Stargate BigBang Pt4.2
Ronon had been sensing and seeing something out of the corner of his eye for the past few days. Always up high and always when he was with Sheppard. Sheppard, typically, didn't notice. For being an expert in interrogations and noticing things about people he was terrible when it came to his own life and surroundings.
On the third day he got fed up. Someone was stalking his friend, a man he considered family and he wasn't just going to sit by and let it happen. So he trailed John himself, scaled a few walls and followed him from an approximately the same height as the stalker.
John was aimless that day, meeting up with Lorne and Parrish for a few hours at Parrish's lab, talking to Laura about the latest chemicals she used to blow shit up with and whether or not it would be beneficial to him then stopping by McKay's place for a while to bug him.
It was during that time that Ronon spotted him, a figure crouched in the shadows of the Olivier Tower, one of the smaller towers of the North Point. He was wearing black, had short hair and as Ronon stared closer he saw the one thing that could really startle him. The figure had wings, a moderately sized expanse curled up behind him as best as he could get them but Ronon wasn't the best Hunter for nothing.
Ronon hadn't seen an angel freely walk the streets of Atlantis in a long time and doesn't like knowing that this one had not only been able to sneak into the Demonic Kingdom and Atlantis, but was stalking Sheppard as well.
Ronon's lips turned up in a smirk. It had been a long time since he'd hunted in his own back yard.
...............
Cameron had never thought that he could look at a Demon the way his Father had. It wasn't because they were demons but because of what their people had caused his. He'd been completely taken by surprise when he saw the spiky haired demon on his first day sneaking around Atlantis; which was very difficult because Atlantis was bright, similar to Avalon in a way and provided few blind spots.
The spiky haired demon was not quite as tall as Cameron, his hair was dark, his eyes as black as Cam's and his tail was almost as long as he was tall. He walked with a fluid grace Cam had never really seen before and all thoughts about seeing his father had left taken a less important spot in his mind.
The demon had visited four others so far that day. Two of them had appeared to be lovers, Cameron hadn't felt threatened by them but the other two, the woman and the man he was visiting now did. What if he was with one of them? Or maybe it was that really big demon from yesterday. He kind of scared Cameron, in that it would probably be effortless for him to kill Cameron.
And then what would happen? Cameron questioned. His father would be destroyed, the war would continue and nothing would be resolved. Lucifer would either never know of him or his father would use it against him and they would never be happy again.
Cameron took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down and stop thinking morbidly. He wasn't going to get caught and he definitely wasn't going to die.
...............
The angel obviously didn't know enough about demon capabilities and attributes to keep an eye on the space above him. Ronon looked down over the balcony and contemplated his descent. The building's structure was smooth, easy to slide down though hard to get a grip on. He knew from previous experience that his almost claws were good enough to slow his descent, but they weren't strong enough to penetrate the metal used to build the city.
Ronon made the jump, swung over the railing, using his tail to ensure that he remained close to the wall. He hit the wall and slid down, gaining speed the closer he got to the angel. He saw the second the angel figured out he was compromised. His head jerked upwards, his eyes widened a fraction of a second later and his wings flared out, ready to take off but he was too late. Ronon was already sliding past him, grabbing him and pulling him along for the ride.
The angel was a bit young and not that well trained. He could barely fight Ronon's grip and his wings flapped, gaining a little air but were mostly useless. They did annoy Ronon and after getting whacked in the face again he used his tail to wrap around one of his daggers and plunged it into the angel's wing joint.
There was only a small cry of pain and a flinch in response but it was enough to give Ronon an even better upper hand. There was an approaching balcony, the only other one on this side of the tower and he gripped the angel's shirt tighter in anticipation for grabbing it.
...............
John looked between the unconscious and bleeding angel sprawled out on the road and the smug satisfied demon standing over him. He was a bit confused because he'd never seen Ronon take down an angel so hard before, especially not one they'd need to interrogate later on.
"Did you have to fall down the building?"
Ronon gave him an annoyed look and John returned it with a grin. he knew Ronon's style, the big demon did whatever it took to eliminate a threat. Though he kinda hadn't figured Ronon as one to go down the side of a building again after what had happened last time.
"Alright, Stackhouse you and your team take him back to my place. Put him in Room 2 and make sure he's secure," John ordered.
The young leader of the security team that had been sent nodded and began directing his me. John watched him for a moment frowning to himself. Adam had been acting strange in the past few weeks, emotionally bouncing from one extreme to the other and he could understand why. He wondered if it had anything to do with Jamie Markham's disappearance but, he didn't have the right to ask.
