Life, Luck, and Other Mysteries (Criminal Challenge) 1/1

[audreyscastle.livejournal.com]

Title: Life, Luck, and Other Mysteries
Author: Audrey Lynne, aka audreysmagic
Rating: R for language, PG-13 if you count that all the higher-level cussing is in Czech or Russian :)
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Crossover with: SG1, but only a minor character
Characters: Radek Zelenka, Colonel Chekov (I named him Andrei)
Category: Gen, pre-Atlantis, drama - with a little humor sprinkled in and some good old fashioned h/c for Radek
Summary: A bit of backstory for Radek because it fit in with the offered challenge.  And because I love Colonel Chekov, he got to play too.  When hiding out in dark alleys in the Ukraine, one has to be careful who they trust.  And when one's companion happens to be a smartass Czech rebel...things can get downright interesting.
Author's Note: I can't write in Russian, because my Russian sucks, nor can most of you read it.  So unless otherwise noted, assume they're speaking Russian, even though it's in English  ;-D  (Except where I used specific terms for effect.)  Translations of terms used at the end.

Andrei Chekov sighed, wondering what he had ever done--in this life or any other, if one chose to believe in such things--to warrant this.  First, he had he been forced to leave his nice assignment in Leningrad to check on one of Russia's operatives in the Ukraine who had failed to check in.  It wasn't his normal type of assignment, but his colonel, who made no secret about how much he found Andrei to be a pain in the ass, had suddenly decided Andrei was the best man for the job.  Then, to make matters worse, Andrei had discovered their missing man had gone rogue for whatever reason and he now had a highly-trained sniper on his trail, one who wanted to see Andrei dead before he could report back to his superiors with his findings.  And to complicate matters even further, now he was stuck with a smartass Czech.  At least the man spoke decent--all right, fluent--Russian.  That alone saved the situation from being complete hell.  "Why are we doing this?"

Radek Zelenka regarded him for a long moment.  "You came here to find a rogue agent; now he is trying to kill you.  I came here to hide from someone who was trying to kill me.  We have since determined it is the same man who is after both of us.  It would make sense to combine forces, ano?"

It was the way he threw that little bit of Czech in at the end when there was no reason to that Andrei found so annoying.  He was downright smug about it, even though Andrei knew perfectly well what he meant.  Or maybe Zelenka was just annoying because he was right.  The two had met in a dark alley and agreed not to kill each other.  Theoretically, the relationship should have ended there; a Czech rebel and a Russian military officer were never destined to have a close working relationship.  However, circumstances being what they were, it did make sense to team up, at least until their would-be assassin was either dead or in custody.  Andrei snorted.  "For now."

"And then what?" Zelenka asked.  "Would you turn me in to your government?"

Would he?  Again, theoretically, Andrei should have.  Normally, he would have.  But...as irritating as the man could be--intentionally, Andrei suspected--it was a little hard to think of simply turning him over, knowing what would happen.  "Keep tempting me and I might."  A non-answer, one with just enough bluster to cover what was really on Andrei's mind.  Not perfect, but it would have to do for now.

Now Zelenka was the one snorting.  "You know, this isn't really who I am.  Honestly...I have never been a fighter by nature.  I never asked for this position, but I suppose we all do what we must to survive."

Now that was interesting.  Why the confession?  Was it a ploy for sympathy or was Zelenka truly trying to make himself understood?  Or did he suspect Andrei himself wasn't nearly as cold as he would have liked some people to believe?  "I've been to Czechoslovakia," Andrei told him.  "I saw a good many people who lead remarkably uninteresting lives there.  You steal Russian technology.  How is that crucial to your survival?"

"It is if you are offered the position, along with education far beyond what you would ever hope to receive otherwise."  Zelenka continued after a contemplative moment.  "I suppose I could have turned it down.  My enforced military service was technically done.  But considering the group making the offer technically does not exist, do you think I would have ever been heard from again?"

