Letting Go - Act 2
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cedar_grove
Title: Letting Go
Rating: R (mature readers)
Spoilers: Some spoilers, maybe, for S1-4, (especially Sateda and Quarantine).
Summary: Ronon receives what he believes is a call for help from Teyla's people and, rushing to help, he finds the settlement destroyed, and Teyla herself in the hands of the enemy. It falls to him to save her from the darkest of fates, but in doing so, will Ronon be able to save himself from ghosts of past and present, and will what's left of the Atlantis team, caught up in events, be able to find Ronon and avert disaster?
Disclaimer: MGM own Stargate: Atlantis. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no revenue is being made from copyright material. No infrigement intended.
Acts 1 & 2 now available.
Author's Note: Those of you that have been following the virtual season so far may find that this episode appears to contradict many of the things you know of events so far. Don't take everything you read in act one at face value - everything will begin to be made clear in act 2... Act Two now returns you to your regularly 'scheduled' universe... I promise.
Previous Episodes:
Harm's Way (1), Chain of Command (2), Enmity (3), Mantle (4) and In Truth... Freedom (5) can be accessed here.
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Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 1
Date: 2009-02-01 08:24 pm (UTC)*Shoves way too many words in here to test something*
Yup, only 4300 characters allowed in one box. Ah well, perhaps 5 posts it'll be.
---
Sheppard said to Woolsey that his Intel wasn't good, but where did he get that from, anyway? Doesn't stuff normally go through Sheppard?
"We knew we couldn't expect the Wraith not to make technological advances, especially with scientists like Todd working on—"
Tut tut tut. Todd isn't the only scientist among the Wraith, you shouldn't blame all things on him.
I'm a bit surprised at Woolsey. I remember his priorities of a while back. Recalling all base personnel, or what was it again, and concentrate on defending the city? It appears he still allows for teams to go off-world, though, but thanks to his lousy tip they have now walked into a trap, and are forced to get Ronon back, once again in order to defend Atlantis? Because, they're not saying it, but I'm thinking it: if Ronon gives an enemy information, it's not good for Atlantis either. :) So is that why Woolsey didn't even protest?
**
"Look at her!" he grabbed the back of her neck and forced her to look up into the female's bloodshot eyes, more red than golden-yellow.
Golden-yellow suggesting she is of Wraith or Wraith-like origin?
Is this one of the villages the Elder Hive used to protect, or experiment on?
Or are some villagers making their own Queen-like creature, or a super-Human female to protect themselves from the Wraith?
**
He was her biggest fear. More accurately, the way she felt – more specifically, the developing… closeness between the two of them.
Don't be afraid of what could happen between you and Todd when you're in a room together with him, be more afraid of what could happen if you were not, if you did not have him there. Remember that Hive Commander looking at you? ;-)
"I am trying to find a cure for the effects of the Hoffan drug, and a way for the Wraith to guard against it," he told her openly, "among other things."
Those 'other things' meaning the Michael-part, or was there something else? Perhaps trying to counter the effects on the humans as well, the ones that turn sick… Sick food is no good.
Honest – how could she be honest with him if she wasn't even sure what she felt? Was that even true?
Nope! :P
Here she was, standing at the viewing port of the Hive, waiting for him to return like some… lonely lover, pining away.
Yiiiiiiiiiihhhhhaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! *blushes*
Sorry, but that was a neat sentence to do that with. Now, if that one finally knows what she wants… Poor Todd. Or is that 'lucky Todd'?
… His hands on her… the feel of his breath, his protective arrogance…
Hmmmmmmm, Todd… Thud.
…, it left her trembling with the uncertainly of her own feelings, let alone of his.
*Spikey nods like a mad woman* He has 'em, girl, move on, or should I say over it? :P
Oh, I'd better ask before I get my hopes up too much. Todd mentioned that their relationship was going to change after she said 'I do', but he does mean it'll be more than a 'you're my plaything', right? :P Well, he might try to deny it, but he won't be able to, he'll quickly notice, right? :DDD
Ah, here it is…:
"I would not longer be the one you know of only as… Todd."
Does that mean I can call you Toddy? :P
And back a bit again…:
"…if we cross that line, it changes many things… that we know of one another."
Cos he'll of course say to her what his likes are, and his dislikes, and perhaps she can say the same things to him…
So, how kinky is he that he needs to warn her like this? :D *gutter*
*Flashes back to a mail or two from months ago, about the numbers, and the other talk*
her voice trembling as much as her fingers, which moved idly over the broad plains on which they rested.
