Fighting Passions - Ronon Dex - Stargate Atlantis

Ford is Back PT. 5

Without a second passing by McKay doubts the motley crew. "Oh yeah? Really. What's that made out of? Bark?"

"No, it's real, McKay. And in fact, it's the only ship I'd feel comfortable using on a mission like this." Ford testifies.

_______________________________________

They take us to a meadow and uncover a Wraith Dart from some camoflauge. 

"Where'd you get this Aiden?"

"Does it matter?" He says with a smile.

Kanayo speaks up once again. "None of us have had much success flying it. We've banged it up pretty bad on the last couple of landings. It's in need of some repairs."

"And a real pilot." Ford looks to Sheppard.

"This is why you brought us here." Sheppard realizes. 

"It's the reason I waited till now, yes."

"Assuming these two can get it working again." Kanayo hits McKay's arm.

"He can. These people are the best at what they do."

"Look, you fly it, you scoop us up to the hive, you drop us off. All we need is time to lay the charge. We'll be in and out of there before the Wraith have any idea what's going on."

"It's perfect."

I roll my eyes at the two men clearly not realizing that they are making it way to easy in their heads.

"It is far from perfect." 

"But it is possible."

Teyla shakes her head. "Colonel..."

"Are you honestly considering this?" Rodney asks exasperated.

"It's on its way to a culling, Rodney."

"Yeah, and I am sorry about that, but this is insane!" 

"Maybe not." The Raven-haired colonel fires back.

"Jace has been trying to get it working but he's not you, McKay. Can you fix it?"

"Probably not."

"That usually means yes." 

"Aren't you one who is not taking the enzyme? You're supposed to be the clear voice of reason here."

"Even if I could, I wouldn't. I'm sorry. Drug me all you want. I'm not doing this." Rod storms off, and I spare a glance at the rest of our team and follow after him, shortly to be joined by Sheppard.

"Rodney..."

"Look, maybe you are on the enzyme. Maybe Ford lied to you, not Ali because no rational person would think that was a good plan." 

"Look, a million things can go wrong. I know that... Stop! Shut up and listen."

We all stop walking and face each other. "If you fix that dart, we all get out of here. I know it's risky but Ford's not thinking straight, so..."

At that moment I understand what Sheppard has planned. 

"What are you talking about?"

"I get it!" I say excitedly. "If I can get Aiden to let all of us be on the away team. Instead of heading to a Hive ship, we go home to Atlantis." John nods his head in answer.

"How?" Rod asks.

"That Dart's got to have it's own DHD, right?"

"Of course."

"You get the thing flight worthy, we all go home."

"Of course... You know, I would have thought of that myself before I became a drug addict."

"Sure, Rodney." I smile. 

"I'm sorry." The scientist says ashamed.

"It's okay." 

We start walking back towards Ford. 

__________________________________________________

I walk inside of Ford's office after we decided that I was the best person to talk to him. 

"How'd that go?" 

I sit down on a couch so I can be more relaxed. "Well, he'll do it. But, we have some conditions."

"What?"

"Dial back McKay's enzyme doses." 

Without skipping a beat he answers "No!"

"Look, Aiden, you have us under time constraints here. I'm not saying the enzyme wouldn't help. I'm saying that we need him standing still and thinking not running laps because it feels good." 

"Ronon and Teyla?" 

"We can stick to the plan on those two." 

"Fine. What else?"

"Look we need Sheppard to fly, obviously, but McKay, Teyla, Ronon, and I need to be on that strike team." 

"It's not a good mission for Mckay. Could get rough in there." 

"Look, if suddenly we need a door open of a computer hacked, Rodney should be there to do it. That's why he's on the tea, in the first place."

"Is that it?" 

"Yeah." 

Aiden stands up and offers a hand to shake, I shake his hand. As I am about to walk away he pulls me in for a hug, but as quick as he pulled me in he pulls away his face shows that he is just as shocked as I am by his actions.

"Bye, Aiden." 

_______________________________________

McKay had sent me off so I can get something to eat and I wonder into a room where Ronon is sparring with a few of the men, and quickly he wins against them. Teyla spots me and beckons me inside the room.

"I'm guessing they gave you more." 

She nods. "It is surprising, I hate taking it but I cannot deny that I feel stronger, Ronon feels it too." 

"I know, just be careful, this stuff is addictive and they're forcing you to take it so just try and not focus on the benefits."

Before the Ithosian woman can answer a gooney of Ford yells to me. "Hey, you're the so-called super-soldier, want to spar?"

"I'm a failed super-warrior and no." 

"Too afraid?" He taunts.

"That taunt won't work on me. I'm not Marty McFly."

They all raise an eyebrow at the reference, not understanding. "Don't you want to prove that we don't need the enzyme?"

 That gets my attention, so I shrug off my coat, but Ronon quickly makes his way to me and grabs my hand and leads me away from the men. 

"Alison, no." 

"Ronon, this could be a chance to show these guys that they don't need the enzyme." 

"What if you lose, and Ford decides to give you the enzyme? These guys are strong." 

His concern touches me, and I appreciate it, but I don't know what I would do if I backed down. "Ronon, please... just let me try." 

The Satedan looks down, and sighs. "Fine, but I will step in, if they take it to far."

"I can handle myself, you know. But thank you."

I walk up to the mat with my head held high. "You're on."