Winged Horse Of The Apocalypse

Timeframe: Late Season 4, as if that matters. In Fallout terms, almost immediately after the Lone Wanderer leaves the Citadel after the Enclave occupation of the Jefferson Memorial.

Type of Story: Adventure, Humor, Crossover

Spoilers: None so far for Stargate, unless you count Carter in charge. Mostly it'll be Fallout 3 spoilers so be warned if you haven't finished the game.

Synopsis: A cross over fic of Stargate Atlantis and Fallout 3.

When their jumper is shot down over the Capital Wasteland during a recon mission, John Sheppard and Alicia Vega have to learn to survive the wasteland filled with raiders, mutated insects, and the occasional power armoured soldier, all while trying to rescue Rodney McKay who has been captured and forced to work advancing the Enclave's already formidable technology. What they don't know is that Rodney is making his own bumbling trek across the wasteland looking for them and his own route of escape! They'll get a hand from an unknown hero, known only as the Lone Wanderer.

Author's notes: Pretty sure i've gone insane. Constant injections of spicy food and hot hot coffee have driven me over the edge.

ATTENTION: This story is updated infrequently, and the first 10 or so chapters are formatted strangely (i was a newbie writer) if you can look past that, around chatper 9-11 the formatting goes back to normal and the quality improves markedly. Thank you to all who continue to read.

For those who care, here's a SPECIAL stats page on John Sheppard and Alicia Vega along with relevant perks. Levels are just what i think their rank equates to. Rodney's rank comes in later at the appropriate junction in the fullness of time.

John Sheppard Stats in Fallout Universe at Level 15:

Strength = 5

Perception = 7

Endurance = 8

Charisma = 4+2 (+2 Bonus with the Hair)

Intelligence = 5

Agility = 7

Luck = 4+2 (+2 Bonus with Lucky Shades and Wrist Band)

Perks: Adamantium Skeleton, Lady Killer, Child at Heart, Commando, Concentrated Fire, Educated, Gun Nut (2), Gunslinger, Little Leaguer, Scrounger, Swift Learner, Strong Back. Toughness (2)

Alicia Vega Stats in Fallout Universe at Level 10:

Strength = 5

Perception = 9

Endurance = 5

Charisma = 4+2 (+2 Bonus with damn fine looks)

Intelligence = 5

Agility = 9

Luck = 3

Perks: Black Widow, Commando, Sniper, Concentrated Fire, Better Criticals, Finesse, Gun Nut (2), Light Step, Size Matters

Disclaimer: Neither Fallout, nor Stargate Atlantis is in any way shape or form mine. The Lone Wanderer I'm using is based on my own character from the game and acts accordingly. (Yes, I sneak grenades into people's pants on a regular basis while playing.)

"What happened to this place?"

Vega's question went unanswered, both John and Rodney were busy taking in all their readings.

"Rodney, I'm not liking this tick tick tickity sound."

The frustrated scientist slapped his face lightly, trying to compile all the data into a legible format.

"Yes yes… gimme a second."

The Jumper was unusually quiet, only the 3 of them had gone on this mission as it was to be recon only and Vega needed some practice with handling the Jumper's controls.

The world beneath them though was nothing like what they had expected.

When they had dialled the planet, they had received a radio signal from the other side, it was strange in that it didn't sound like a typical military styled transmission, it was instead a man calling himself "Three Dog" giving advice on not to feed Yao Guai… whatever those were and that that was all. It continued into playing some very peculiar music that sounded as if it were automated.

With Teyla busy dealing with the Athosian resettlement, and Ronon laid up in bed with a torn hamstring, It fell to John and Rodney to recon the planet. Vega had tagged along for the much needed flight training.

The space gate a bit further from the planet than they expected, and after some quick training with the operation of the craft, Vega relinquished the controls to Sheppard and watched as he steered through the murky and yellowish clouds of the planet.

The desolate wasteland that lay below was unreal. Shattered husks of buildings and what looked like freeways littered the main continent, small radio signals and energy readings came from several places, but most prominently in a large area surrounding a river.

"Bring us closer Sheppard, I need to get some better readings."

Sheppard turned and looked at him.

"Uh? Didn't I make myself clear? Tick Tick Tickity? As in Geiger counter? As in RADIATION?"

Vega gulped, the devastation was obviously caused by nuclear weapons, but the presence of radiation made it all the more real.

Rodney on the other hand waved off the threat, and pointed to a specific point.

"Yeah yeah yeah… head to these coordinates at the head of the river, I'm getting a significant power reading from there as well as the radio signal we picked up. We'll be safe as long as we stay in the jumper. Hell even if we leave it'll be fine, just don't eat or drink anything from there."

John made an unhappy sound, and mumbled something under his breath that Vega could have sworn was "one of these days".

The jumper swooped down, invisible to the naked eye and any radar that might exist in a society like this, it hugged the river as it flew, passing low and close to shattered bridges of what must have at one time been highways.

"I'm picking up lifesigns, this might be a nuclear wasteland but there are survivors, That looks like a settlement there."

