ext_1772 ([identity profile] frostfire-17.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] sga_flashfic2006-07-20 02:08 am

sans peur et sans reproche--by frostfire

Title: Sans Peur et Sans Reproche
Author: Frostfire
Word count: 1217
Notes: John-centric, slightly AU. As this is the darkfic challenge, one may expect darkness. Sort of vaguely references SG-1 season 9, with spoilers for 9x07. Set around The Tower, The Long Goodbye, in there. Thanks to [personal profile] synecdochic and [personal profile] thecomfychair for audiencing and [personal profile] synecdochic also for coming up with a title so I didn't have to at 2 AM; realistically, she probably came up with half the idea, too. Power to the hive mind.


It’s been a year and a half, and John’s gotten used to Atlantis. Command can be a pain in the ass, and there’s the possible death by life-sucking alien, 1950’s-era bomb attack, ten-thousand-year-old anything, and being turned into a fucking bug, but there are perks. Really sweet ride, for one. Ascended sex. Fucking with Rodney’s head. Shooting people.

All in all, he likes it.

And he’s settled in, tested his limits, gotten comfortable. He got himself into command right away, figured out how far he could go with Elizabeth during the virus incident (answer: all the way, like he ever thought anything else), and just recently, the Caldwell Goa’uld thing. Serious luck, there. No one really trusts Caldwell anymore.

And the Marines will follow him to hell and back, because he’s willing to lay down his life for them. (Not their fault they never asked why.)

So he’s gotten used to Atlantis, hardly ever flashes back to Earth, to expensive drinks and identical neatly-trimmed beards—and really, the sudden plunge into fear and death and shooting things, right at the beginning, helped him a lot. His new job has been great.

Lt. Col. John Sheppard likes football, Ferris Wheels, and things that go more than 200 mph. The first is true, the second he could give a fuck about, and the third is pretty much half the key to his happiness. Here on Atlantis, he has one football game, zero Ferris Wheels, and a ton of really fast things. He also has carte blanche to commit genocide.

He really fucking loves this job, and it’s about to get better.

The Daedalus brought him a letter today, supposedly from an old war buddy. John has zero old war buddies (considering certain methods of calculation, he might even have negative old war buddies), and the letter had a super-secret message, underneath five layers of encryption, because a certain guy with a hard-on for himself (literally) also can’t get enough of the cool spy stuff.

Elizabeth stepped into her room five minutes ago. The doors always open for him. (It’s a great job.)

She starts, then smiles. “John. Don’t you ever knock?”

“Nah.” He thinks about it. Elizabeth has her moments, and he’s held off because he doesn’t want to do her job, but basically he’s wanted to shoot her for a year and a half. P-90? Handgun? Hit her over the head with the freaking huge tribal mask on her wall? He’s never liked the way the thing grins at him.

“So, John,” she says, sitting down on her bed, “what did you want to talk to me abou—”

John looks down at the handgun, still pointed, and grins.

 

He’s at the other end of the city, forty-five minutes later, when he radios Rodney and says, “Hey, did Elizabeth ever make a decision about the mission to P4X-839? Is it tomorrow or—what are we calling the next day? Thursday?”

“No, she didn’t say anything,” says Rodney after a minute. “Here, wait a second.” And a minute later, “She’s not answering her radio.”

John does not twitch with suppressed laughter. At all. “It’s okay, I had a couple other things I needed to ask her. I’ll go find her.”

“Fine,” says Rodney, and clicks off.

John makes his way to Elizabeth’s room, counting off prime numbers with each step. When he gets there (2963, but that’s only because he used a transporter), he stops short, and he hears his own voice, grim and clipped. “Major Lorne, we have a situation.”

 

Altogether, including the time it takes to calm Rodney, Beckett and Teyla down (he delegates that last one), he has the city locked down and under control in forty minutes. Marines are guarding all essential personnel, in randomly-chosen groups. The scientists are confined to quarters or labs. Rodney is sweeping the city for aliens. Beckett is overseeing the autopsy. Teyla and Ronon are standing behind him in the control room, waiting for someone to come out of the walls and attack.

So that’s Step Two. Step Three is coming right up. “I’m going to do a quick patrol, see how our guys are doing,” he says.

“I’ll go with you,” says Ronon.

“I need you to go sit on Rodney. Once he finishes that sweep, he’s going to start freaking out again. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want him doing any…creative self-defense.”

Ronon looks like he wants John to say or you could just commit seppuku right here, but he goes. Teyla opens her mouth, but John just grins and says, “Need you here. Someone has to run the place,” and jogs off.

