CFMWH #8
Title: Can't Find My Way Home
Rating: PG for now
By: Jendavis
Spoilers: SGA: The Last Man, FF: Serenity
Pairing: Eventual Jayne Cobb/ Ronon Dex
Genre: Crossover
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, don't take this too seriously.
Summary: Timelines diverge by converging.
Previous: 1. Man of Steel 2. Keys to the World 3. Lost 4. Gone Away 5. House is Not a Home 6. Still Standing 7. I Never Told You What I Do For A Living
8. Scary Eyes
River was thinking about blood, and how it wasn't the spilling that always mattered.
"What's got you lookin' so down?" Jayne, clearly uncomfortable with the asking, buried the question by fidgeting more than he needed to as he set up the second cot. Straightening the sheets like it was something he was concerned with, because he knew he wouldn't- maybe couldn't- show concern elsewhere.
River smiled, wanting to assure him that everything was okay, but he didn't look up to notice. "I'm thinking that of course it's genetic. It always is. Same reason the Alliance wanted. Too small to mean anything but everything."
Jayne rocked back on his heels, pushing the cot against the back wall of the tent and talking over his shoulder. "You work with any of that weird technology when the alliance had you?"
"No. They worked on me with weird technology."
Jayne was tense again, the way he got whenever her past loomed up into the present and Simon wasn't around to mediate. I miss him too. More.
"Right. Better'n chance odds there's a connection between the genes, what the Alliance done t'you, and your bein' able to read folk?"
River blinked. She hadn't been expecting Jayne to figure even that much out. Slid a grin across her face for a moment before putting it away, and turned her head towards the tent entrance for the first time since Zelenka left. "They're interested in me."
"Their interest resemblin' the Alliance's interest?"
"Too early to know."
"Don't think they're the type to go about messin' in your head, but. What d'you know?"
Lorne is angrier than he seems and his fear of failing chokes the air from him. McKay's mind is louder than his voice. Fast chaotic noise. Hurts to listen, too much, but if you do, you hear the beginnings of everything. Every thing. Zelenka is a steady hum. Calming. Order and peace and stones set carefully on the grid. The doctor is happy in her sadness, but her wanting hurts to look at. Ronon…
"I know we need them. I don't know why they need us, yet, but I know that they do."
She looked out into what she'd decided to call the courtyard, saw Ronon striding across and out of the camp, clearly angry. His frustration was familiar, looked a lot like Jayne's did whenever Mal was holding him back. She wondered what he knew.
A few minutes later, Jayne was seated on his cot and stripping down his guns, cleaning and checking them like he needed space to think. River could give that much to him, at least.
---
Should just go take care of it. No point in waiting for the others. Not like there's really any reason to stick around here being useless. Meet up, find out what he wants, kill him before he screws you.
Ronon yanked his knives out of the side of the empty crate and backed up, a little further this time, before launching them again, one after the other. They didn't line up like he wanted.
Lorne's not stupid. He knows as well as you do that it's probably a trap. Getting yourself killed won't solve a damned thing But.
Nothing was lining up like he wanted, and this wasn't helping him think. He noticed River coming up behind him, but didn't turn to look.
"You want some help?"
"Huh?" Ronon looked from River to the knives in his hand, and back to the target again. "Think I've got it under control."
"You don't, not really. And that wasn't what I meant. Distraction, of the hitting and kicking variety."
"Uh."
"Sparring. Is that something you people do out here?"
"Yeah…" Ronon sized her up again, knowing full well that her size didn't mean anything. Between the two wraith and the two guards, he had been wondering what she was capable of…
"Well?"
Ronon grinned. "I'll go easy on you."
---
The first blow connected. River got a second punch in and skated out from under his reach. She probably would've kicked his knee out, but he was already turning, and he had the alarming feeling that she was pulling her punches.
It was really irritating.
Sliding back to circle again, his eyes never left River's. They were earnest, aware, and more amused than anyone he was about to attack should be.
---
The pace was measured, steady but fast. River fought like Teyla fought, all lithe grace and tight control. She found balance when others would have fallen.
She didn't have Teyla's center, though. No one had Teyla's center, that ability to fight so peacefully. And it made all the difference.
There was motion back in the camp. Apparently they'd begun to attract some attention.
River's eyes darted and held on the crowd just an instant too long, her attempt to block the next hit coming up a little short, but she caught herself out of the spin he'd sent her on, sliding one foot back in the dirt to steady herself.
She was off balance, and she knew it.
Ronon attacked again, his kick sweeping low enough that her only option was to take the hit, or fall over.
Or not.
He had to stop thinking about this and just fight.
---
"You goin' easy on me, or are government trained killing machines trained to fall down?" Ronon knelt down next to River, but didn't get too close, knowing full well it could be a ruse.
River was scowling up at the sky in puzzlement. "You don't think when you fight," she accused, accepting his hand and letting him pull her from the dirt.
"I'm usually too busy fighting."
"That's my point. No plans, just instinct. I can't read your head when you do that. It's an advantage."