Vega brought up the information on the HUD, the scanners detected several people and some light energy readings, like something from a handheld weapon.

"I can't tell what kind of energy reading this is… Doctor?"

She passed the info to Rodney, who after checking it for a few moments made his typical noise for something that either confused, surprised, or generally annoyed him.

"That's funny…"

John kept the jumper 140 feet off the ground, surveying the area.

"Don't make me ask Rodney."

Rodney growled irritation, but answered nonetheless.

"It looks like plasma based energy technology… but I've never seen this kind before. Almost like it's too technologically advanced for the materials I'm picking up."

John pushed the Jumper higher into the air, now nearing what looked like it was once a major metropolitan area.

"Sort of like the way your brain was surgically implanted into your body?"

Vega stifled a laugh, and wondered if Rodney would get the joke.

"Oh ha ha Mr Witty, how long you been waiting to pull that one out?"

John chuckled, but kept his composure, the war torn scene below him was sobering.

"How long ago you think this happened Doctor?"

Before Rodney could answer Alicia's question, John pressed a button and a Geiger counter appeared before him.

"Well… judging from the radiation left, and the uranium and plutonium signatures… 207 years."

He stated it as fact, something which totally befuddled Rodney who had scribbled the same number after some calculations.

"Wha… How did… You cheated!"

John smirked, and saw something bright ahead.

"You keep telling yourself that… But before you do… how 'bout you tell me what the hell that thing is?"

Rodney stood up and looked at the information going across the HUD, he 'hmm'ed' again and replied before Sheppard could make a snarky comment.

"Yes yes… It's reading that it's a titanium alloy, with a photonic resonance barrier. As long as it has power, it would serve as a pretty decent shield, at least to anything on the ground."

A pair of the barriers surrounded what looked like a monument. Heavy weapons emplacements and helicopter-like vehicles stood in stark contrast to the rest of the landscape.

"Looks like there's still people alive down there, technologically advanced people."

Vega's comment again went unanswered, a slight annoyance, but then as if reading her mind, Rodney finished going over the scans and made a happy sound.

"Ah! Looks like they're about 50 years ahead of us. Well… non-stargate related technology anyway. I'm reading micro-fusion technology, plasma emissions, and a wide variety of projectile weapons. They're military all right."

John cleared his throat, and his fingers hovered over a button.

"Maybe they want to trade; I sure as hell would wanna get off this rock."

John waited a moment, then engaged the DHD on the jumper's helm.

"I'm calling Atlantis, see what Carter thinks."

He began to dial the gate, but only got halfway through when he noticed something on the HUD, a blip where there had been nothing before.

Rodney saw it too and began to merge their passive scanners.

He watched and tried to glean as much information from the passive scanner as he could, but without wanting to risk sending an active ping that might give away their location, it was hard to tell what it was.

"It's about 3 miles behind us, moving in fast."

Rodney gulped and took a seat, bracing himself.

"How fast?"

Vega answered as she saw it move quickly in.

"Fast enough, it's heading right for us!"

John pulled the jumper into evasive manoeuvres, the jumper moved hard to the left and pulsed it's engines pushing it forward. John watched the HUD and the now confirmed helicopter like ship..

"It's following us! I think it's spotted us. I'm gonna try and raise it on the com."

He tapped the button to engage the com, and quickly spoke to anyone listening.

"This is Lt Colonel John Sheppard to the approaching ship, we mean you no harm and are engaged in a peaceful mission. Please state your intent."

A silence passed, and finally a brusk voice answered.

"Lieutenant Colonel? What's your serial number? What is that you're flying? And why wasn't Colonel Autumn informed of your flight?"

John and his 2 passengers exchanged puzzled glances. Rodney mouthed the words "what?" to John. John clicked his tongue and tapped the communications button again.

"Uhhh… Don't think we're part of the same organization. Can I find out who I'm speaking to?"

No hesitation this time, the voice became almost angry.

"This is Major Henry Rollins of the Enclave, and if you do not immediately explain why you are violating restricted airspace in an unknown vessel, you will be shot down."

"Whoa whoa whoa… no need to do anything hasty. Any chance I can talk to whoever's in charge there sir?"

A silence passed, but only a very momentary one.

"Sir? DID YOU FORGET SOMETHING MAGGOT? I AM NOT A SIR! I HAVE A NAME YOU MO-RON! I AM ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THIS AREA IS COMPLETELY SECURE FROM ALL HOSTILES! IF I ASK FOR SOMETHING FROM YOU, YOU WILL COMPLY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"

John did a double take, he sounded like his old drill Sergeant.

"Uhh… Yes Major Rollins, no offence intended."

"YOU WILL LAND YOUR SHIP! YOU WILL BE TAKEN INTO ENCLAVE CUSTORY! IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY IMMEDIATELY YOU WILL BE SHOT DOWN AND I WILL LET YOUR BONES BLEACH IN THE WASTELAND SUN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"

Rodney made an annoyed noise with his throat, then motioned Sheppard to get away from the planet.

