This story comes with the usual disclaimers - I don't own Atlantis but I do like sending the characters off on more adventures.

Enemies in Arms

Chapter 1

"It would probably be to your advantage to accept my proposal John Sheppard, but as always the final decision is yours." The rich, confident inflections of the speaker's voice were reinforced by a self-assured smile that touched the corners of his mouth. "Just do not keep me waiting too long."

A widening of the smile, a slight nod of the head and he was gone, the transmission terminated from his end.

As the grainy pixels of the large communication screen faded to black, Ronon Dex's lips curled in disgust. Even across the vastness of space, his intense hatred for the speaker had flooded through his body from the moment the familiar face appeared on screen. But while his muscles had tensed, his hands balled into tight fists, he had kept his face devoid of any sign of emotion despite the anger and contempt that continued to grow as he watched the wraith Sheppard had named Todd.

Although their paths had not crossed for quite some time, the unassailable hatred he felt towards all wraith continued to burn as strongly as ever, and right now it shone most brightly on Todd. Ronon grunted softly. It was a situation unlikely to change until this wraith was dead, although he took heart in the thought that, if the fates smiled on him, he would bring about that death.

But as he looked around the Control Room, surveying the faces of the others who had been summoned here when Todd appeared unannounced, Ronan's hatred became infused with a sense of impotent frustration.

Why did this race of humans who had come from another galaxy, a race more powerful than any he had ever met before, a race with the ability to make the city of the Ancestors their own, continue to parley with this creature? Why couldn't they see him for what he really was? They had learned through their own experiences that as a race, wraith were intrinsically evil, duplicitous and untrustworthy. They knew too that anything this one offered them, such as the proposal he had just laid out so neatly for their consideration, was going to be missing some small but significant detail.

Yet still they listened. As he watched Woolsey the leader, Sheppard the soldier and McKay the scientist, the three men who would ultimately determine the value, if any, of this proposal Ronon knew exactly how their discussion would go.

Sure, there would be debate. Even rigorous debate. Arguments and counterarguments that would see Woolsey and Sheppard's natural caution about the intrinsic dangers of getting involved with such an ill-defined proposition challenged by McKay's science-based advocacy of its benefits. But the result would be the same. In the end they would accept Todd's offer despite the fact that it would involve dealing with a creature who, in Ronon's eyes at least, deserved no respect, no trust and certainly none of the latitude these Atlanteans had shown themselves so willing to extend.

There was no question that he would be a bystander to this conversation. Experience had shown him that in situations like this his thoughts would probably be heard but not really heeded. When it came to dealing with Todd, Ronon knew his time as a runner set him irreparably apart, an outsider with a single-minded view that nothing justified dealing with a Wraith. He also knew this was not what these Atlanteans would want to hear right now.

The idea of simply leaving them to it crossed his mind briefly, but a bizarre sense of curiosity he found difficult to understand forced him to stay. So with a quick look behind him to make sure he couldn't accidentally activate any control buttons, he just leaned casually against the edge of a console and folded his arms, his face still totally expressionless.

"Well, that was unexpected." McKay's words were met with nods of agreement from Woolsey and Sheppard.

Woolsey moved to stand behind the technician who had tracked Todd's hive since it appeared on their monitors several hours earlier and begun orbiting a world on the outer edge of the system. A range of conflicting emotions flashed across the leader's face, giving Ronon a slight shred of hope they might reject the proposal.

"And not very forthcoming with any precise details but would we really expect anything different from Todd?" Woolsey's question was accompanied by a wry smile.

More nods of agreement followed but Ronon continued to watch Woolsey. It was still a mystery to him why they even had a new leader, why Colonel Carter had been recalled to their home world because none of the explanations he'd heard seemed very convincing. To him it was totally illogical. Why replace a leader who was doing a good job, a commanding officer he had come to respect as she showed herself capable of meeting his own standards of leadership, with a man whose previous visits to Atlantis had demonstrated an uneasy relationship with the expedition's key personnel?

Indeed Woolsey was so different to anyone Ronon had ever met before, both here and on Sateda. He found the man impossible to read on anything but the most basic level. Not that he had really made too much of an effort to try for a deeper understanding.

"Yeah, I know, you don't need to tell me we can't trust Todd," Rodney shrugged his shoulders dismissively, "but if he knows where we can get our hands on some ZPMs then we really can't afford not to meet with him to find out more."

"Wait a minute Dr McKay, I don't remember him actually mentioning ZPMs," Woolsey stated while casting a quick look in Sheppard's direction.

Ronon glanced down at his feet to hide a smile. One thing he had learned since Woolsey's arrival was that the former bureaucrat's sense of caution was a more than effective dampener for McKay's confidence and optimism about anything related to his scientific endeavours.