His own certainty, that she was speaking literally, gave him pause. He scanned the tree line, then the camp, and the gathered audience. "You keeping that to yourself would have been an advantage, you know."
"I'm gaining three advantages in telling you."
"And what are they?" Out past River, he could see Jayne standing at the edge of the camp, a short distance away from the crowd. He nodded back when he saw Ronon looking. As before, he was keeping River in his sights, but wasn't coming to join them. Apparently his overprotective streak didn't extend quite that far.
Then again, it doesn't have to, he decided, fingers prodding his ribs idly at the bruise that probably hadn't formed yet.
River still hadn't answered him, though. She seemed to be waiting for eye contact. Once she had it, though, she began to explain. "One. I know how you fight. Two. I trust you to know something about me. Gives you the upper hand. The position to trust me."
Ronon didn't say anything to that. Her words sounded overconfident, but there was logic there, like McKay when he knew he was right. He had a lot of questions starting to spin, but they weren't so distracting that he'd forgotten what she'd said. He thought about asking what the other advantage was, but the words weren't fully formed when River giggled.
"Three. I'm also making you very nervous."
Ronon snorted, felt his mouth threatening to pull into a smirk. That advantage, at least, made sense. "Whatever." Rolling his shoulders, feeling the stretch there, he reminded himself that he really should be informing the others of the development.
But he also knew that he wouldn't. River wasn't wrong about that, at least. Probably isn't wrong about a lot of things.
"So what now?" he asked, wondering just how far her answers really went.
River grinned, wide. "You should fight with Jayne."
---
As they approached the edge of the camp, Ronon could feel the tension creeping up his spine as reality reasserted itself.
"I'm fine, really," River was saying, clearly having no luck evading Keller, who was cooing over her dirty hair and the scratch on her arm. Apparently it was enough for a trip back to the infirmary.
Jayne watched them leave with the same bemused expression, and waited until they'd reached the tent before speaking. "So what was that all about? Earlier?"
"Something came up. Could be bad."
"Usually is," Jayne said, putting his tools away in his pack. "You allowed to tell me what it is?"
Ronon bristled at the question. I don't ask permission, he thought irritably, but Jayne didn't sound like he was trying to needle him. Just wanted information because he might need it sometime soon.
That, Ronon could relate to.
He began to fill him in. About the wraith, and the alliances with Todd. About how they never ended well. Lorne's decision not to send anyone through, since they didn't have the tenth of the resources they had last week.
He didn't tell Jayne how much it all chafed, or how many times they'd pulled through with less. He didn't want to admit to how unreasonable he knew he was being. It wasn't as if he didn't know how bad things could get. He understood Lorne's position. He just didn't want to.
He didn't mention John Sheppard, how he would have already been out meeting it all head on, consequences be damned, because this wasn't the time or place for telling stories. He was just spelling it out. Making his report.
When he finished, though, Jayne asked, "So what's your plan?"
Ronon rubbed at his face, wondering if Jayne was psychic, too. He didn't seem the sort to admit or to advertise if he was, so it wasn't worth asking. Made more sense than thinking that he understood.
"I head through, alone, find out what he wants, and kill him."
"And most likely get yourself killed in the process."
"Hasn't happened yet," Ronon replied, eyes tired, flashing to look away.
Jayne had been taking and bucking orders for long enough, though, that he could see it. He knew when someone was losing it. Lose the will, lose the fight. He knew when someone didn't give a damn any more.
Lookin' to get himself killed. Even if he don't mean to or know it.
"Fair 'nough," Jayne forced a grin, though, and stood up. "Should probably make sure River ain't braidin' poisonous plants into your doctor's hair or some such. Gotta talk to her, get her ready."
"For what?"
"Well, it ain't like I got ethical concerns regardin' the dispatch of vampiric aliens." Jayne smirked. "And I ain't gotten myself into a stupid situation in days now. Don't want to get rusty. We're comin' with you."
"Jayne," Ronon started, the name coming out more awkwardly than he wanted, but he didn't know where to go from there.
"Look. You jus' said your people can't spare the backup. We can."
Ronon nodded, like he appreciated the offer, but still had something else lurking. "Are all of your people psychic, or just her?"
---
Jayne froze, reined in his impulse to attack and took a breath. Sat himself down again and regarded Ronon carefully. Reminded himself that Ronon wasn't the real threat. "She tell you that?"
"Yeah."
"Gorram it," Jayne shook his head, scowling. "Look. If it gets out-"
"Relax." Ronon understood the admission. "Don't think anyone else needs to know," Ronon said, though the until you prove me wrong was clear in his voice. "Things here are insane enough already."
"Thanks," Jayne said, wary. But now that it was out, and he was thinking 'bout it, it was a little bit of a relief that someone else knew. One less person he needed to worry about.
Ronon coughed, his voice gruff. "You, uh, know how it works?"
The query sounded awkward, and Jayne got the sense that Ronon didn't ask a lot of questions that weren't relevant to the fight at hand. Now, though, he sounded curious. Conversational.