Andrei could see what he meant.  "I suppose not."

"Precisely."  The corner of Zelenka's mouth quirked upward in a tiny, amused grin.  "Besides, I study technology.  Analyze it."

"After you steal it," Andrei countered.

Zelenka shrugged, as if that were a given.  "Well, if I asked the Russian government politely, do you think they would hand it over?"

Now there was a ridiculous question.  Andrei couldn't help but laugh.  "Certainly not."

"Then how else am I to obtain it?" Zelenka asked, blue eyes blinking too innocently behind his glasses.

He had a point, loath as Andrei was to admit it.  "And do you truly believe any technological advantage your people may gain from what you and your comrades bring home will win your independence?"  He was genuinely curious.

Zelenka seemed to sense the sincerity behind the question, because he relaxed a little.  "Honestly?  I have to.  Coups have happened in many ways."

Andrei personally had no investment in Czechoslovakia's occupation one way or the other.  On one hand, he could understand and even admire the dissidents who worked behind the scenes to end Russian occupation of their country, because he would never have wanted to live under rules made by a government not even his own.  However, he could also understand his country's arguments, that if one country were to wrest control back into its own hands, it would create a domino effect and many others would soon follow.  "I see."  It was another nondescript answer, one that gave him more time to think.

Zelenka steepled his hands in his lap as he regarded Andrei for a long moment, as if sizing him up.  "Some in my country speak out through drama, essays, art, what academic papers they can get through--and, truly, that is my preferred approach.  But if I am to be conscripted into this life and there is even a chance that what I do will help my people see freedom, then it will have been worth it in the end."

Interesting.  Perhaps their downtime together, hiding out while they waited for their sniper's next appearance, wasn't a complete waste of time.  Zelenka had just revealed a lot about himself, perhaps more than he realized.  He preferred more artistic ways of speaking out?  Andrei appreciated art for what it was but had never seen it as a large tool for change.  But when he took a good look at the man, he could see another person, perhaps the softer man Zelenka longed to be.  His longer-than-usual hair was slicked back now but the curls at the nape of his neck suggested it could be wild when untamed.  The glasses, his apparent desire to pursue the academic world...  Somehow, beneath the dark ops clothing and cool façade Zelenka projected, beyond the weapons he kept handy to protect himself and the stolen secrets he no doubt had somewhere on him, Andrei could nearly see one of the scientists he knew back home.  They worked in their labs, oblivious to the rest of the world and happy to fill their superiors in on whatever amazing thing they had been able to create or find new uses for.  But this was hardly the time to get sympathetic.  He needed Zelenka in this mode now in order for them both to survive, just as much as Zelenka needed to be there.  And Andrei was no psychiatrist; he certainly had no desire to get inside Zelenka's head.  "You understand I can't exactly wish you luck."

That drew another small smile out of the Czech.  "Of course, no more than I could say the same to you.  But what we both can do is get out of here alive and pretend we never met."

That, Andrei could live with.  Despite Zelenka's professed lack of affection for the dark world he had found himself in, Andrei didn't doubt he would do what was necessary to survive.  Just as Andrei would do the same.  And if they didn't go about their business, pretend they'd never met, it was entirely possible one of them would end up dead--and not because of the sniper.  Therefore, it was in their best interests to cooperate, ensure their own safety, and part ways with a sudden amnesia as to the whereabouts of the person they'd been working with.  "I think that can be arranged."

"Good."  Zelenka pulled back the sleeve of his shirt just enough to peer at his watch.  "It's nearly noon."  They had speculated, given his past schedule, that their sniper would be meeting someone at one pm, a few blocks away.  An informant of some sort?  They could only speculate, but it appeared to be their best chance to catch him.