Woohoow! Or should we be mad she gets to do everything we *want* to do to that guy?
And I wonder if Todd's hair will at some point be tossed to the side, or will it always stay in the centre? *g*
"Mutual and dangerous fascination, perhaps?"
Mutual. Dangerous. Fascination. *g* - I'm in!
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 1
Date: 2009-02-02 12:22 pm (UTC)Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 1
Date: 2009-02-18 08:16 pm (UTC)Spikey
Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 2
Date: 2009-02-01 08:25 pm (UTC)"There are many dangers, Alicia," he said, abruptly releasing her hand from his grasp and straightening up to look into her eyes.
And… there she blew it. :(
"But… you wouldn't—"
"I told you once to never forget where you are, and who you are with."
So, basically don't tease him too much, and also don't say 'no' for that much longer, because I'm running out of patience, control?
His backhanded slap drove her backwards to collide with the uneven surface of the wall.
Will that leave a bruise or bump, or something else for Todd to see? I don't think he'd appreciate the HC hitting his personal servant. After all, he doesn't do such things with Hanna…
She perhaps even hoped he would try, but then she remembered the condition in which Hanna had returned from the Commander's bed.
Silly girl, you're jumping on the wrong part right there. You should first be happy that if he were to try to feed, he'd kill himself, but on the other hand, if he were dead, then Todd might have been in danger, because perhaps he knew of this?
Hanna was a true worshipper, and was as loyal and obedient to the Hive Commander as she was to the Queen.
You said Hanna was one of the Haradians, right? Are they bread to be a bit stronger than an average human so they'll have more chances of surviving the HC's bed? Lol.
Perhaps that's why Hanna was sent to the HC, and Vega to Todd. That, the fact she wouldn't likely survive the HC's bed, and the part where she fell asleep next to, or on top of Todd already. :D Oh, plus she saw him part nekkid before she had to start her service with him.
**
"Reuben, I'm sure we don't need to tell you how important it is that you… keep this to yourself until you can establish your place in Atlantis, or until you have no choice otherwise than to reveal our intentions…"
Oh, great… That just sounds sooo positive! An ulterior meaning behind sending Varnerin there. Yay… (I'm not a fan of the man, you know this. I'm rather going to be a fan of the man that'll whump this one. :D)
"They're not particularly questions about your… what is he, your… leader?"
"He is the future of this galaxy," Lorne said.
LOL @ that reply! *g*
Not *quite* what he'd been aiming for, perhaps, but a surprising answer to him, nonetheless.
*Reads on* See? Not what he expected at all. Point for Lorne.
Varnerin couldn’t help but chuckle.
Now, that's not something I wish to hear, either… :S
"Let's just say… I don't believe you."
And… another point goes to Lorne! :D
**
He had no doubt that she would see her plan through to completion… and yet… deep within the depths of his mind he could not help but wonder – would she truly keep the germ of her own exalted progeny as it slept within her… or would she, like many others of her kind, come to consider the presence of such a one an untenable threat.
The part after the – was pinked, just so you know. So, what does he mean by that? On first read, I thought of a pregnancy within her womb, a Queen in there, but perhaps it's more poetically put and it means keeping Michael around or not. So… Which one? Or none of the above?
Hmm, Todd calls it filicide a bit later… So how long would such a pregnancy last, anyway? Enough for the Queen to consider herself weaker, should she allow nature to take its normal course?
Besides, he also has first hand knowledge of these Lanteans with whom we find ourselves so much at odds."
*Doesn't look at Alicia* I wonder what the Queen would respond like were she to hear about her being a Lantean. Guess she really *is* too busy to completely search Alicia's mind… But why would she, if she was supposed to be a mere Pegasus human… ;-)
The project he's working on, is that the thing we still don't know anything about? Because I think he's completed his work on the weapon, and the Queen mentions it's something that benefits all Wraith, but it wouldn't be smart to give all factions that weapon, perhaps? So not that. Then there's the cure to the Hoffan's drug, but that's more of his own personal project, with the help of his Alicia? So it is the something he had to leave the Hive for? Hmm. I wonder what that is. Or am I missing something?
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 2
Date: 2009-02-02 12:30 pm (UTC)Yeah, running out of control - especially with all those Queen-sex pheromones running through his body...
