Elizabeth Weir/John Sheppard Appreciation/Ship/Discussion Thread

[SMB_BOOKS]

Anuna - your darkest fic ever? Wow, I think I'm a little scared.

And, now for my stupid question - does dark mean no happy ending? Or does dark mean, deep, intense, they go through some intense, serious stuff but there's hope or happiness at the end?

[Anuna]

Dark in this case means everyone is pretty much fractured in psychological sense. I think there is a chance of recovery there.... I need a beta reader for it.

[Anuna]

It seems to me that you guys want a preview too... I spoiled you way too much, I think!

The fic is called "A Great Day for Freedom" - I named it after a Pink Floyd song.

Here's the preview. A warning - this is disturbing. Really, really disturbing.

Spoiler:

a link to be added later

And yes, there's also sparky in this fic, but this is mainly John - centered and entirely written from his POV.

[Southern Red]

I fell in love with this song but couldn't see how I could vid it. Until I listened to it about a million times and clips just kept popping into my head. Anyway, I came up with this. It makes me smile. I hope it does you too. This is Carrie Newcomer again. The same artist as for my There Is A Tree. And if you're country phobic, this one isn't the least bit twangy. To me.

Say Amen

[Eri13]

Thank you - it still needs to be worked on, because I think this can be a very good fic.

Eri, when are we going to discuss Progeny and TRW?

As soon as I get time to do the recap. Unfortunately, as we've made light of, it's football season where I work, which means graphic designs for billboards, web ads, print ads, plus website administration and production work. It's been quite a busy few weeks, so even as much as I'd like to discuss these episodes, I have to find the time.

I'm hoping early next week.

And just as a warning, Pajus--do what you will with Progeny, but TRW is my favorite Sparky episode. I don't care how much of the population has other leaning tendencies, disrupt from TRW's intended purpose and I promise tactical figure Elizabeth won't be the only girl demonstrating she can use a P-90.

Ok, I'm back for a minute...I'm off today, and already our dynamic duo have had a busy morning. See for yourself:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/Dsc00043.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/Dsc00048.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/Dsc00062.jpg

...and finally:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/Dsc00067.jpg

THUNK!!!

HEE! I love John petting him. That should be a fic.

It seems to me that you guys want a preview too... I spoiled you way too much, I think!

The fic is called "A Great Day for Freedom" - I named it after a Pink Floyd song.

Here's the preview. A warning - this is disturbing. Really, really disturbing.

Spoiler:

This is what I bring home. Death, destruction and broken men.

****

On that morning there was a smell of fear in the air.

There was fog, thick as the darkness, the mud under John's boots and the sound of his raging heart in his ears. There was the whisper of harsh breathing as the men that followed him ran down the hill and toward the designated spot.

And then there were gunshots and smell of death they sent.

It wasn't even a remarkable search and rescue mission. The Genii spy provided them with intel, and after some bribery, Atlantis got its hands on exact location of the prison camp. Their spy described it as a large compound, with several long, narrow buildings without windows and only several doors, surrounded with muddy ground and barbed wire.

There was a photograph too, a single one, showing the guards on their posts, and weak, thin people sitting in the dirt. Their faces on the photo were too small to tell if any of those hungry, tortured faces was a teammate or a friend, a beloved person ripped out of the protective hold of the Ancient city. Just like Nazi prisons, whispered Radek, as Elizabeth issued the order for the rescue mission.

The guards, although numerous, didn't stand a chance against the striking force of Atlantis. Through the fog and fire and screams John ran toward the barbed wire with his men in tow. He remembered, like in slow motion, cutting the wire and feeling the ripping pain when he hurt his palms. He remembered shocked faces of the people standing behind the fence, their eyes silently asking if their saviors would turn into masters even worse than previous ones. It could have happened before. There was a little bit of breathtaking hope in their eyes too; and it was probably the last thing keeping them alive.

The crowd quieted and the silence fell like a hammer. Bruised and barefoot women were shielding their children with their bodies and with a sickening feeling John realized they were terrified of the men who came to set them free. Several feet away from him a small boy stood frozen, staring at the soldiers, looking like a tiny, hungry kitten. One of the marines knelt to the ground and lowered his gun. The boy stared as the man searched his pocket for a chocolate and offered it to the starved child. The boy took it after a moment of hesitation and nearly choked eating it.

