Vday: fic: Before I Kill You (SGA)
Written for rageprufrock's 14 Valentines challenge. Vday.org: donate, donate, donate!
Title: Before I Kill You
Author: siegeofangels
Fandom: SGA
Rated PG
Disclaimer: Stargate: Atlantis is the property of someone not me. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: "You didn't think anyone could be this incompetent by accident, did you?"
"Oh, come on, John," Elizabeth said, her matter-of-fact tone of voice at odds with the gun she was pointing at his chest. "You didn't think either of us could be this incompetent by accident, did you?"
He had no idea how she had managed to clear out the gate room, but her eyes were clear and she looked to be in complete control of herself. Dammit. John's hand hovered over his own sidearm. If she'd been possessed or something he should probably find a way to just incapacitate her, but if she was telling the truth--if she really did believe that the ATA carriers were in cahoots with the city against Earth, and was going to be proactive about it--he might have to actually kill her.
John figured that you were really only allowed to shoot one boss in your lifetime.
"I tried to do this subtly," Elizabeth said, and John realized that they'd reached the Before I kill you, Mister Bond portion of the evening. Don't pay attention to her, he told himself. He took a step back, onto the lowest step of the Stargate platform. She was going to space him, probably, or send him into solid rock. Maybe he could make shooting him the more attractive option. Behind him, the wormhole was already open.
"For a diplomat?" he said. "Your subtlety could use a little work. How'd you get this job, anyway? Same way I did?"
"That stings, John, really. I'm dedicated to peaceful resolution of conflict throughout both galaxies. Hands up, please."
He put his hands up.
"I thought if I just waited long enough you'd do yourself in. You're not a particularly careful person, John. You got rid of Sumner for me; with you gone, it'll be easy to convince them to shut down the entire program. Think about it--"she gestured with the gun--"a weapon powerful enough to destroy the Wraith. Do you have any idea what would happen if you power-hungry idiots here had something like that to use against Earth?"
"I don't know, Elizabeth. Why don't you tell me about it, since I seem to be on the wrong side of the power-hungry idiot equation right now?" His hands inched together above his head. If he could just get to the knife sheathed along his forearm . . .
Elizabeth shook her head, her practical, practical hair. "You really don't realize. I've seen you all, with the gene. I know you think you're better than we are, and it has to stop now, it really does." She shrugged. "I tried to let you kill yourself, but I suppose I'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way," she said, and fired.
John whipped his body around and fell heavily on the steps. God, let her think she hit me. It was a good thing she was a terrible shot; the bullet had barely grazed his side.
She stalked closer, and he forced himself to stay motionless, his eyes half-open, until her boots appeared next to him.
She was aiming at his head now, but he'd let his right hand fall on his own pistol, and in one smooth movement he drew, aimed, and shot her, dead center in the chest. Elizabeth fell on the steps, dead before she hit the ground.
John lurched up and touched a hand to his side. Blood, but not too much. He'd certainly been hurt worse before. He managed to throw the body through the wormhole before he left.
He trailed a hand along the wall of the corridor as he made his way to the infirmary, and Atlantis lit up for him lovingly, illuminating the bloody streaks he left.
John reached his clean hand up to tap his earpiece, clicking over to the secure channel. "Sheppard to McKay," he said. "Meet me in the infirmary. Phase one is complete."
"That's a little ahead of schedule, Colonel," came the disapproving voice in his ear. "We've still got maybe a week to go before we're ready."
"Couldn't help it, Rodney," he said. "She did shoot me."
"Hmm, well," Rodney said, which was quite a concession and as much sympathy as he could expect. "A week should be long enough to find out who talked. I'm on my way. McKay out."
John wondered who had given them away; he hoped it hadn't been Beckett. Finding a new doctor with the gene would be such a bitch.
He continued down the hallway, smeared red handprints on the wall behind him.
Title: Before I Kill You
Author: siegeofangels
Fandom: SGA
Rated PG
Disclaimer: Stargate: Atlantis is the property of someone not me. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: "You didn't think anyone could be this incompetent by accident, did you?"
"Oh, come on, John," Elizabeth said, her matter-of-fact tone of voice at odds with the gun she was pointing at his chest. "You didn't think either of us could be this incompetent by accident, did you?"
He had no idea how she had managed to clear out the gate room, but her eyes were clear and she looked to be in complete control of herself. Dammit. John's hand hovered over his own sidearm. If she'd been possessed or something he should probably find a way to just incapacitate her, but if she was telling the truth--if she really did believe that the ATA carriers were in cahoots with the city against Earth, and was going to be proactive about it--he might have to actually kill her.
John figured that you were really only allowed to shoot one boss in your lifetime.
"I tried to do this subtly," Elizabeth said, and John realized that they'd reached the Before I kill you, Mister Bond portion of the evening. Don't pay attention to her, he told himself. He took a step back, onto the lowest step of the Stargate platform. She was going to space him, probably, or send him into solid rock. Maybe he could make shooting him the more attractive option. Behind him, the wormhole was already open.
"For a diplomat?" he said. "Your subtlety could use a little work. How'd you get this job, anyway? Same way I did?"
"That stings, John, really. I'm dedicated to peaceful resolution of conflict throughout both galaxies. Hands up, please."
He put his hands up.
"I thought if I just waited long enough you'd do yourself in. You're not a particularly careful person, John. You got rid of Sumner for me; with you gone, it'll be easy to convince them to shut down the entire program. Think about it--"she gestured with the gun--"a weapon powerful enough to destroy the Wraith. Do you have any idea what would happen if you power-hungry idiots here had something like that to use against Earth?"
"I don't know, Elizabeth. Why don't you tell me about it, since I seem to be on the wrong side of the power-hungry idiot equation right now?" His hands inched together above his head. If he could just get to the knife sheathed along his forearm . . .
Elizabeth shook her head, her practical, practical hair. "You really don't realize. I've seen you all, with the gene. I know you think you're better than we are, and it has to stop now, it really does." She shrugged. "I tried to let you kill yourself, but I suppose I'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way," she said, and fired.
John whipped his body around and fell heavily on the steps. God, let her think she hit me. It was a good thing she was a terrible shot; the bullet had barely grazed his side.
She stalked closer, and he forced himself to stay motionless, his eyes half-open, until her boots appeared next to him.
She was aiming at his head now, but he'd let his right hand fall on his own pistol, and in one smooth movement he drew, aimed, and shot her, dead center in the chest. Elizabeth fell on the steps, dead before she hit the ground.
John lurched up and touched a hand to his side. Blood, but not too much. He'd certainly been hurt worse before. He managed to throw the body through the wormhole before he left.
He trailed a hand along the wall of the corridor as he made his way to the infirmary, and Atlantis lit up for him lovingly, illuminating the bloody streaks he left.
John reached his clean hand up to tap his earpiece, clicking over to the secure channel. "Sheppard to McKay," he said. "Meet me in the infirmary. Phase one is complete."
"That's a little ahead of schedule, Colonel," came the disapproving voice in his ear. "We've still got maybe a week to go before we're ready."
"Couldn't help it, Rodney," he said. "She did shoot me."
"Hmm, well," Rodney said, which was quite a concession and as much sympathy as he could expect. "A week should be long enough to find out who talked. I'm on my way. McKay out."
John wondered who had given them away; he hoped it hadn't been Beckett. Finding a new doctor with the gene would be such a bitch.
He continued down the hallway, smeared red handprints on the wall behind him.