I'm sure she'll have a bruise at the Commander's slap...
Yes, Hanna is one of the Haradians... a product of genetic breeding to ensure good healthy stock, so it's possible she's nice and strong...
**
Reuben's a real snake - don't trust him.
Why did Lorne's reply make you laugh?
Ah - we're keeping score for Lorne now too... btw, what's the Todd vs Michael score now?
**
He had no doubt that she would see her plan through to completion… and yet… deep within the depths of his mind he could not help but wonder – would she truly keep the germ of her own exalted progeny as it slept within her… or would she, like many others of her kind, come to consider the presence of such a one an untenable threat.
The part after the – was pinked, just so you know. So, what does he mean by that? On first read, I thought of a pregnancy within her womb, a Queen in there, but perhaps it's more poetically put and it means keeping Michael around or not. So… Which one? Or none of the above?
Your first reading was the intended idea - but actually on reflection, both could be correct. It Michael gave her what she wanted, would she really allow him to live on? Especially as he has known all along what she wanted from him... which does maybe indicate something he also knows about himself? Hmmm, the plot thickens... *slaps the Muse*
Natural Wraith Pregnancy? Good question... *looks over to recently bitch-slapped Muse*
The Queen has been way too busy to figure that out... Todd has many projects on the go... his most pressing is the Hoffan one.
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 2
Date: 2009-02-18 08:31 pm (UTC)And that with him and Alicia doesn't help him either...
No bruise described, but ah well... :)
But not stronger than Teyla, right? :P
Lorne made me laugh because he was trying to please Varnerin like that.
I don't know the score anymore, blasted.
*Hugs the Muse after you slapped her again* Her plots are good, let her do it.
And, did you figure it out yet, about durations of Wraith pregnancies?
Well the Queen ain't so busy now anymore, or she's found time to look at things more closely...
Spikey
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 2
Date: 2009-02-20 03:56 pm (UTC)Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 3
Date: 2009-02-01 08:41 pm (UTC)Lol, that's easy. Just smell Vega. Oh what that'll give when she smells him on her each time she's summoned into her service. Yay! :D
"It is not the first time I have been unable to feel her presence," she snapped, "and I am certain that he has no little to do with that. On the other hand, if she truly has fallen, then all the better for my purpose."
LOL @ Michael blocking out the Queen and her knowing about it.
Also, she thinks Teyla might have fallen, and that might make Michael go back to her to make that baby, then? Hah! As if! If Teyla had indeed fallen, then he would try to rip the skin from her head, or the throat out of her well, throat if he could. So in denial, that one…
Todd knew that he represented a threat to the certainty of the selection falling in favour of the Hive Commander when the time came.
&
Todd felt the push of the Commander's mind against his own – accusatory and threatening – posturing, Todd realised, for the favour of the Queen.
So, in all this time it has never once occurred to the Hive Commander that the Queen handing himself and Todd handmaidens so near her own peak isn't yet another warm-up on top of what they already feel when they're together in a room with her, but is in fact more of a cool-down, instead? A chance for them to get rid of some excess stress because they won't be able to do it with her?
"Bring me to him," she said, and as her struggles ceased and her manner changed, Todd released her.
Hmm, I was wondering when we'll be seeing him next. The Queen is visiting him again, but will we be, too? Any chance of us to see the 'conversation' that came forth from this visit? Must be an interesting one. Oh yeah, he already knows what she wants from him, always has.
**
I just detected a very strong carrier wave for a specific type of signal that interferes with the normal operation of brain causing it to shift from beta to a rotating pattern of alpha, theta and delta waves, triggering hallucinatory dreamlike states of awareness in which the individual believes he or she is somewhere else experiencing whatever is in their worst nightmares," he said, almost without pausing for breath.
Interesting. ;-)
"We don't have time for waiting," McKay insisted. "The longer we're exposed to that thing, the more likely it is we're all going to go stark raving—"
Lol. McKay is very vividly remembering the part where he got shot because of the illusions created by said previous device, right? That's why he's so quick in getting it shut down? One extra hole and a possible scar to prove it is enough.
*Reads on*
Ah, there it is. 'What if you lose control and shoot the rest like you shot me.' Well, in that case they'll all be alive too, as he actually shot and missed, once could say.