"Yes, we had better move into position," Andrei agreed.  They wanted to beat the man--Gregor Voinovich, Taras Frankivsk, whatever he was calling himself today--to his rendezvous so they would have time to properly conceal themselves.  They wanted to at least observe the transaction before attempting to take him down, each for their own reasons.  Andrei wanted to know who he was in league with.  Zelenka hadn't stated his reasons, but Andrei highly suspected he hoped he might get a lead of his own.  Voinovich--at least that was the name Andrei had known him by--probably had some connections.  If, after they took care of Voinovich, Zelenka were to slip off to follow up on something interesting he heard, Andrei might have to look the other way.  After all, they had already agreed to part ways once this was over.  Andrei wasn't ready to admit he liked Zelenka yet, but the man had a cause he believed in and Andrei could certainly respect that.  It put him ahead of a lot of other people Andrei had met in his time.  Zelenka might have been a little younger, but Andrei was starting to see a lot of his own traits reflected--the passion beneath the surface, the love of his country--and it wasn't nearly as discomfiting to Andrei as it might have been the day before, or even a few hours ago.  Andrei stood, shaking his head, though he knew from experience that would do little to actually clear it.  "Come on, let's go."  He sent a silent request to whatever deity might happen to be listening that they would win this upcoming encounter--or at the very least, not die messily.

 

---------------

 

            If "not dying messily" was going to have to be the ultimate outcome, Andrei supposed that was better than the alternative.  Voinovich had showed, yes, but he apparently had his own intelligence network and his daily "meetings" had been a trap for his two victims.  He'd been waiting for them the moment they arrived.  Fortunately, both Andrei and Zelenka were highly trained, which saved them from instant death.  They had seen Voinovich raise the gun from behind a crate and ducked into the nearby alley.  He had pursued them, of course, and at that point, Zelenka had run for the ladder that would allow him access to the roof of the nearest building.  Andrei had understood the tactic and, being closer, had run in the opposite direction, hoping to force Voinovich to make a choice.  Voinovich had been Russian military and Andrei could do more to hurt him--Zelenka was probably a thorn in the side and potential rival for Russian secrets at best.

            Whatever his reasons, whether he anticipated the move, whether he feared Zelenka would make it to the roof in time to get a killing shot from above, Voinovich didn't fall for it.  He spun around, ignoring Andrei entirely, and took a shot at Zelenka.  Andrei saw the move but was a second too slow--he had his gun out and took a shot at the assassin, but he wasn't in a good position and it only winged Voinovich.  But maybe the timing had been good enough.  Andrei's shot hit just as Voinovich was pulling the trigger for his own and it threw off his aim, enough that as Zelenka cried out and fell, it was his shoulder he was pulling protectively against his body.  From what Andrei had been able to see, Voinovich had been aiming for his head.  Unfortunately, Zelenka had been halfway up the ladder at the time and he fell hard, landing on his back.

            Andrei fought the urge to run over and check on Zelenka; that would only get them both killed.  Voinovich was definitely the bigger threat.  "Yadrona mat," he growled, glad his gun was still in his hand and ready.  He shot again, this time catching Voinovich in the leg.  As Voinovich raised his gun to try to get off another shot, Andrei finished it.  He had never liked taking another's life, but this was clearly a matter of kill or be killed.  Andrei found himself desperately hoping Zelenka wasn't going to fall into the "be killed" category.  He rushed over, seeing the blood that was already on the ground beneath Zelenka.  It looked like the bullet had gone straight through his shoulder.

            "Do prdele," Zelenka hissed, his voice raspy from no doubt both the pain and his injuries, but it was obvious he was determined to spend every last breath he had cursing his fate.  Andrei didn't blame him, even if he didn't know exactly what the curse meant.  He could guess.

            Andrei took off his jacket, using it to help staunch the blood flow.  He was sure the fall had added more injuries beyond the obvious gunshot wound, but that was the one that he could currently do the most about.  "Voinovich is dead."

            "Good."  Zelenka closed his eyes for a moment, nearly squirming away from the pressure Andrei was applying but obviously knowing enough not to. 

