -- that he has a right to be here?"
"I put you in charge of his security--"
"And you've circumvented that order every day since then."
"In what way, Major?"
"How much do you know about Wraith biology? Social structure?" Lorne's back straightened, and Daniel opened his mouth to interrupt, only to shut it again as Colonel Carter twitched a finger at him. "How about Wraith laws and customs? Can you even tell me what caste Todd belongs to?"
"Major, regardless of what I do or do not know about the Wraith, I'm still aware that eventually, we'll have to feed Todd."
Daniel could hear the breath Lorne took then, could see the fists he made at his sides.
"I had a great deal of respect for Dr. Weir. She wasn't perfect; some of the things she approved shouldn't have been. Her diplomatic experience was with humans, not completely alien species. I had high hopes in that regard, when I heard you were going to replace her. Your experience with the Tok'ra, the Nox, Tollans, Asgard..." Lorne tilted his head to one side. "Todd is the only chance we will ever have to end this war without completely annihilating the Wraith. Are you willing to do that?"
"It won't be the first time we've done it."
"Won't it? The Tok'ra and the Goa'uld are the same species. So are the Ori and the Alterans. Same species, different philosophy. Not only did we not have anything to do with the Asgards' extinction, they postponed self-termination in order to let us try and help. The Replicators - both kinds - were machines. We've never been directly responsible for the eradication of another sentient species."
"You're accusing me of condoning xenocide," Carter said flatly.
"No, I'm saying that, with very few exceptions, this expedition has been unwilling to pursue alternatives. Sir."
"I don't know about Dr. Weir's reasons for her actions while she was leader of the expedition, but I personally am not in favor of harboring a threat who, according to you, cannot even answer to me. Can he answer to the SGC? Can he answer to the IOA?"
"Todd is not. A. Threat," Lorne snarled. "If you'd give him half a chance he'd be able to prove that to you. As for who he answers to? I can't tell you if he'd answer to you, or the SGC, or to the IOA, because he's not in any condition to answer to anyone right now. He needs *time*."
"I'm sorry, Major, time is something I can't give him without a better reason."
"You want a better reason? How about the lab full of Wraith tech even Teyla can't activate? The Dart Rodney and Zelenka have been trying to reverse engineer?"
Carter's lips thinned for a moment before she answered. "You think Todd would help us with it."
"He swore to help us with anything asked of him, Colonel, it was part of his bargain in seeking asylum here."
"That's assuming he knows anything about it."
"Sir, with all due respect, you've seen him work with McKay. If you think he doesn't have anything to contribute to this expedition, you're deluding yourself."
Color stained Carter's cheeks with anger. "Major, you're out of line."
"Am I, Colonel? Ever since you were posted here, you've been questioning your own orders with regards to how the IOA would take them. What happens if we get cut off from Earth? What happens if Earth gets in trouble and you're the officer in charge of bailing them out?"
Carter was on her feet, hands planted flat on the desk as she leaned over it, by the time Lorne was halfway through. "Major, you are out of line."
"Um, actually, no, he's not, Sam," Daniel managed, drawing both their attention. "Yes, you -- theoretically, and in practice -- answer to the SGC, and the IOA, but realistically speaking, the only things keeping Atlantis bound to Earth are loyalty and habit. You don't think that way, and the IOA was counting on it when they sent you here."
"Colonel," Lorne said when Carter didn't respond, the anger in his voice tempered, "even if we did nothing, even if we all went back through the Gate back to Earth and left Pegasus forever? We've already done things that will probably mean the Wraith's extinction. Between Michael, the Hoffan drug, the Genii, and the sheer hope we've given people here because we were able to fight back and survive? Todd's the only chance we have to maybe -- maybe! -- stop the xenocide that's already going on."
"Sam, you know why I'm here," Daniel said, getting to his feet.
Carter took a deep breath and held it, glaring at Lorne balefully. "Get out of here, both of you. And Major?"
Lorne paused mid-pivot.
"If you don't keep me up to date with Todd's...progress, I'll see him back in the brig."