Twenty minutes later, they find him kneeling by the body of Private Leonard Malkin, who came over with the Daedalus, and who almost threw himself in front of a Wraith last week. He was starting regular sessions with Heightmeyer tomorrow. John’s holding Private Malkin’s gun, carefully, and he’s staring down at the still face, the bloody hole in the private’s chest. There are three bullet dings in the wall behind him. One of the shots creased his upper arm. His hard-on is almost entirely gone.

“He followed me out here,” says John. “He told me what we were doing was wrong. That Elizabeth had lost sight of everything the SGC stood for.”

Beckett lays a hand on John’s arm. Teyla, Ronon, and Rodney are back at a safer distance.

“Let’s all take the rest of the day off,” says John. He’s done all he needed to do today, at least.

 

Although, now that he’s started with the shooting people, he really—really—wants to keep going, but. There’s a plan. So he heads back to his room, drops down on his bed, thinks about silk sheets and Ba’al, wandering around his penthouse. Ba’al’s the only one (four) of the Goa’uld John’s ever met, but he likes them all better than he likes the Wraith. Sense of humor, sense of style, and they kill things for fun instead of just for food.

Ba’al against the Wraith. That’s going to be fun to watch.

John can make it happen. Turn Rodney against Caldwell, send Caldwell back to Earth, keep Rodney on his side as long as possible. When it isn’t possible anymore, threaten to slice Rodney open along the scar that Kolya left. If that doesn’t work, start breaking his fingers. Beckett will cave even faster than that. They can keep him in Steve’s cell.

He bets himself that he can make Rodney like it, though. He can blow up solar systems for a living.

John has zero (at most) old war buddies, but he’s gotten to like some of the people he works with (against) in Atlantis. He’s never known anyone else who could turn him into a bug, and he’s definitely never known anyone else who could make a sun go nova, and when he thinks about it—working with Rodney. Working against Rodney. He can’t decide which one he wants it to be.

He gets to find out, though.

Ba’al against the Wraith with John, Rodney, Beckett—Cadman, oh yeah—Zelenka—

He’ll have to kill some of them. Actually, he might have to kill all the Marines. And then, oh yeah, they’ll be exterminating the Wraith.

His job is fucking fantastic.

end


[identity profile] ainaria.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know what's wrong with me, but mostly, I just thought this was insanely hot. And I love how this actually fits the canon.

(no subject)

[identity profile] teh-gandu.livejournal.com - 2006-07-20 11:09 (UTC) - Expand
ratcreature: RatCreature is scared: Meeep! (meeep!)

[personal profile] ratcreature 2006-07-20 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
This was creepy. In a delicious way, but still...meeep!

[identity profile] wez-waij.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my god.
Strange thing is, i can kinda see this happening. o.0 I mean, we don't know that much about John really, he could so be a plant waiting for a signal. Not likely to happen, but intresting.
It's sad but i'm really starting to like fucked up John, and your stories are primarily to blame. You do it so well. =) Planning any more?
Side note = can i friend you?

[identity profile] saturn92103.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
Good grief. I'm so taken with this horrible, fucked up John.

[identity profile] wellifnotwisely.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
This is just so well done. The tone, established early, is superb: And he’s settled in, tested his limits, gotten comfortable.

I'm one of the few SGA fans who'd argue that JF can actually act. My standard (Crowe and Depp are the standouts of their generation and I adore Gene Hackman) has less to do with pretty and more to do with absence of self-consciousness in front of a camera and individualistic acting choices. I think JF - who in interviews comes across as relatrively introverted and intellectual - is struggling to imbue the 2D character (macho hero, intergalactic babe magnet) that's written for him by TPTB in the Gateverse with some subtlety. Despite the limitations, JF has created a chracter - due to his acting choices which almost everyone pooh-poohs as robotic - who could actually turn out to be completley and utterly psychopathically/politically evil.

I love that you've grasped that aspect of the Sheppard persona and run with it. And done so in style. Kudos.

[identity profile] anjak-j.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd argue he can - though I have to say, if we're talking work, SGA is probably not the best example to draw from to decide if Joe has acting ability or not, since I agree with you - I think he struggles to find that particular character, making Sheppard seem a little 'forced' at times.

I think Sheppard is an interesting character, definitely made by the choices Joe makes as the person playing him, and I think the way he's played it means something like this fic could easily slot into the canon-verse.

On the issue of the fic, I love the fact that you made Sheppard evil, and the fact that you tied Ba'al and the Goa'uld in. It was really well-written and believable.