Silence broke like the ice as the men lowered their guns and offered a little food and water they had with them. There wasn't nearly enough, and desperate people surrounding them kept begging for more. John saw Lorne radioing the men near the gate to dial Atlantis and ask for help. What do you need, asked the marine on the radio, and Lorne answered Everything. They need everything.

John left Lorne and his team to calm the crowd. Just like the people they set free were desperate for food, John was desperate for something else. Ronon walked in front of him, parting the crowd with his hands like Moses parted the sea. Two men searched the sea of faces – empty eyes, desperate and hungry eyes; eyes full of pain, and for a moment John wondered if he would recognize them, after months spent here, where human dignity ceased to exist.

They found them – or rather what was left of them – in the third barrack they entered.

The kidnapped women of Atlantis were sitting or sleeping on the hard, cold ground.

Seargent Doley was sitting on the concrete floor reeking of excrement, with her eyes fixed in front of her, dirty hair curtaining her face. Seargent Mattina was lying on a narrow cot, her feet bare and bruised, her body shuddering with fever. Next to her Teyla sat on another cot, cradling Laura Cadman like a child.

John crossed the room in few long strides and one single breath. His heart stopped for a second as the eyes he could barely recognize looked at his face. He knelt between Teyla and Sarah Doley, and his hand stopped short of touching the young Sargent who stared through him.

Seven women were taken. They had found only four.

“Teyla,” he breathed and her eyes focused on his face. Ronon knelt next to him. It took a moment before she recognized either of them.

“Ronon? John?” she spoke their names like she had forgotten them at some point. Cadman moved from her hold and when she sat up John's stomach lurched.

Laura's hair looked like it was cut off with a knife. Half of her face was marred with a bruise, but that wasn't the worst part. Her left hand was missing, just a hollow sleeve hanging at her side instead.

And yes, there's also sparky in this fic, but this is mainly John - centered and entirely written from his POV.

Ooooo...yes, very dark but I like the imagery. I just watched an episode of NCIS (I'm getting to see all the early seasons) about a medal-of-honor winner who was trying to confess to a murder he'd committed. He'd won his commendation for the Battle of Iwo Jima and it had some dark war imagery in it, too. Very well done.

[Anuna]

I fell in love with this song but couldn't see how I could vid it. Until I listened to it about a million times and clips just kept popping into my head. Anyway, I came up with this. It makes me smile. I hope it does you too. This is Carrie Newcomer again. The same artist as for my There Is A Tree. And if you're country phobic, this one isn't the least bit twangy. To me.

Say Amen

OMG I love this!!! Love love love it! Amazing!

Now I really need to finish that vid of mine...!

[Pajus]

And just as a warning, Pajus--do what you will with Progeny, but TRW is my favorite Sparky episode. I don't care how much of the population has other leaning tendencies, disrupt from TRW's intended purpose and I promise tactical figure Elizabeth won't be the only girl demonstrating she can use a P-90.

I could use a good Shien practice *activates lightsaber*. And HK is constantly whining about 'underused assassination protocols', so... bring it on

Amazing story, Anuna, but you might get into trouble with the moderators for posting it

[Anuna]

I could use a good Shien practice *activates lightsaber*. And HK is constantly whining about 'underused assassination protocols', so... bring it on

Amazing story, Anuna, but you might get into trouble with the moderators for posting it

That's not the whole story. And I'll edit it out anyway

[Pajus]

That's not the whole story. And I'll edit it out anyway

I kind of figured that it wasn't the whole story

[Anuna]

I kind of figured that it wasn't the whole story

You might even like it.

[Pajus]

You might even like it.

Why do you think so?

Spoiler:

Did the guards rape Laura?

[Anuna]

Why do you think so?

Spoiler:

Did the guards rape Laura?

Wait until it's beta read

[Pajus]

Wait until it's beta read

The smiling face is just soooooo wrong with such a story

[Reiko]

Here's the preview. A warning - this is disturbing. Really, really disturbing.

Spoiler:

a link to be added later

OMG. I hate you.

Do you still need a beta?

[Ruined_puzzle]

How was todays episode? Bad? Y/Y.