Cutting the Gordian Knot by katstales (PG)
Mar. 7th, 2009 12:23 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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stargateficrecRec Category: John Sheppard & Teyla Emmagan friendship
Pairing: None
Category: John Sheppard & Teyla Emmagan friendship, Quantum mirror universe, Teyla Emmagan, John Sheppard, Gen, Dark, Alternate Universe, Apocafic, Action/adventure
Warning: disturbing themes
Author on LJ: http://katstale.livejournal.com/
Author's Website: http://www.geocities.com/katstales_77/ or http://www.fanfiction.net/u/589677/katstales
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4292421/1/
Why This Must Be Read: John and Teyla's friendship is my favorite part of Stargate Atlantis so it's a pleasure to share with you some of the many wonderful stories centered around their bond. An oldie but goodie is Cutting the Gordian Knot by katstales, a quite powerful and dark story. John and Teyla are making a routine pickup at a trading partner when they discover the village destroyed and everyone dead except a lone woman who tells Teyla that John did it and took all the children of the village. Even if John hadn't been with her at the time, Teyla would never believe that her best friend could be capable of such an act and tells the survivor so. The only problem is that thanks to the use of an alternate reality mirror, a John Sheppard did do it and is still lurking around. Teyla must figure out what is going on, deal with him and save herself and John, who's been knocked out by his doppelganger. What would make ANY John Sheppard commit such acts? Does Teyla have it within herself to hurt a John Sheppard, even one that has gone so far off the reservation?
This story goes to some very unexpected places and has interesting things to say about morality. Teyla's characterization is excellent; she is strong, brave, empathetic and wise. Her John and the other Sheppard are equally well-written.The John and Teyla friendship is strongly and warmly presented and brightens what could have been a very sad story.
A snippet...
"I'm a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force and the military commander of Atlantis." Sheppard grinned at Teyla and shifted the bag of medical supplies on his shoulder. "Tell me again why I'm here playing delivery boy on a backwater planet to a village of tava bean farmers? And I still think we should have brought the jumper."
She flashed him a knowing smile in return. "I have already explained to you that the Daarsans are a very simple people. Technology such as the jumper would be too much for them to accept. Bringing it here would cause them to lose whatever trust we have managed to build thus far.
And I would like to believe that you are here simply because I asked you to accompany me."
"What other reason would there be?" His lazy grin belied the false indignation in his tone.
She shook her head, laughing. "We both know the true reason you have agreed to come."
"Oh?"
"You are only here because Dr. Beckett has not yet fully cleared Ronon and Rodney for duty. You were getting restless," she accused.
"That's not the reason." He again repositioned the heavy bag. "Well, it's not the main one. How far did you say it was again?"
Teyla adjusted her own weighted pack. "The settlement is just beyond the next rise. And do not think you can change the subject so easily. Tell me why you agreed to accompany me?"
"Well…there were a lot of reasons." John paused as the pair crested the hill, bending to rest his hands on his knees. "One down, one to go," he muttered, eyeing the final steep rise before them. "One BIG one to go."
She mimicked his actions, bending to relieve the pressure. "And those reasons would be?"
He peered over at her with a wry smile. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"
She straightened, smiling down at him with her hands on her hips. She pretended to consider it, but finally shook her head. "No."
He stood as well, rolling his eyes at her as he started down the hill. "Well, for starters, someone had to come along to watch your back."
She shook her head, but followed his lead. "Not that there is any need of it here, but that is a task any number of your marines could have easily and efficiently handled. I wish to know specifically why you came."
He sighed. "Because you asked me to," he admitted.
She raised an eyebrow, but his discomfort certainly supported his answer. "So the main reason you came is because I asked."
"Well, you are a member of my team. And besides, we just got the other two out of Beckett's little vacation spa. I need to make sure no one else ends up there."
Smiling warmly, she read between the lines of his words. "In that case, I am honored."
Pairing: None
Category: John Sheppard & Teyla Emmagan friendship, Quantum mirror universe, Teyla Emmagan, John Sheppard, Gen, Dark, Alternate Universe, Apocafic, Action/adventure
Warning: disturbing themes
Author on LJ: http://katstale.livejournal.com/
Author's Website: http://www.geocities.com/katstales_77/ or http://www.fanfiction.net/u/589677/katstales
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4292421/1/
Why This Must Be Read: John and Teyla's friendship is my favorite part of Stargate Atlantis so it's a pleasure to share with you some of the many wonderful stories centered around their bond. An oldie but goodie is Cutting the Gordian Knot by katstales, a quite powerful and dark story. John and Teyla are making a routine pickup at a trading partner when they discover the village destroyed and everyone dead except a lone woman who tells Teyla that John did it and took all the children of the village. Even if John hadn't been with her at the time, Teyla would never believe that her best friend could be capable of such an act and tells the survivor so. The only problem is that thanks to the use of an alternate reality mirror, a John Sheppard did do it and is still lurking around. Teyla must figure out what is going on, deal with him and save herself and John, who's been knocked out by his doppelganger. What would make ANY John Sheppard commit such acts? Does Teyla have it within herself to hurt a John Sheppard, even one that has gone so far off the reservation?
This story goes to some very unexpected places and has interesting things to say about morality. Teyla's characterization is excellent; she is strong, brave, empathetic and wise. Her John and the other Sheppard are equally well-written.The John and Teyla friendship is strongly and warmly presented and brightens what could have been a very sad story.
A snippet...
"I'm a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force and the military commander of Atlantis." Sheppard grinned at Teyla and shifted the bag of medical supplies on his shoulder. "Tell me again why I'm here playing delivery boy on a backwater planet to a village of tava bean farmers? And I still think we should have brought the jumper."
She flashed him a knowing smile in return. "I have already explained to you that the Daarsans are a very simple people. Technology such as the jumper would be too much for them to accept. Bringing it here would cause them to lose whatever trust we have managed to build thus far.
And I would like to believe that you are here simply because I asked you to accompany me."
"What other reason would there be?" His lazy grin belied the false indignation in his tone.
She shook her head, laughing. "We both know the true reason you have agreed to come."
"Oh?"
"You are only here because Dr. Beckett has not yet fully cleared Ronon and Rodney for duty. You were getting restless," she accused.
"That's not the reason." He again repositioned the heavy bag. "Well, it's not the main one. How far did you say it was again?"
Teyla adjusted her own weighted pack. "The settlement is just beyond the next rise. And do not think you can change the subject so easily. Tell me why you agreed to accompany me?"
"Well…there were a lot of reasons." John paused as the pair crested the hill, bending to rest his hands on his knees. "One down, one to go," he muttered, eyeing the final steep rise before them. "One BIG one to go."
She mimicked his actions, bending to relieve the pressure. "And those reasons would be?"
He peered over at her with a wry smile. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"
She straightened, smiling down at him with her hands on her hips. She pretended to consider it, but finally shook her head. "No."
He stood as well, rolling his eyes at her as he started down the hill. "Well, for starters, someone had to come along to watch your back."
She shook her head, but followed his lead. "Not that there is any need of it here, but that is a task any number of your marines could have easily and efficiently handled. I wish to know specifically why you came."
He sighed. "Because you asked me to," he admitted.
She raised an eyebrow, but his discomfort certainly supported his answer. "So the main reason you came is because I asked."
"Well, you are a member of my team. And besides, we just got the other two out of Beckett's little vacation spa. I need to make sure no one else ends up there."
Smiling warmly, she read between the lines of his words. "In that case, I am honored."
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Date: 2009-03-11 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-11 12:09 pm (UTC)