OT

[identity profile] mahoni.livejournal.com - 2006-07-20 13:03 (UTC) - Expand

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[personal profile] veracity - 2006-07-20 16:49 (UTC) - Expand

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[personal profile] veracity - 2006-07-20 20:06 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] nonniemous.livejournal.com - 2006-07-21 04:42 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] anitac588.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Although, now that he’s started with the shooting people, he really—really—wants to keep going for some reason this sentence cracked me up.
Mhmm, psycho John, very hot, and hte idea of him with Ba'al is very appealing. Enjoyed it much!

[identity profile] mahoni.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Evil John rocks. In character evil John. Fantastic.

This cracked me up:

He bets himself that he can make Rodney like it, though. He can blow up solar systems for a living.

[identity profile] sjkasabi.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
This fic is the reason we needed a dark side challenge! It does what only fanfic can do so very well - takes what we know and love in canon and shows us another way of perceiving it. Brilliant.
fairestcat: Dreadful the cat (John Sheppard Pout)

[personal profile] fairestcat 2006-07-20 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Evil John is fabuolous! I love that this is dark and twisted, but doesn't take itself too seriously.

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[identity profile] linaerys.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
For some reason I love this line:

John has zero old war buddies (considering certain methods of calculation, he might even have negative old war buddies)

Evil!John is way too hot. This is a very interesting fic, with quite a different spin on what we've seen John do.

Thank you for posting this!
ext_1810: (Default)

[identity profile] mrshamill.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
OH my GOD that was good. I didn't think it was possible to take Canon!John and turn him that bugfuck batshit crazy, but you did it. Powerful, wonderful piece, and I could actually hear and see John in my head every step of the way. Brava!

[identity profile] myalexandria.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
this was hilarious. the best kind of evil: not tortured, just twisted as hell and having a fabulous time.
ext_1880: (rodney)

[identity profile] lillian13.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yeah. Evil!John is so much fun. (Not that we have a snowball's chance of seeing that on the show--the writers of SGA/SG-1 all went to the Star Trek School of Science Fiction Writing, and subtle is *not* in the playbook...)

[identity profile] lalejandra.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I think this is awesome. It fits perfectly into canon, which is weird and creepy and perfect. Yay!

[identity profile] sp23.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Evil!John is hot like a very hot thing. And this?

Ba’al against the Wraith. That’s going to be fun to watch.

is totally the best idea for a storyline evah!

Of course, in my head, Rodney figures out what's happening and he, Teyla, and Ronon take John out, because the good guys must win, but still, you killed Weir. I kinda love you for that. *g*

(Anonymous) 2006-07-21 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Ditto, although I can't imagine how to get Dex to take a stand against Sheppard. Ideas, anyone?

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[identity profile] sp23.livejournal.com - 2006-07-21 02:25 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] thecomfychair.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I love your brain. I also love Ba'al insanely insane John. The Chappa'ai of Love is booked when you are ready.

[identity profile] dancinguniverse.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
This was creepy as fuck and also wonderful. I love this idea, and it sends chills down my spine.

Okay, I was laughing as he was deciding how to kill Elizabeth, but really, that just means more love.
ext_840: john and rodney, paperwork (ooh John)

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/ 2006-07-20 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
He also has carte blanche to commit genocide

*Great* line. And Taking the slouchy, oh! wow version of canon John and sliding John-as-sociopath into it is inspired - that image of him cheerfully shooting Elizabeth will be with me for a while...
veracity: (SGA - Sheppard Yellow)

[personal profile] veracity 2006-07-20 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The story was very good. I'm still figuring out my feelings (you know, the whole do/don't want to believe a 'crazyass who plays with knives for the hell' of it kinda person is John) but the writing was very intriguing and kept me into it. EvilJohn is great, especially since he has the "aw shucks, ma'am" attitude half the time, and the layers being peeled back was great.

(no subject)

[personal profile] veracity - 2006-07-24 17:47 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] ileliberte.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, that was pretty great. I like how it's so dark but in such a...fun way. Like John's still John with his quips, wonder and excitement, but the basic positive of his character as a dark, negative one. Thanks for sharing!

[identity profile] diluvian.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Yesssssssss....
ext_1246: (Default)

[identity profile] dossier.livejournal.com 2006-07-21 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Ok, the Yessssssss & the Glover Icon together are pefect, it made me laugh out loud!
ext_2233: Writing MamaDeb (Default)

[identity profile] mamadeb.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
This is how darkfic should be.

Excellent job.

(And John'll find a way to win Rodney over. :))
(deleted comment)
amalthia: (Default)

[personal profile] amalthia 2006-07-21 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
For some reason the idea of John torturing rodney did it for me. :)

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