**
"In thirty-eight minutes, everyone on this base is going to be a slathering idiot,"
Ah come on, Rodney. The previous time, in 'Phantoms' I mean, things didn't happen in just 38 minutes, either, so I'm sure there's more time than that, so stop being a jerk to Jennifer. ;-)
**
"I am Atterna Rowf. I lead these people,"
Isn’t ‘Worf’ a Star Trek character? *Googles* Yup, a Klingon, the *first* Klingon, in fact… :D
Hmm, was B’Elanna a Klingon too? After watching ENT, who'd want a Klingon on board of their ship? :S
**
Vega was pacing back and forth across Todd's laboratory.
Aaaawe! How cute!
It's good she's only now pacing a hole in the Hive floor and not when she was standing at the view port.
He looked weary, and there was a slight red tint behind the yellow-gold of his eyes, as though he was hungry, but she could see no obvious injuries.
Innocent, she is, you said? *g* So, when Todd wants to er, throw some stress off himself, he gets a red tint behind his yellow orbs? *g* So he's kind of blushing in his eyes? Hahaha. And Alicia not guessing that he's trying to control himself from jumping the Queen, or herself.
I wonder if, when Alicia and Todd have found some mutual understanding, she'll ask him how many girls out of how many offered handmaidens he's gotten in his cot, with this 'I won't take you if you say 'no'/good guy routine'. :P
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 3
Date: 2009-02-02 12:38 pm (UTC)Oh, she's known for quite some time that he's been protecting someone- it's why she hates Teyla so much.
Yeah, it would be very bad if Michael thought Teyla had fallen... nope, don't want /that/ to happen.
No, the HC is blind to the schemes of his Queen because he's supremely confident that (even with Todd's presence) he's still the Alpha male.
I haven't decided about Michael yet... whether we'll actually see him here, or in Deliverance I want impact for No Way Back so it might be not until then that we see the conversation - and then in Flashback... but we'll see... we'll see...
*resists temptation*
**
You find Rodney's verbal - interesting? LOL
Yes, McKay didn't much like getting shot.
**
Worf is, yes, but her name is Atterna Rowf (the ow pronounced as in wow)
**
Why is Vega Cute when she's pacing...?
Innocent? Me...? Who said innocent? *evil grin* The pheromones made his eyes red. And nope - Alicia is clueless...
She might ask him all kinds of questions, don't you think?
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 3
Date: 2009-02-18 08:49 pm (UTC)Alpha male my bum.
I take it we had the little Michael part in Act 4?
No, you silly... The idea.
Well, you have to be thinking about *what* she's thinking when she's pacing. :D
Pheromones turn his eyes red? Oh boy. Guess we're getting our Christmas Wraith after all. A green tree, with red balls in it, and white stuff hanging over it, I think we call it 'Angel's Hair'? Lol.
Yes, when she works up the nerve. I just hope it's fast. *g*
Spikey
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 3
Date: 2009-02-20 03:58 pm (UTC)LOL - the effects of the Pheremones causes the blood vessels in his eyes to become engorged, hence his eyes go read...
You want fast?
Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 4
Date: 2009-02-01 08:43 pm (UTC)To… what? :P You know I need to have *everything* spelled out for me. :)
Poor Todd, trying to survive Alicia, lol. It's going to be a struggle on its own.
And does that mean, by the way, that the HC is tearing Hanna up right now? Because he has the same needs as Todd, though perhaps he hasn't got it quite this bad, since Todd performed his little Queen-dance again at the end of their meeting. He should not touch her.
His right hand mantled, and started toward her.
Please, you do the explaining on the word 'mantled' in there, because if I let my old dictionary do it, it seems like he's starting to sputter from it, or something, lol.
You know, Todd has a thing with pinning his women's arms behind their backs, or just pinning them. That could prove to be interesting for later on, as well as right now. :P
Then, standing on the tips of her toes, all but falling against him, she pressed a sudden, fierce kiss against his lips.
I can't believe I almost forgot this: squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
found herself wondering if a swift knee to the groin would have worked in any case.
Is her leg long enough for that, or high enough? Lol. He sure is tall.
Didn't he think he was good enough?
He's *too* good for that. Luckily the HC won't stand for it if Todd was the one to mate with her, should she be denied by Michael… Well, I at least hope he won't. If she were to be denied by Michael, and it turns out he can't be forced into it either, then perhaps, were she to pick Todd then, the HC would in revenge for Todd taking 'his Queen', force himself on Vega… But as I said, that hopefully won't happen. The HC would kill Todd afterwards.