"Figure we're just open books to her, but…" Jayne scratched his head. "She don't seem to like it much, tries to keep a lid on it when she can. She can listen in, though, when she wants to."
"That's got to get old," Ronon said, looking at Jayne like he was expecting something. Not reassurance, though. Just a baseline, some idea what he was supposed to think about it.
Jayne nodded, thinking. "Yeah. But." She wouldn't have known how I done her wrong. Wouldn'ta know how sorry I was, after. "It ain't all bad. Bein' known, I guess. You get used to it, and far as I know, she ain't never turned no one's thoughts against 'em."
That seemed to be enough for Ronon, and he changed the subject abruptly. "What did you do before you got here?"
With Jayne's luck, it was liable to come out anyhow. "Uh, fought, cheated, stole, drank. Made darin' escapes. Standard security." Compared to readin' minds, it ain't that much of an admission.
It also had the effect of making Ronon laugh, full out. Made Jayne feel like he'd finally said somethin' right. Like it was worth doin' it again if he could.
"You probably don't want to mention that to the others."
"No shit. What about you? Mercenary?"
Ronon frowned, though his eyes lost only a little of their humor. "Near enough."
---
Though there was still an hour before sunrise, the camp was already beginning to come to life, in fits and starts.
Ronon wished he could do likewise, but he was numb, tired. Though River and Jayne had been quiet, their very presence in the same room was enough to keep sleep from coming for most of the night. It would take some getting used to. He wondered how long, but it was futile.
Probably won't matter in a day or so.
This early in the morning, the sound of conversations in the mess tent was a quiet hum, wavering at the edge of notice, but it wouldn't last once coffee had been consumed.
He contemplated grabbing another cup himself, weighing it against the option of going for a run.
Ronon would have avoided him if he'd seen him coming, but he didn't see Lorne until he was turning away from the percolator.
"I know what you're planning," Lorne accused, quietly, but there was no malice in his tone. "Walk with me a minute."
There wasn't any point in denying or avoiding it, so Ronon followed him out of the tent, coffee in hand, and asked, conversationally, "Got a problem with it?"
"You know I don't like it. We're sitting ducks right now. The best thing I can do to protect my people is to let Pegasus think we're all gone."
"I know." And he got it, he did. Keeping a low profile wasn't even a plan, these days. It was an assumption. He wasn't going to bring anything down on the others, but Lorne probably already knew that much.
He probably did need to hear the rest of it, though. "I'm bringing Jayne and River with me."
"You sure that's a good idea?"
"No. But it is what it is. You going to stop us?"
Lorne frowned at him, humor twisting at the side of his mouth. "You don't get it, do you?"
"What?"
"I can't order our people into something like this right now. They're bearing up well, but their heads aren't in the right place for missions right now. And even if they wanted to volunteer…"
"They're soldiers. Chain of command. I get it."
"Sheppard only could make you follow orders when you wanted to, and we both know it. My people have to listen to me." Lorne talked out of the side of his mouth, like he was admitting something, either accusing or conspiring. "You don't."
He must have seen something he didn't like in Ronon's expression, because he hurried to continue. "I didn't come out here looking to argue. Just wanted to let you know that while I can't commit people, I'm still trying to watch your back. Anything you think you need, guns, C4. Just ask."
"Already got my gun," Ronon said, drinking his coffee, letting it burn his throat as he swallowed. Everything else was superfluous.
---
They stepped out onto a landscape that was quiet enough to unsettle a person. It did seem to quiet River, though. The gorram xiao gui had been bouncin' all over the place, ever since she found out they were going through the gate again.
Never mind why we're going. Never mind what's on the other side.
They had planned to arrive early, and Ronon was messing with some handheld device, scanning the area to make sure they were alone.
Jayne was keeping an eye on River, wantin' to make sure she wasn't about to start actin' up. Yesterday weren't so far away that he didn't remember. But there was no threat here.
There wasn't much of anything, truth be told. Just desert scrub and sun that would probably get uncomfortable 'fore too long. Nothin' much by way of cover, neither. Not from the sun, and not from anyone looking to attack.
River, for her part, seemed more interested in the rocks that stuck out of the arid dirt at the horizon. Figures.
He checked his guns again, not really thinking about it, and pretended not to watch Ronon as close as he was. He looked bloody-minded, the way Zoe got when she knew they were gettin' themselves into somethin' stupid.
Mal would have pulled him aside, never mind the fact there weren't no aside here, for a few words. Would've come up with somethin' along the lines of be careful. You ain't the only one goin' into this. Don't need to go in lookin' to die today, dong ma?
But Mal wasn't here, and Jayne wasn't Mal.
Then, there wasn't much else to do besides find a good place to stand ready, eyes on the gate.
---
After all the waiting, and a few moments of tension too heavy to breathe under, the appearance of the wraith himself wasn't all that climactic. He was tall, thin, and, unlike the ones that had attacked Serenity, had a face, with eyes and everything. Those eyes, though. There weren't nothin' right 'bout them.