He turned back to Ronon, "How'd you know he was there?"
Ronon stared at him for a moment, "He was following you."
John's eyes widened in surprise, 'He was following me? Why?"
John looked down at the angel perplexed as Stackhouses's team made the final preparations for moving him. Why would the angel have been following him? He hadn't even noticed, and that bothered him the most. What else could he have missed while casually walking down the streets. Least Ronon had noticed, but really, he was going to have to do better, be more aware of his surroundings. He'd gotten to used to living in Atlantis where is was virtually untouchable. This intrusion changed everything.
"Don't know," Ronon replied. "You'll find out."
Yea, John thought. He sure would.
...............
"Did you see the boy?"
Crowley pulled Adria into his room and shut the door quickly, hoping no one had heard her. This was serious business, surprising beyond all measure because he never expected that boy to come anywhere near Atlantis. He keyed in his room's security protocol before turning around to the younger female demon who was his...protégé.
"I saw him. But I distinctly remember telling you not to go anywhere near the site."
Crowly had every confidence in his plans, knew all the major demon players, especially Lucifer, like the back of his hand. He just couldn't take any chance that he hadn't compensated for all the moves the angels made. There were some, like Commander Baal and Commander Simeon who actually made him worry. That's why he couldn't have anyone connect them if something happened.
Adria flushed, eyes going wide a bit at the fact that she'd been caught. She'd actually thought she'd been able to hide from Crowley. Crowley smirked at her. Word had gone out that an angel had been caught within the city, but there'd been no mention of his gender. Until probably tomorrow, only those who had been there or gone to see would have known.
Despite her minor disability to follow certain orders, Adria was a brilliant protégé. She was smart, she knew the truth, agreed with him on the practicalities of what had been done and she was beautiful. Long ebony hair, fiery red eyes and a long lean body that most underestimated.
"Is he..." Adria trailed off, the question hanging in the air between them.
Crowley nodded, eyes alight with all the possibilities this gave them. "He looks too much like Michael not to be."
"What are we going to do?" Adria asked, trying to hold in her excitement but not completely succeeding.
That all depended on what Lucifer decided to do when he found out. He might try to talk with the boy but Crowley didn't think that likely because he remembered how angry and betrayed Lucifer had felt when they found out about him. He could imprison the boy, lock him up for the rest of eternity or even kill him. But then, those possibilities didn't help Crowley in any way.
"We're going to fast track Operation Summer Storm."
Adria's eyes widened, "I thought the formula wasn't finished."
"Not yet, but I've been assured that they're close. Using him as patient zero will allow us to take out Michael and his Commanders a lot faster, maybe even first and then where would the angels be without their King and Prince?"
Crowley had plans, great plans to ensure the Demon's domination over the angels. He knew how to get what he wanted, how to manipulate those around him and by the Ancestors, no one ever saw it coming.
...............
"Were you able to follow her?" Michael asked.
"Yes My Lord. We've finally found their entry point." Commander Simeon replied.
"Or one of them," General O'Neill pointed out.
Commander Simeon's dark green eyes glared at O'Neill.
"Are you sure she did not spot you?" Michael wanted no mistakes.
"Positive."
Michael nodded and looked around at the assembled group. He'd called the Commanders of each Company to him. If his intended reveal of Cameron's identity to that demon spy gained them nothing then they had to plan their next move. He wasn't going to leave Cameron in Lucifer's hands, not when he had no idea what Lucifer would do.
Jack, who was the Commander of the Terran sat on his right and Thor on his left. Beside Jack was Bra'tac, then Selmak, Nareem Commander of the Tollan, and Baal Commander of the Atoniek. Beside Thor was Lyra Commander of the Nox, Nyan Commander of the Furling, Simeon Commander of the Lucian, and Telford Commander of the Aschen. Michael trusted them all, had served with them in the Century Wars and then handpicked them to take command of their respective units. They were his closest friends.
"Why was she allowed to go?" Nareem asked. He was a quite angel, with kind green eyes and tawny coloured hair and wings.
Michael gave Thor a pointed look. Though he didn't blame Thor for anything that had happened, Thor should have realized Cameron would do something stupid.
Thor winced, "Fifteen days ago Cameron crossed into the Demonic Kingdom. Three days ago we got word that he was captured and that they'd started interrogations."
Soft curses filled the room.