"My dear Alicia,"
Almost missed this one! He said it again! :DDD
"My dear Alicia," he said, sobering quickly, "she has someone far removed from me in mind for that task, I can assure you."
So he might use that child to further his plans, the plans that Nethaiye couldn't complete for him? If he lets the Queen rape him, that is. Poor boy. If he's been mentally preparing himself for that, and that's after all the whump… If so, I wonder what he'll say or do, or what'll happen so that he can somewhat 'safely' get off the Hive with the child, and if Teyla's going to be her step mom? I doubt that, were she to know about the child, she'd let him get rid of it after he's done with her.
He sighed, and came to her, unfastening the buckle on his coat, before sitting beside her, and reaching to take her hands.
Excuse me. Thud.
Edit: the zipper! Mustn't forget about the zipper!
he started to get up, to finish unfastening his coat; to toss it away as though it was soiled and reeking.
Vega blinked
*Spikey stared* - *drool*
he slipped it off and stood in only the sleeveless vest he wore beneath, that looked as though it was made of some kind of linen, and his leather pants.
Todd + sleeveless vest + leather pants = WIN!!!
Anything less on him is even more of a win, of course. Though we gladly take him with his coat too, any day. :D
"In order to allay suspicions, you must return to your duties, but first… I would like your help… if you are willing?"
Oh, sure, no problem… *Reaches for the button of his pants* :P
Or was he thinking of another blood donation?
**
We'll be visiting the field hospital, yes?
I'm curious what they're going to find out from that location.
--
Urgh. I had 3 too many characters in my third part review. Pain to search through it to see if I could get rid of something. A comma and some extra spaces went, so no loss.
Spikey
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 4
Date: 2009-02-02 12:47 pm (UTC)Yeah, it might be a struggle to survive Vega.
Nope, HC is not tearing up Hanna. He wasn't with the Queen for as long as Todd was. Remember that Vega was worrying because Todd had been back for hours and hadn't been back to his lab yet..? He was with the Queen all that time.
Mantled - Have you ever seen a snake preparing to strike, or a tarantula? Mantling is that act of... pulling back before striking..
Yes, it seems to be a wraithy thing - because Michael has that habit too.
LOL @ the Squee.
And maybe him being so tall is why she didn't try to knee him in the nuts...
Don't you think though, that the HC might take his frustrations out on Todd, and end up trying to beat him to a bloody pulp? Can you honestly see Michael knowingly submitting to the Queen?
I made you thud?
Ah, yes, I see... Todd + Sleeveless vest + leather pants = fangirls swoon. Right. *evil grin* Man you ain't seen nothing yet.
You might get to see what he was thinking about, if you're a good girl.
**
Yes we'll be visiting the field hospital. See Act 3
Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 4
Date: 2009-02-08 06:40 am (UTC)Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 4
Date: 2009-02-09 10:04 pm (UTC)Re: Letting Go: Act 2 - Review part 4
Date: 2009-02-18 09:06 pm (UTC)Oh yes, that's true. Todd was there for many hours. Gah, what had they been talking about for so long, poor boy.
You make me *thud* frequently. :D
*Quotes self*
Todd + sleeveless vest + leather pants = WIN!!!
Todd - sleeveless vest - leather pants + butt cord = F... :P
I indeed saw nothing yet.
I was a very good girl, and I got a VERY large reward for it... Or perhaps I didn't, because the *thud* worthy object was really small... Er, or both.
Saw. :D
Spikey
no subject
Date: 2009-02-08 06:39 am (UTC)I think I see the new twist. It isn't confusing me; it's puzzling me, but then, that's the idea, right.
I do like very much how you weave previous scenes as memories and you add to them; what I like is that they bring forth, read a bit later, within developing action, new importance to them and also interesting ideas that would've been missed otherwise.
And by the way, I do enjoy the conversation between you and Spikey as much as reading the acts. :)
Spikey, you thud at all the right places.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 10:10 pm (UTC)Yes, a twist should puzzle... *wonders which twist is visible - grins evilly*
The memories are very important throughout these stories, because they often drive perception... and yes, as you say, add intersting ideas and importance. Never dismiss a flashie...
Ah, yes those conversations... LOL I enjoy them too. I enjoy all conversations, it's why I always answer people.