Most importantly, the wraith had come alone. Didn't have any weapons on him, either.
From what Jayne remembered of the other night, though, he probably didn't need any. River was stone silent, standing a little closer than Jayne would've expected. Ronon, for his part, was moving forward, stepping up to Todd like he didn't care, or just didn't fear.
It all amounted to the same, probably.
It was the wraith that spoke first, though, having surveyed their faces.
"Where is John Sheppard?" His voice was gravel, the words soundin' like they'd crept up his throat over the bones of the dead. Sent a chill down Jayne's spine, if he was bein' honest about it. Hopefully, River didn't notice.
"Not here," Ronon said, clearly not in the mood for niceties. "What do you want?"
"I have some information that I think might be of use to you. I have merely come here to offer an exchange."
The wraith grinned, then, all horrid teeth. "I saw you, Ronon Dex, preparing to attack the lab of the half-breed your people call Michael. I myself was in the area working towards a similar goal. When you attracted Michael's attention, I was able to achieve my objective."
"You destroyed the lab."
"Yes. And I must thank you for keeping his troops so thoroughly occupied. While you were so engaged, I was able to follow from a distance as he made his escape. I assume you are aware of the retribution Michael brought to Atlantis?"
"Yes." Ronon grit his teeth, fingers brushing over his holster.
"I regret I did not have the capabilities at hand to prevent the attack," Todd offered, clearly enjoying Ronon's irritation. "However. That is not what I have come here to discuss. Once the darts were returning to the hive above the ruins of Atlantis, I managed to capture one of Michael's lieutenants. What I have learned from him is proving to be most intriguing. It seems that, in the wake of the destruction of his lab, Michael has ordered the halt of all research into hybrid creation."
If that was meant to impress or cow Ronon, it wasn't working. "Not surprising. He didn't have a lab anymore."
Todd scoffed. "You think that installation was the only one he maintained? Foolish."
"Okay, so why did he stop?"
"It is unclear at the moment, and not the issue at hand."
"So what is the issue?"
"His fleet continues to grow in strength, and his weapons capabilities are beginning to become a minor concern."
Ronon smiled at that, all gleeful spite. "He's kicking your ass all over the galaxy, isn't he?"
Todd rolled his eyes. "From what I understand, his new weapon, once completed, will be a larger threat to human populations than it will be to my own."
"But then you starve. Okay." Ronon paused. "So what do you want us for?"
"While his research into the hybridization process had to be spread out, in order to ensure the proper isolation of test subjects, his weapons research is centralized on his hive."
"Then ain't he riskin' blowing up his own ship?" Jayne interjected, a little startled to hear his own voice, and mildly surprised hear the wraith's laughter.
"It is no immediate threat. It seems that this weapon is of a different nature, and this is why I need your expertise," he said, turning again to Ronon. "Particularly that of your Doctor McKay, if he still lives."
Ronon nodded his head to the side, not confirming or denying. It was a move Jayne had seen Mal make hundreds of times.
But never to a heishoudang liumang like this ugly creature.
"Yes. As I assume your capabilities have become limited in recent days, I can arrange the transport necessary to infiltrate the hive, and escape, once the mission has been completed."
"Hang on. You have the means to get out there, why don't you just blow it up like you did Michael's lab?" Jayne noticed Ronon looking at him from the corner of his eye, and was mildly surprised not to find censure there.
"Because we need to know what Michael knows," Ronon hazarded a guess, talking like Todd's angle seemed clear enough, but he knew there was something he was still missing. Addressing the issue, he jutted his chin out towards Todd. "What aren't you telling us?"
"The reason why you will agree. Michael's hive does not only contain the results of his research, but a prisoner. Possibly two."
"You don't know how many?" Ronon asked, but he could feel his hopes being raised, whether he liked it or not.
"While I do understand much of the human reproductive cycles, I have never been involved in husbandry myself. I find it a... distasteful practice."
"The hell are you-" Jayne started to ask, but a sharp nudge between his ribs had him turning to find River's warning scowl.
Ronon's stance hadn't changed. He still looked ready to fight the moment the wind shifted. He stood, waiting but not hesitating, like he was waiting for it to happen, holdin' on for the excuse.
But if he was aware of Jayne's eyes on him, he didn't show it, just came out of his fugue on his own with a sharp nod.
"Be here at this time tomorrow. We'll think about it."
9. Before The Worst
A/N: Okay…finally getting to the action, next chapter, I promise! In the meantime, I've got a quick question for anyone who cares to weigh in: After looking around online a bit, it's become apparent that the SOP for dealing with the Chinese is to italicize the phrases. (I've even noticed a few stories that have glossaries, which I might compile at some point. If I'm feeling energetic.) I haven't been doing so here, but it strikes me that it might make it a little easier to parse out when reading. I'm wondering if I should start, and go through and fix those parts I've already got posted. Would that help, or does it not matter?
And there you have it: the longest statement I've ever written with regards to the use of italics.