"I don't know what kind of weapons they have, but they might be able to make good on that threat."

John nodded and began to push the jumper into a steeper trajectory, despite the possibility of advanced technology; it wasn't worth it to get into hostilities with these people.

The HUD suddenly started blinking red, a warning.

"Oh crap! Hold on!"

John swerved the Jumper back towards the ground, flipping the ship around on it's axis, if it weren't for the inertial dampeners the crew would have pancaked on the ceiling.

The missile that launched from the Vertibird missed, but only by a few feet. John had pulled out of the decline and pushed upwards when a new threat emerged.

The HUD suddenly registered hits along the starboard hull, heat signatures that were starting to damage the alloys.

"Crap they're firing! Rodney what the hell is that!?"

Rodney quickly checked, and gasped when the info came up.

"Lasers! They've got some kind of rapid fire laser weapon mounted on that thing! Get us outta here Sheppard!"

They held on as Sheppard tried his best to evade the incoming fire, but a jumper wasn't faster than a laser and in a few moments, the jumper took critical damage.

"Oh crap… Oh Crap… We're going down, We are soo going down!"

John struggled to keep control of the jumper as it lost control, the Vertibird now holding fire. John steered it along the edge of the river with the attitude thrusters, but the main engines were offline. He'd managed to bring them in with a mostly flat trajectory, but at the speed they were going it wasn't going to help much if they hit any of those buildings.

"Brace yourselves, hard landing!"

The crash was monumental it jarred everything that wasn't stuck down forward into the dash of the jumper and that last thing John heard before losing consciousness was a womanly scream, he was undecided as to which of his passengers it was.

"Come on buddy, wake up."

John coughed, and tasted the copper tinge of blood in his mouth. Mentally he was kicking himself.

'Why does this always happen to me?'

He tried to open his eyes, but found the effort to be too much, so instead he just made a groaning sound, anything to imply he was alive.

"Alright, come on, I'm not hauling your ass any further so wake the fuck up."

The sudden cursing in his direction seemed to stir the anger within him, he opened his eyes and was blinded by the sheer light of the sun outside. His vision was fuzzy, but he could make out a figure in front of him.

"Hey hey… I'm alive… I think."

A scoff came from the being in front of him, a definite male voice.

"You're one tough sonofbitch, Brotherhood I'll bet."

John rubbed his eyes, and finally got accustomed to the light, his body ached, but he felt mostly intact.

"Huh? Brotherhood? What happened? Where am I?"

A hand held him down as he tried to get up, pushing on his chest.

"Whoa stay still there… those stims I gave you are working quickly, but I don't think you should walk yet."

John was in no position to say otherwise, as he felt along his body, most of his equipment was gone, with only his sidearm and a few pouches on his vest remaining. He looked at the man in front of him.

"I'm guessing you pulled me out of the wreckage?"

The man nodded, he seemed quite young. The surrounding environment was hostile, and the wind ripped at John's clothing and hair. He didn't see Vega or McKay.

"The others?"

The man made an involuntary motion with his eyes and throat, John could tell right away it wasn't good.

"I got the chick out alright, she's lucky those scavs weren't slavers or she'd be gone in an instant with her looks. When I went back for you, one of those vertibirds landed nearby, fucking Enclave bastards. They got the fat dude and your ship."

John closed his eyes and groaned, his ribs still hurt from probably hitting the dash, he licked his lips that had become dry in the near desert conditions.

"I take it the Enclave isn't popular?"

He gave him a curious look, as if questioning John's sanity. His tone was pretty smartassed as well.

"What Vault did you come out of? The Enclave is everywhere. I'm surprised they took your buddy alive after what I saw."

Now John was worried, 'alive'? He stood and waved off efforts from the young man to hold him down.

Now with a clear head, he took in his environment, he was standing amidst the ruins of the city, torn slabs of concrete adorned the sides of the road like the front yards of a post apocalyptic urban housing project. The man in front of him was dressed in strong looking armor, nothing like his own light Kevlar vest.

"Where'd you put the chi…uhh… Vega… that's her name."

John mentally slapped himself, the crash had hurt him physically, and courtesy was a mental thing.

The man motioned over to the side, where Vega lay amidst some dirty sick looking gtass with her head on a rock. She looked as banged up as Sheppard felt.

"She's a tough bit… I mean… I assumed you guys were Brotherhood... but if you don't know about the Enclave..."

John knelt at Vega's side and shook her; she let a soft moan out and coughed.

"Mmm… anybody get the licence plate?"

Both John and their savior chuckled. John giving him a surprised look.

"Who are you?"

The man furrowed his brow, as if the question confused him.

"That's… a harder question than you might think… but most people around here know me as "The Lone Wanderer". Catchy isn't it?"

A/N: Bah! I'm doing too much crack. But I had to at least get the idea on paper or it would drive me mad. Reviews will be rewarded with more chapters! If you read, please review, helps me know the hundreds of hits actually mean something and aren't just passer bys.