Telford leaned forward, smoky grey wings pressed close to his body, "That still doesn't explain why the demon was allowed to go free."
"They don't know who he is," Thor replied. "They assume he's just another soldier and not our prince. That will soon change."
Telford's face slacked and his mouth formed an o in silent surprise.
"You're gambling with Cameron's life," Baal's silky voice cut through them. He was more demon like than angel with eyes that were a navy blue and his wings were black with a red edge. Michael sometimes wondered if he had demon ancestry. "Who's to say Lucifer won't just kill him when he learns who Cameron is, because I know you wouldn't have "let slip" that Lucifer is his father as well. Do you think Lucifer will stop, or let him go? He is no longer your kind hearted lover, Michael."
Michael briefly closed his eyes. He knew this, knew that he was gambling on a mere hope that there was still some thread of the Lucifer he loved left, that Lucifer still loved him. This whole plan had the potential to destroy him.
"Nor is he a raging psychopath Baal, not like you," Jack argued.
Michael hid a small grin as Baal rolled his eyes. Jack and Baal had never been able to see eye to eye and bickered on almost every topic. Michael didn't know if it had always been like that, they hadn't told him and he didn't subscribe to rumours.
"What outcome are we hoping for, exactly," Lyra's calm voice eased some of the tension. Michael grew up with her, had known her since they were both fledglings and she had always been small with a thin frame, light blue eyes and golden wings. While not an exceptional fighter she had a cool head and a keen insight.
"That the interrogation stops," Thor replied. "A release, as great as it would be, is unlikely."
"And if none of that happens?" Simeon asked. "Are we going to ignore what we've been trying to achieve by attacking them?"
"I propose an extraction," Bra'tac announced. "A small team slips in and pulls him out. While they're headed back we attack from Orilla to provide both cover and a distraction."
Michael didn't want it to come to that. He didn't want to take an offensive stance in this war but he knew that if it came down it it, that if it would save Cameron than he would order an attack. He would do anything for Cameron.
"I believe that should be a last resort, my friend," Selmak said. "Is there not some way we could utilize the Demon's entry point for ourselves?"
"She took the Serpent's Path," Simeon informed them.
Michael frowned.
"Don't the Unas still live in that area?" Nyan asked confused.
"They do," Baal confirmed. "You can hear them during the night in Chimmera sometimes. Its annoying."
The Unas were a savage race that lived in the mountains, sometimes coming down to steal food from Chimmera. They were generally left alone too, though Michael was sure Daniel had tried to befriend them on several occasions. He'd never believed anyone could reason with them, didn't think that they were intelligent enough to understand their speech or communicate back. They had no language that he knew of.
"Then that way's out of the question," Selmak stated. "General O'Neill, any ideas?"
Jack frowned, "I think the Demons have more than one entry point, one where that spy, and maybe others enter an another were their assault teams enter. That way, if one is discovered they still have the other to fall back on. We need to find that second entry point."
"We need to ensure Cameron's safety," Bra'tac argued. "Then we should focus on our defences."
"Short of asking Vala to abandon her post, thus giving up our only source of information, there isn't much we can do at the moment."
Michael bowed his head. He'd been afraid of that, but he didn't like knowing he was right.
...............
John's not sure what happened. The angel was his prisoner, his to question - intensely - and get information out of before the attack. He hadn't expected this kind of complication.
He was trained in interrogation, the best there was because he didn't get emotional. He didn't get attached, had a failed marriage to prove it and only a few friendships.
He was especially known for his dislike of Angels. Oh, there were groups of Demons who advocated peace between the warring races but John wasn't a part of that. John didn't believe the angel's weren't at fault, nor did he think the angels were just as much victims as the Demons were and he certainly wasn't interested in hearing their side of the story.
John had interrogated scores of angels in the past and been responsible for the deaths of countless more but this one angel was different. This angel has talked and talked and talked yet never cracked, even when John did, losing his temper and whipping him into unconsciousness.
"Sheppard."
John nodded to Ronon, the best hunter in all demon history. Ronon was usually the one who captured the angels John interrogated. He was taller than John, incredibly strong and agile and one of the few demons whose hand were reinforced with something akin to claws.
"Hey," John said as they started walking down the halls to the mess together. Their tails twined together for barely a second.
"Teyla should be back today."
"Yeah?" John hadn't heard that, but then, John had been trying to get that damn angel out of his head.
Ronon nodded, grinning. Teyla was their most competent spy. She slipped in and out of angel territory on a monthly basis and had yet to be caught.