Rating: PG for now
By: Jendavis
Spoilers: SGA: The Last Man, FF: Serenity
Pairing: Eventual Jayne Cobb/ Ronon Dex
Genre: Crossover
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, don't take this too seriously.
Summary: Timelines diverge by converging.
Previous: 1. Man of Steel 2. Keys to the World 3. Lost 4. Gone Away 5. House is Not a Home 6. Still Standing 7. I Never Told You What I Do For A Living
8. Scary Eyes
River was thinking about blood, and how it wasn't the spilling that always mattered.
"What's got you lookin' so down?" Jayne, clearly uncomfortable with the asking, buried the question by fidgeting more than he needed to as he set up the second cot. Straightening the sheets like it was something he was concerned with, because he knew he wouldn't- maybe couldn't- show concern elsewhere.
River smiled, wanting to assure him that everything was okay, but he didn't look up to notice. "I'm thinking that of course it's genetic. It always is. Same reason the Alliance wanted. Too small to mean anything but everything."
Jayne rocked back on his heels, pushing the cot against the back wall of the tent and talking over his shoulder. "You work with any of that weird technology when the alliance had you?"
"No. They worked on me with weird technology."
Jayne was tense again, the way he got whenever her past loomed up into the present and Simon wasn't around to mediate. I miss him too. More.
"Right. Better'n chance odds there's a connection between the genes, what the Alliance done t'you, and your bein' able to read folk?"
River blinked. She hadn't been expecting Jayne to figure even that much out. Slid a grin across her face for a moment before putting it away, and turned her head towards the tent entrance for the first time since Zelenka left. "They're interested in me."
"Their interest resemblin' the Alliance's interest?"
"Too early to know."
"Don't think they're the type to go about messin' in your head, but. What d'you know?"
Lorne is angrier than he seems and his fear of failing chokes the air from him. McKay's mind is louder than his voice. Fast chaotic noise. Hurts to listen, too much, but if you do, you hear the beginnings of everything. Every thing. Zelenka is a steady hum. Calming. Order and peace and stones set carefully on the grid. The doctor is happy in her sadness, but her wanting hurts to look at. Ronon…
"I know we need them. I don't know why they need us, yet, but I know that they do."
She looked out into what she'd decided to call the courtyard, saw Ronon striding across and out of the camp, clearly angry. His frustration was familiar, looked a lot like Jayne's did whenever Mal was holding him back. She wondered what he knew.
A few minutes later, Jayne was seated on his cot and stripping down his guns, cleaning and checking them like he needed space to think. River could give that much to him, at least.
---
Should just go take care of it. No point in waiting for the others. Not like there's really any reason to stick around here being useless. Meet up, find out what he wants, kill him before he screws you.
Ronon yanked his knives out of the side of the empty crate and backed up, a little further this time, before launching them again, one after the other. They didn't line up like he wanted.
Lorne's not stupid. He knows as well as you do that it's probably a trap. Getting yourself killed won't solve a damned thing But.
Nothing was lining up like he wanted, and this wasn't helping him think. He noticed River coming up behind him, but didn't turn to look.
"You want some help?"
"Huh?" Ronon looked from River to the knives in his hand, and back to the target again. "Think I've got it under control."
"You don't, not really. And that wasn't what I meant. Distraction, of the hitting and kicking variety."
"Uh."
"Sparring. Is that something you people do out here?"
"Yeah…" Ronon sized her up again, knowing full well that her size didn't mean anything. Between the two wraith and the two guards, he had been wondering what she was capable of…
"Well?"
Ronon grinned. "I'll go easy on you."
---
The first blow connected. River got a second punch in and skated out from under his reach. She probably would've kicked his knee out, but he was already turning, and he had the alarming feeling that she was pulling her punches.
It was really irritating.
Sliding back to circle again, his eyes never left River's. They were earnest, aware, and more amused than anyone he was about to attack should be.
---
The pace was measured, steady but fast. River fought like Teyla fought, all lithe grace and tight control. She found balance when others would have fallen.
She didn't have Teyla's center, though. No one had Teyla's center, that ability to fight so peacefully. And it made all the difference.
There was motion back in the camp. Apparently they'd begun to attract some attention.
River's eyes darted and held on the crowd just an instant too long, her attempt to block the next hit coming up a little short, but she caught herself out of the spin he'd sent her on, sliding one foot back in the dirt to steady herself.
She was off balance, and she knew it.
Ronon attacked again, his kick sweeping low enough that her only option was to take the hit, or fall over.
Or not.
He had to stop thinking about this and just fight.
---
"You goin' easy on me, or are government trained killing machines trained to fall down?" Ronon knelt down next to River, but didn't get too close, knowing full well it could be a ruse.
River was scowling up at the sky in puzzlement. "You don't think when you fight," she accused, accepting his hand and letting him pull her from the dirt.
"I'm usually too busy fighting."
"That's my point. No plans, just instinct. I can't read your head when you do that. It's an advantage."