"It's good to see you know better than to refuse my help," Andrei told him, trying to keep things light, distract Zelenka from the pain.  "I may even let you get away with the design sketches I'm sure you have in your jacket somewhere."

"Oprejskni," Zelenka muttered, but it lacked any heat. 

Again, Andrei wasn't sure  what he was saying, but he could guess.  "You know, if you're going to curse me, it might as well be in Russian."

Zelenka glared at him.  "Idi znaesh' kuda."

Good heavens, the man really was fluent in Russian.  "I'll keep that in mind.  Right now, the only place I think either of us needs to go is somewhere with more medical supplies than we have available."

"As much as I hate to agree," Zelenka hissed, "you are right."

"Of course I am."  Andrei couldn't quite find it in him to be smug just yet, though, because he still had to figure out how to find such a place, one that wouldn't ask too many questions--and then manage to get Zelenka to it.  They might have been alive, yes, but it was nonetheless shaping up to be a very bad day.  If Zelenka survived this, Andrei was definitely going to let him keep the design sketches.  And the knife he probably didn't think Andrei had noticed was missing.

 

---------------

 

            By some miracle, Radek Zelenka had survived that day, even if it was with two broken ribs, a serious gunshot wound to the shoulder, a concussion, and a bad case of pneumonia that set back his recovery.  Andrei had always known Radek was a fighter.  And he had become "Radek" quickly--after all they managed to survive together, it was inevitable.  Keeping in contact after Radek went home to Czechoslovakia was difficult, but they found ways to sneak the occasional letter through, usually in the guise of official documents once Radek was attending Charles University thanks to the contacts he had made while "working for the government."  There was no way the group he had fallen in with, however unintentionally, would ever be officially associated with anything; they would never make history books.  But they had contacts and those contacts would allow Radek to finish the education they had begun--if he could only play along with the system.  However, the system was still Soviet-controlled and Radek's mind was decades ahead of it.  After a couple of years of trying and constantly running into walls, he finally made the difficult decision to leave home and seek opportunities in the United States.

            Andrei was wise enough to the ways of the world to know the propaganda most Russians were fed about the US was exactly that, just as the US fed its own citizens propaganda about the Soviet Union.  However, though leaving for the States was the best thing Radek probably could have done for his education at that time, given his options, it made staying in touch that much more difficult.  Andrei, however, knew better than to underestimate the craftiness of a determined Czech, and when his office would receive a package from the linguistics division of New York University, with which there was a tentative alliance to help teach American diplomats Russian, Andrei always knew to check carefully for a folded note, easily overlooked, somewhere inside.  Radek was lucky he was so damned charismatic, really--and if he hadn't talked someone into including the note, Andrei didn't even want to know how he had pulled it off from the engineering division.

            Through the years, Andrei did have the opportunity to get to know the real Radek, rather than the more calculating man he had first encountered in the Ukraine.  Radek was every bit the scientific geek Andrei had suspected he could be, the absent-minded professor with Einstein-inspired hair, and Andrei found he liked Radek's true personality even more.  It took a few years for Radek to fully shed the persona he had invented for himself, the mental place he had fled to in order to survive the things he had been forced to do, but once he did, it was obvious how much happier he was, even through infrequent communications.  And once the Soviet Union fell, contact was much more regular.

            Over the years, they found themselves; Andrei climbed the ranks and eventually accepted the promotion to colonel that he had once though he would never see.  Mostly because he once doubted he would live that long.  Radek returned to the Czech Republic in time and found a teaching position at Charles University.  They stayed in touch when they could, but this time, it was only their busy lives that prevented it and that was much nicer somehow, knowing if they could make the time, they could have it.