Teyla was already in the mess, he hair tied back signalling that he was still technically on duty. She wore a tight leather outfit with an overcoat that hid many knives. Her tail was twirling a loose strand of hair as she spoke with Rodney.
Rodney was the last in their strange group of friends. He was abrasive and egotistical but a genius and if it weren't for him the demons would have lost the war years ago.
"Your angel say anything yet?" Rodney asked.
John tried not to think about how those words made him feel.
"When has he not said anything?"
Rodney gave him a look, "Fine. Has he said anything useful?"
John shook his head, "I think he likes being tortured."
"Lucifer, of course they'd send us the crazy one."
John poked him with his tail, "How's Katie?"
Rodney groaned and launched into the latest mishap to befall his relationship with the shy demon, effectively ending the topic of angels.
...............
"John," Teyla called out to him as he headed for another round of angel interrogation.
"Something up?" John asked confused.
Teyla shook her head, "I did not want to tell you this in front of the others or in such a public area."
John frowned. Anything Teyla learned became public knowledge unless Lucifer said so and he couldn't remember a time when Lucifer had restricted knowledge.
"I found out who that angel is," Teyla explained.
"What do you mean?" John's tail twitched.
"He's no ordinary angel," Teyla touched his arm. "He's Michael's son."
John cursed. He had to rethink everything now, had to get the information he needed even faster before the entire Angelic Kingdom came down upon them. In fact, he needed to know what the hell the heir to the angelic throne was even doing in Atlantis.
"Have you told Lucifer?"
Teyla shook her head, "I have not seen him yet."
Cameron was nicely strung up in chains for him once he finally got to the interrogation room. He was mostly naked, his scars standing out and his wings, a pale grey colour, were drooping.
Oddly, they perked up when John entered. John studied him, tried to picture him as the son of Michael but it was weird. Cameron didn't act like a prince.
"Can I ask you a question?" Cameron's voice was rich, still strong after seven days.
"You'll ask it either way," John pointed out.
"Your eyes are black-"
John snorted. That was stating the obvious.
"Does that mean you belong to Lucifer's bloodline?"
John came around to face him. Demonology 101. All demons had tails. They ranged from two to three feet in length and were the strongest appendage a demon had. Demons commonly had either red or yellow eyes and only those belonging to the really old bloodlines had black eyes. There weren't many black eyed demons left.
"Lucifer has no children. I belong to the Asmodeus bloodline." John scowled. He didn't know why he was humoring the angel.
Cameron tilted his head to the side like a bird, "Asmodeus? Wasn't he a General in the Old Wars and the one for whom your western mountain is named after?"
John's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You're taught Demon History?"
"Why wouldn't we be?" Cameron asked perplexed. "It's just as important as Angelic History. Why only learn one side?"
John turned away, distressed and he wished his stupid tail would stop flicking around. It was going to give him away. Cameron's revelation, it couldn't be true. Could it? Why would angels even care about educating their children on demons except on how to kill them? Was Michael planning something, something concerning their history?
"Tell me more," John demanded, facing him once again.
Cameron looked surprised, "You...want me to talk about angelic culture?"
"Just your teachings. Everything. Whatever concerns demons!"
Cameron balked, "Um, that's kind of a lot, I think. History and anatomy, though those branch out cause there's a lot to learn."
"I'm not looking for generalizations," John growled.
"And I don't know what to tell you that you don't already know!" Cameron yelled.
John grabbed the closest knife, a long serrated beast he used the most and plunged it into Cameron's left wing. Cameron screamed and jerked away, but the chains only gave him a few inches give.
"Tell me what your father is planning."
John waited, hand still gripping the knife and ready to pull it out and stab Cameron again.
"Figured it out, I see." Cameron managed against the pain. "I thought you'd already known, except you never brought it up before."
"It’s not like knowledge of you is widespread. Not everyone realizes Michael even has a son."
"My Dad did love once," Cameron softly. "Even if it’s not the same anymore. Would you like to know my family's biggest secret?"
John's eyes narrowed, "You'd tell me, just like that?"
Cameron shrugged, "Yes."
John sighed, hoping this wasn't another one of Cameron's stupid stories. It wasn't like he could refuse the offer up of knowledge anyway. "Fine."
"My eyes don't actually look like this. I wear contacts, coloured see through fake glass, because most people wouldn't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why my eyes are black."
John pulled the knife out in surprise and dropped it. Cameron had to be lying. He'd never heard of an angel with demon eyes.