His own certainty, that she was speaking literally, gave him pause. He scanned the tree line, then the camp, and the gathered audience. "You keeping that to yourself would have been an advantage, you know."
"I'm gaining three advantages in telling you."
"And what are they?" Out past River, he could see Jayne standing at the edge of the camp, a short distance away from the crowd. He nodded back when he saw Ronon looking. As before, he was keeping River in his sights, but wasn't coming to join them. Apparently his overprotective streak didn't extend quite that far.
Then again, it doesn't have to, he decided, fingers prodding his ribs idly at the bruise that probably hadn't formed yet.
River still hadn't answered him, though. She seemed to be waiting for eye contact. Once she had it, though, she began to explain. "One. I know how you fight. Two. I trust you to know something about me. Gives you the upper hand. The position to trust me."
Ronon didn't say anything to that. Her words sounded overconfident, but there was logic there, like McKay when he knew he was right. He had a lot of questions starting to spin, but they weren't so distracting that he'd forgotten what she'd said. He thought about asking what the other advantage was, but the words weren't fully formed when River giggled.
"Three. I'm also making you very nervous."
Ronon snorted, felt his mouth threatening to pull into a smirk. That advantage, at least, made sense. "Whatever." Rolling his shoulders, feeling the stretch there, he reminded himself that he really should be informing the others of the development.
But he also knew that he wouldn't. River wasn't wrong about that, at least. Probably isn't wrong about a lot of things.
"So what now?" he asked, wondering just how far her answers really went.
River grinned, wide. "You should fight with Jayne."
---
As they approached the edge of the camp, Ronon could feel the tension creeping up his spine as reality reasserted itself.
"I'm fine, really," River was saying, clearly having no luck evading Keller, who was cooing over her dirty hair and the scratch on her arm. Apparently it was enough for a trip back to the infirmary.
Jayne watched them leave with the same bemused expression, and waited until they'd reached the tent before speaking. "So what was that all about? Earlier?"
"Something came up. Could be bad."
"Usually is," Jayne said, putting his tools away in his pack. "You allowed to tell me what it is?"
Ronon bristled at the question. I don't ask permission, he thought irritably, but Jayne didn't sound like he was trying to needle him. Just wanted information because he might need it sometime soon.
That, Ronon could relate to.
He began to fill him in. About the wraith, and the alliances with Todd. About how they never ended well. Lorne's decision not to send anyone through, since they didn't have the tenth of the resources they had last week.
He didn't tell Jayne how much it all chafed, or how many times they'd pulled through with less. He didn't want to admit to how unreasonable he knew he was being. It wasn't as if he didn't know how bad things could get. He understood Lorne's position. He just didn't want to.
He didn't mention John Sheppard, how he would have already been out meeting it all head on, consequences be damned, because this wasn't the time or place for telling stories. He was just spelling it out. Making his report.
When he finished, though, Jayne asked, "So what's your plan?"
Ronon rubbed at his face, wondering if Jayne was psychic, too. He didn't seem the sort to admit or to advertise if he was, so it wasn't worth asking. Made more sense than thinking that he understood.
"I head through, alone, find out what he wants, and kill him."
"And most likely get yourself killed in the process."
"Hasn't happened yet," Ronon replied, eyes tired, flashing to look away.
Jayne had been taking and bucking orders for long enough, though, that he could see it. He knew when someone was losing it. Lose the will, lose the fight. He knew when someone didn't give a damn any more.
Lookin' to get himself killed. Even if he don't mean to or know it.
"Fair 'nough," Jayne forced a grin, though, and stood up. "Should probably make sure River ain't braidin' poisonous plants into your doctor's hair or some such. Gotta talk to her, get her ready."
"For what?"
"Well, it ain't like I got ethical concerns regardin' the dispatch of vampiric aliens." Jayne smirked. "And I ain't gotten myself into a stupid situation in days now. Don't want to get rusty. We're comin' with you."
"Jayne," Ronon started, the name coming out more awkwardly than he wanted, but he didn't know where to go from there.
"Look. You jus' said your people can't spare the backup. We can."
Ronon nodded, like he appreciated the offer, but still had something else lurking. "Are all of your people psychic, or just her?"
---
Jayne froze, reined in his impulse to attack and took a breath. Sat himself down again and regarded Ronon carefully. Reminded himself that Ronon wasn't the real threat. "She tell you that?"
"Yeah."
"Gorram it," Jayne shook his head, scowling. "Look. If it gets out-"
"Relax." Ronon understood the admission. "Don't think anyone else needs to know," Ronon said, though the until you prove me wrong was clear in his voice. "Things here are insane enough already."
"Thanks," Jayne said, wary. But now that it was out, and he was thinking 'bout it, it was a little bit of a relief that someone else knew. One less person he needed to worry about.
Ronon coughed, his voice gruff. "You, uh, know how it works?"
The query sounded awkward, and Jayne got the sense that Ronon didn't ask a lot of questions that weren't relevant to the fight at hand. Now, though, he sounded curious. Conversational.
