stargateficrec | Imago: The Tao of John by kristen999 (PG-13)

Show: SGA
Rec Category: John Sheppard
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex, Carson Beckett, Elizabeth Weir, Radek Zelenka
Pairings: None
Categories: Gen, Episode Related, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Team, Action/Adventure, Alternate Universe/Timeline
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:

kristen999
Author's Website: Kristen999’s Fanfic Master List
Link: Imago: The Tao of John

Why This Must Be Read: This is a “fork in the road” story. As the title implies, John is the one struck by the Ancient ascension device instead of Rodney.

But don’t let this deceptively simple summary deceive you – this isn’t simply the Tao of Rodney script with John and Rodney’s names reversed. The author obviously took a lot of time considering how things would manifest differently in John’s mind and how differently he would react to this situation than Rodney did. While you’ll definitely recognize some aspects from the original episode, there is enough that’s different that it easily could have been an episode of its own. There are great interactions between all of the characters and I loved the glimpses into John’s mind.

"How big is the thing you lost again?"
"It escaped," McKay corrected.
John graphed every inch of empty space with his eyes. "Golf ball? Tennis ball?"
"I'm not sure. I was too busy making a tactical evasion to pull out my measuring tape," McKay snipped.
"You mean a tactical retreat?" John mocked with a smile.
"Actually, he ducked behind the nearest console," Zelenka spoke up. "I estimate the diameter to be around a half-meter. Closer to a cantaloupe."
"Because your knowledge of produce is so extensive that you can rattle measurements off the top of your head. Did you work as a grocer to pay for candles during those long winters as a kid?" McKay said.
Zelenka peered up from his scanner. "I picked up fresh food from the local market for my mother every day for dinner. You are just sore because you activated the thing."
"I did no such thing. I think you were the one who---"
"Could we tone it down until we find the floating ball that's programmed to avoid detection, open doors, and oh... happens to shoot lasers?" John groused.
The problem with playing hide-and-go-seek with scary alien tech was the unpredictability factor. There were no guarantees that it wasn't hunting back. The bowels of Atlantis were a fun time on a day off, an adventure of labyrinths inside Tron. The city fluttered like a weak pulse inside his mind; he could really lose himself down here.