Cameron flinched but otherwise remained silent.
John was really beginning to hate ever having set his eyes on Cameron. The angel was a conundrum of epic proportions and John was beginning to wonder what the hell was really going on. Cameron was making him want to question things he'd never wanted to question before.
"Bullshit."
"Take my contacts out and you'll see for yourself."
John frowned, but he wanted to know so instead of doing it himself he went over to the leaver and lowered Cameron's arms. "Show me."
Cameron bent his head and carefully removed the contact from each of his eyes. He looked back up at John and John heard himself gasp. He really was an angel with demon eyes.
"Its actually a relief to know black eyes are common to more than one family," Cameron said, smiling at him. John couldn't figure out why Cameron kept smiling at him.
"Why?"
"Because I like you. I was watching you, before your friend caught me. I think you're beautiful."
John got in his face, "What the hell is wrong with you? You're an Angel in the Demon capital city being interrogated and all you can think about is your attraction to me?"
John cursed himself for being so damn foolish as Cameron grabbed him, sure he was going to be killed but instead Cameron pulled him into a searing kiss.
John wrenched himself away, "I hate you."
Cameron simply smiled.
...............
John stood with Ronon, Teyla and Rodney before Lucifer and his advisors and tried not to be anything but professional. It had been days since Teyla had reported her findings, days in which John hadn't been doing his job. He'd been getting to know Cameron better instead, compromising his integrity and probably singing his death warrant if Michael or even Lucifer ever found out. He'd been falling for Cameron.
He hoped that whatever Lucifer's decision was, it was something he could handle, something that wouldn't harm Cameron more after all that John had already done to him. If that were the case John knew he'd never be able to carry out the orders.
Lucifer's tail thumped against the floor, drawing all attention to him as if the attention hadn't been already on him. John waited with baited breath.
"Specialist Emmagan already knows this but before this goes public I want the rest of you to know because I have a mission for you," Lucifer met each of their eyes. "The angel under our imprisonment is Prince Cameron."
"What?" Rodney blurted in true Rodney form. "The Prince?"
Lucifer smirked indulgently, like most people who didn't work with Rodney did. "Yes Doctor, and I am sending him back."
Stunned silence greeted his words and John let out the breath he'd been holding. Cameron wouldn't die. He wouldn't be asked to do something he couldn't do and, while this would separate them, at least Cameron would be safe.
"Are you serious?" Rodney blurted again, perplexed. "Why would you do that, he's leverage!"
"Because if he were my son and in Michael's grasp, I'd hope that there was still some of the friend I once had that would allow him to spare my child." Lucifer told them slowly, as if it pained him which John figured it probably did. He hadn't even known Lucifer and Michael had been friends, let alone lovers and he doubted many demons remembered that as well. It still made him ask himself what the hell had changed.
"The four of you are going to be escorting him back to Orilla," Lucifer added. "And you'll leave tonight, under the cover of darkness so it doesn't cause an uproar."
John knew it would cause an uproar anyway. The people wouldn't be able to understand Lucifer's not on a while and the faster they got Cameron home the better it would be for all of them.
"What route are we taking?" Ronon asked.
"That's all up to you, just don't do anything more to him."
Lucifer's tail curled up close to him as he stood and left, gliding out smoothly without another word. They all left him too it, John realizing that whatever Lucifer did that night it would be with all his emotions out in full force, his walls completely down. John felt the sudden urge to go see Cameron.
"Specialist Sheppard," the silky voice of Crowley, one of Lucifer's oldest advisors made the hairs on the back of John's neck rise. There was something about Crowley that always set him on edge. "Before you go, I'd like to see him."
John wanted to refuse him, wanted to tell Crowley where to shove it but he knew he had no choice to accept, John nodded before turning and walking out of the hall. He had to get Cameron ready, find him proper clothing and pack for them both.
...............
Crowley gazed out his window and watched the five figures leaving Atlantis by the cover of night, guided by the pale moonlight. Operation Summer Storm had been executed and within months the Angelic Kingdom would fall.
It made Crowley giddy, like a child excited for over a new toy because when the Old Kings had made the pack resulting in the Peace Years, he hadn't thought this outcome possible again. Everyone had been so happy to not be fighting anymore, as if they'd forgotten everything that had happened.
"Have they gone?" Adria's voice drifted from his bed.
"They have. We'll start the final preparations tomorrow," Crowley replied, sparing one last look at the figures. "The Demon Years are about to begin."