Force Over Distance (by cleanwhiteroom) (E)

[mific]

Show: SGU
Rec Category: Stargate Universe
Characters: Nicholas Rush/Everett Young, Destiny AI, Daniel Jackson, Eli Wallace, Chloe Armstrong, Ronald Greer, Tamara "TJ" Johansen, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Dale Volker, David Telford
Categories: M/M
Words: 540,000
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, and definitely see the tags.
Author on DW: n/a
Author's Website: cleanwhiteroom on AO3, and on Wayback
Link: Force Over Distance on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: Six years ago I reccd a remix of this well known Stargate Universe longfic under the "novel" category, including links to the original story. This month I'm reccing SGU fics or fusions, so time to revisit it. In past years, Force Over Distance was only available on Wayback, but recently the author cleanwhiteroom posted it to AO3, so it's more readily available now. It's not just novel length, but the equivalent of, like, five novels! A tour de force of drama, complex relationships and plotting, and better written than a lot of profic. If you're into SGU, it's a must-read. Links to the equally epic podfic are on my earlier post.

(Note: Gloria is the Destiny spaceship's AI)

“They’re attempting to disable the FTL drive,” Gloria says, an edge of fear in her voice.

He drums his fingers once on the top of the monitor. He looks at the chair.

Go, Young had said. Sit. Be my guest.

Rush smiles faintly. He wonders what Young is doing now. Whatever it is, he’s certain it’s both ineffective and involves an assault rifle.

"They'll disable the drive," Gloria says. “I can’t prevent it.”

He’s not certain he believes her. She wants an apposition of their minds without the firewall. She wants access through every cognitive port he possesses.

She wants this.

But then, in a way, so does he. He always has. The chair has called to him, subtle and persistent, from the day he first encountered it. But there’s a reason he’s never used it.

“Can you act as my firewall?” he asks.

“Yes.” She sheds a layer of Gloria’s borrowed mannerisms and holds herself still.

“Will you?” There’s an edge to his voice.

They face one another other in silence.

He’s bargaining with her, and he’s not sure how she’ll respond. If she says no, there’s nothing he can do. It occurs to him that, perhaps, this isn’t a skill he should model for her.

“This time,” she says. Her face is emotionless. “But only this time.” There’s a significant ring to the words, as if she’s certain this won’t be the last time he sits in the chair.

A small muscle in his cheek twitches.

“It must be now,” she says.

He nods shortly and rounds the monitor bank. As he crosses the floor, he feels the metal against his feet, feels the air against his skin. He fixes his eyes on the chair.

He turns.

He sits.

Immediately before the bolts engage, he hears the roar of a distant sea.