"Figure we're just open books to her, but…" Jayne scratched his head. "She don't seem to like it much, tries to keep a lid on it when she can. She can listen in, though, when she wants to."
"That's got to get old," Ronon said, looking at Jayne like he was expecting something. Not reassurance, though. Just a baseline, some idea what he was supposed to think about it.
Jayne nodded, thinking. "Yeah. But." She wouldn't have known how I done her wrong. Wouldn'ta know how sorry I was, after. "It ain't all bad. Bein' known, I guess. You get used to it, and far as I know, she ain't never turned no one's thoughts against 'em."
That seemed to be enough for Ronon, and he changed the subject abruptly. "What did you do before you got here?"
With Jayne's luck, it was liable to come out anyhow. "Uh, fought, cheated, stole, drank. Made darin' escapes. Standard security." Compared to readin' minds, it ain't that much of an admission.
It also had the effect of making Ronon laugh, full out. Made Jayne feel like he'd finally said somethin' right. Like it was worth doin' it again if he could.
"You probably don't want to mention that to the others."
"No shit. What about you? Mercenary?"
Ronon frowned, though his eyes lost only a little of their humor. "Near enough."
---
Though there was still an hour before sunrise, the camp was already beginning to come to life, in fits and starts.
Ronon wished he could do likewise, but he was numb, tired. Though River and Jayne had been quiet, their very presence in the same room was enough to keep sleep from coming for most of the night. It would take some getting used to. He wondered how long, but it was futile.
Probably won't matter in a day or so.
This early in the morning, the sound of conversations in the mess tent was a quiet hum, wavering at the edge of notice, but it wouldn't last once coffee had been consumed.
He contemplated grabbing another cup himself, weighing it against the option of going for a run.
Ronon would have avoided him if he'd seen him coming, but he didn't see Lorne until he was turning away from the percolator.
"I know what you're planning," Lorne accused, quietly, but there was no malice in his tone. "Walk with me a minute."
There wasn't any point in denying or avoiding it, so Ronon followed him out of the tent, coffee in hand, and asked, conversationally, "Got a problem with it?"
"You know I don't like it. We're sitting ducks right now. The best thing I can do to protect my people is to let Pegasus think we're all gone."
"I know." And he got it, he did. Keeping a low profile wasn't even a plan, these days. It was an assumption. He wasn't going to bring anything down on the others, but Lorne probably already knew that much.
He probably did need to hear the rest of it, though. "I'm bringing Jayne and River with me."
"You sure that's a good idea?"
"No. But it is what it is. You going to stop us?"
Lorne frowned at him, humor twisting at the side of his mouth. "You don't get it, do you?"
"What?"
"I can't order our people into something like this right now. They're bearing up well, but their heads aren't in the right place for missions right now. And even if they wanted to volunteer…"
"They're soldiers. Chain of command. I get it."
"Sheppard only could make you follow orders when you wanted to, and we both know it. My people have to listen to me." Lorne talked out of the side of his mouth, like he was admitting something, either accusing or conspiring. "You don't."
He must have seen something he didn't like in Ronon's expression, because he hurried to continue. "I didn't come out here looking to argue. Just wanted to let you know that while I can't commit people, I'm still trying to watch your back. Anything you think you need, guns, C4. Just ask."
"Already got my gun," Ronon said, drinking his coffee, letting it burn his throat as he swallowed. Everything else was superfluous.
---
They stepped out onto a landscape that was quiet enough to unsettle a person. It did seem to quiet River, though. The gorram xiao gui had been bouncin' all over the place, ever since she found out they were going through the gate again.
Never mind why we're going. Never mind what's on the other side.
They had planned to arrive early, and Ronon was messing with some handheld device, scanning the area to make sure they were alone.
Jayne was keeping an eye on River, wantin' to make sure she wasn't about to start actin' up. Yesterday weren't so far away that he didn't remember. But there was no threat here.
There wasn't much of anything, truth be told. Just desert scrub and sun that would probably get uncomfortable 'fore too long. Nothin' much by way of cover, neither. Not from the sun, and not from anyone looking to attack.
River, for her part, seemed more interested in the rocks that stuck out of the arid dirt at the horizon. Figures.
He checked his guns again, not really thinking about it, and pretended not to watch Ronon as close as he was. He looked bloody-minded, the way Zoe got when she knew they were gettin' themselves into somethin' stupid.
Mal would have pulled him aside, never mind the fact there weren't no aside here, for a few words. Would've come up with somethin' along the lines of be careful. You ain't the only one goin' into this. Don't need to go in lookin' to die today, dong ma?
But Mal wasn't here, and Jayne wasn't Mal.
Then, there wasn't much else to do besides find a good place to stand ready, eyes on the gate.
---
After all the waiting, and a few moments of tension too heavy to breathe under, the appearance of the wraith himself wasn't all that climactic. He was tall, thin, and, unlike the ones that had attacked Serenity, had a face, with eyes and everything. Those eyes, though. There weren't nothin' right 'bout them.