            The Stargate program, once he got involved with it--and who had he ever let talk him into accepting that liaison position?--was more than enough to keep Andrei busy, especially with as much as the American military tried to keep Russia out of the loop.  Diplomatic tensions had eased, but some things would never change.  However, for all his frustrations with the American military, Andrei knew how much raw potential the program had and that was the number one reason he couldn't cut Russia's ties to the Stargate.  The international committee, once it was formed, put him somewhat at ease, but he couldn't help but think things would be better with an all international coalition...something the Antarctica expedition provided him with.  And, as Russia's primary link to the program at the time, Andrei was asked to make some recommendations for candidates to join the team, unlock the secrets of Ancient technology.  He had a short list of names he was able to jot down immediately, but there were a handful of slots left for him to put his support behind, even beyond the recommendations he knew he would be getting when he put inquiries out to Russia's top universities.

            "Colonel?"

            Andrei looked up, seeing the captain who had proven herself to be his right hand in the time she had been assisting him in the doorway to his office.  "Yes, yes, Daria, please come in."

            Daria Voronkova walked in, smiling as she handed him a scientific journal.  The normal military protocol, they had long ago dispensed with when it was just the two of them.  "One of our scientists--in fact, you have named him for the Antarctica expedition, I believe--found an article he believes may be of interest to you.  It is not a Russian name, but he says the applications are fascinating, if far ahead of what our technology is currently capable."  She gave him a significant look.

            "Earth technology, you mean, "Andrei supplied.

           "Precisely."  Daria nodded.  "I'm afraid I understand very little of it myself, but if we can find the person who wrote it, Dr. Kozlov believes we should try to get them to work with us."

            "Before the Americans approach them?" Andrei guessed.

            "You know they have been recruiting 'international talent,'" Daria reminded him.  "I support the endeavor, but--"

            "You would prefer they are with us and not someone we would have to negotiate in order to have access to," Andrei finished.  "I agree."  He flipped the journal open to the marked page to glance it over, knowing he was likely to need Dr. Kozlov to translate it to simpler terms for him later.  He paused as soon as he saw the author's credit.  R. Zelenka, Charles University, Prague.  He glanced up at Daria with a smile, setting the journal down.  "Somehow I doubt getting in touch with him will be a problem.  I've spoken with him before; he mentioned his interest in crystals as they related to technology...."  He had seen something similar in the title of the article.  "I know this is going to sound strange, but I think he would be better suited for the Antarctica team.  Ancient technology, after all--"

            "Is largely crystalline-based."  Daria nodded, laughing softly.  "The article said he was in Prague.  You realize how odd it's going to look, a Russian colonel recommending a Czech national?"

            Andrei snorted.  "It can't be any stranger than my relationship with him over the years, believe me.  Remind me to tell you how I met him sometime."

            "I will."  Daria waited a moment, then offered, "I suppose you want me to get Charles University on the telephone?"

            "Please.  Tell them I need to speak to Radek Zelenka."  Andrei smiled as Daria nodded and returned to her office, right next to his.  He continued reviewing his current selections for the Antarctica team, but was quick to pick up his phone when it rang.  "This is Colonel Chekov," he said, just in case it was someone other than Radek on the line.

            "I know who you are," Radek replied, amused, "but why are you calling me in my office?  Surely you have better things to do during the business day than harass me."

            "Oh, but I do--and so do you, Radek," Andrei replied.  "I saw your article on crystalline technology.  Very good."

            "Thank you, though I doubt you actually read it," Radek said with a chuckle.  "So...?"

            "So," Andrei intoned, "I am about to make you the offer of a lifetime.  All you have to do is be willing to relocate."

            Radek snorted.  "If it's Siberia, forget it."

            "Oh, no, not Siberia," Andrei assured him quickly.  He would get to the part about it being a little more remote than that later....

The End

...of the beginning. :)

Translations--

(Czech) Ano - Yes

(Russian) Yadrona mat - Motherfucker

(Czech) Oprejskni - Fuck off

(Czech) Do prdele - Fuck/fuck it!

(Russian) Idi znaesh' kuda - You know where you should go ("go to hell," essentially)