Most importantly, the wraith had come alone. Didn't have any weapons on him, either.
From what Jayne remembered of the other night, though, he probably didn't need any. River was stone silent, standing a little closer than Jayne would've expected. Ronon, for his part, was moving forward, stepping up to Todd like he didn't care, or just didn't fear.
It all amounted to the same, probably.
It was the wraith that spoke first, though, having surveyed their faces.
"Where is John Sheppard?" His voice was gravel, the words soundin' like they'd crept up his throat over the bones of the dead. Sent a chill down Jayne's spine, if he was bein' honest about it. Hopefully, River didn't notice.
"Not here," Ronon said, clearly not in the mood for niceties. "What do you want?"
"I have some information that I think might be of use to you. I have merely come here to offer an exchange."
The wraith grinned, then, all horrid teeth. "I saw you, Ronon Dex, preparing to attack the lab of the half-breed your people call Michael. I myself was in the area working towards a similar goal. When you attracted Michael's attention, I was able to achieve my objective."
"You destroyed the lab."
"Yes. And I must thank you for keeping his troops so thoroughly occupied. While you were so engaged, I was able to follow from a distance as he made his escape. I assume you are aware of the retribution Michael brought to Atlantis?"
"Yes." Ronon grit his teeth, fingers brushing over his holster.
"I regret I did not have the capabilities at hand to prevent the attack," Todd offered, clearly enjoying Ronon's irritation. "However. That is not what I have come here to discuss. Once the darts were returning to the hive above the ruins of Atlantis, I managed to capture one of Michael's lieutenants. What I have learned from him is proving to be most intriguing. It seems that, in the wake of the destruction of his lab, Michael has ordered the halt of all research into hybrid creation."
If that was meant to impress or cow Ronon, it wasn't working. "Not surprising. He didn't have a lab anymore."
Todd scoffed. "You think that installation was the only one he maintained? Foolish."
"Okay, so why did he stop?"
"It is unclear at the moment, and not the issue at hand."
"So what is the issue?"
"His fleet continues to grow in strength, and his weapons capabilities are beginning to become a minor concern."
Ronon smiled at that, all gleeful spite. "He's kicking your ass all over the galaxy, isn't he?"
Todd rolled his eyes. "From what I understand, his new weapon, once completed, will be a larger threat to human populations than it will be to my own."
"But then you starve. Okay." Ronon paused. "So what do you want us for?"
"While his research into the hybridization process had to be spread out, in order to ensure the proper isolation of test subjects, his weapons research is centralized on his hive."
"Then ain't he riskin' blowing up his own ship?" Jayne interjected, a little startled to hear his own voice, and mildly surprised hear the wraith's laughter.
"It is no immediate threat. It seems that this weapon is of a different nature, and this is why I need your expertise," he said, turning again to Ronon. "Particularly that of your Doctor McKay, if he still lives."
Ronon nodded his head to the side, not confirming or denying. It was a move Jayne had seen Mal make hundreds of times.
But never to a heishoudang liumang like this ugly creature.
"Yes. As I assume your capabilities have become limited in recent days, I can arrange the transport necessary to infiltrate the hive, and escape, once the mission has been completed."
"Hang on. You have the means to get out there, why don't you just blow it up like you did Michael's lab?" Jayne noticed Ronon looking at him from the corner of his eye, and was mildly surprised not to find censure there.
"Because we need to know what Michael knows," Ronon hazarded a guess, talking like Todd's angle seemed clear enough, but he knew there was something he was still missing. Addressing the issue, he jutted his chin out towards Todd. "What aren't you telling us?"
"The reason why you will agree. Michael's hive does not only contain the results of his research, but a prisoner. Possibly two."
"You don't know how many?" Ronon asked, but he could feel his hopes being raised, whether he liked it or not.
"While I do understand much of the human reproductive cycles, I have never been involved in husbandry myself. I find it a... distasteful practice."
"The hell are you-" Jayne started to ask, but a sharp nudge between his ribs had him turning to find River's warning scowl.
Ronon's stance hadn't changed. He still looked ready to fight the moment the wind shifted. He stood, waiting but not hesitating, like he was waiting for it to happen, holdin' on for the excuse.
But if he was aware of Jayne's eyes on him, he didn't show it, just came out of his fugue on his own with a sharp nod.
"Be here at this time tomorrow. We'll think about it."
9. Before The Worst
A/N: Okay…finally getting to the action, next chapter, I promise! In the meantime, I've got a quick question for anyone who cares to weigh in: After looking around online a bit, it's become apparent that the SOP for dealing with the Chinese is to italicize the phrases. (I've even noticed a few stories that have glossaries, which I might compile at some point. If I'm feeling energetic.) I haven't been doing so here, but it strikes me that it might make it a little easier to parse out when reading. I'm wondering if I should start, and go through and fix those parts I've already got posted. Would that help, or does it not matter?
And there you have it: the longest statement I've ever written with regards to the use of italics.