"Okay, no, he didn't," impatience started to infiltrate the scientist's voice, "but what else could it be? Look, think about what he said … information about something that he knows we've been looking for since we got here. He knows we use ZPMs, he knows how many we have and he also knows we'd like more. So what else can it be? Any thoughts?" Rodney raised his eyebrows as he looked around for an answer to this less than subtle challenge. "Anyone?"

But no one seemed in a hurry to answer. For a couple of minutes the only sound in the Control Room was the constant hum of the various pieces of equipment that monitored the life of the city and the galaxy beyond. Finally Sheppard broke the silence with a question of his own rather than a response to McKay's challenge. "Why?"

Ronon's eyes darted around the room, looking for reactions, before coming to rest on the Colonel. Sheppard's attention was still fixed on the lifeless communications screen, almost as if he were being held captive by some residual image of Todd.

"Why what?" Predictably McKay's impatience was quickly morphing into irritation as the scientist cast an antagonistic look in Sheppard's direction.

"Why now?" Sheppard finally dragged his attention from the screen, folded his arms across his chest and surveyed the faces turned expectantly in his direction before stopping at McKay. "Why would he want to share this with us? Why would he want to hand us something that'd let us increase the fire-power of this city? That enough 'whys' for you to be going on with Rodney?"

Ronon's spirits perked up. He had expected caution from Sheppard but the tone of the questions perhaps indicated something deeper. Indeed these were the very questions he would be asking right now if he thought it would do any good. Could the fact that they were coming from Sheppard possibly signal a subtle shift in attitude towards Todd and his proposals?

"You know what, I knew this'd happen, that I'd have to justify wanting to find out what he's offering. Look I don't have answers to all your 'whys' and you know very well that I don't but I do know that even if it isn't ZPMs we still…" McKay paused momentarily, "…no, actually if he's not talking about ZPMs then it's even more important we find out what he's got."

"Well, I suppose put like that perhaps it's probably worth finding out what he wants. We can certainly demand more information." Woolsey's voice lacked his usual confidence and combined with the strength of Sheppard's opposition, Ronon started to wonder if perhaps this decision might not be as clear cut as he'd originally thought.

Sheppard grunted. "Maybe. But what if it is a trap? It's been quite some time since we heard anything from Todd, who knows what he's been up to? The only thing we know for sure is that he uses us to further his own ambitions, to date he's done that without causing us too much damage but we've got no guarantee things are always going to work out that way. Our own intel is showing this civil war is getting more deadly, what if he's decided to use his knowledge of us and Atlantis to help progress his cause amongst the Wraith?"

"I agree," Woolsey nodded his head to confirm his support. "Colonel Sheppard has a very valid point. I don't know Todd as well as you all do but I have no doubt he wouldn't have too many hesitations about sacrificing the relationship, and I use that word loosely, he has with us for his own advantage, especially if he's playing for high stakes."

"I know, I know," McKay nodded, "he could be going to finally double cross us but what if this really can deliver us something useful…"

"Which brings us right back to my original questions Rodney," declared Sheppard.

McKay shook his head. "Yes, questions that I've already said I can't answer." A sudden drop of the scientist's shoulders telegraphed a different approach to the conversation. "Come on, all we have to do is meet with him, we don't have to agree to anything and he's offered to come here so that'll minimise any danger to us."

"Dr McKay, I don't believe having a hive orbiting above the city can be described as minimising the danger." Woolsey followed this admonishment with a sigh of resignation. "But weighing up both sides of the argument I think we probably do need to explore his proposal further. If Todd is up to something I'd prefer to know what it is sooner rather than later." A thoughtful frown crossed his face. "Has the hive moved since the transmission ended?"

Ronon rolled his eyes. This was it then. They were going to acquiesce to this half-explained proposal even quicker than he'd anticipated. Sheppard might still have some concerns but Ronon doubted they would be enough to deter them from meeting Todd.

Finally he saw little point in keeping his thoughts to himself any longer. "Of course he hasn't moved, he doesn't need to, he knows you're going to accept otherwise he wouldn't have wasted his time coming here. You're going to do exactly what he expects you to do but you know what, count me out, I've worked with that wraith for the last time."

With nothing more to say he left the room without a backward glance, well aware of the looks being cast in his direction. Let them look. Perhaps he didn't really belong here after all, perhaps this was the catalyst he needed to make a break and look for people who understood and shared his hatred of wraith. People he could really trust to make the right decisions.

x-X-x

=They are unsure and do not trust us yet you are certain they will help us?=

The Second's confusion about the conversation he had just witnessed between his Commander and the humans of Atlantis cut across Todd's thoughts as he turned away from the external communications monitor. The Atlantean's response to his proposal had been as he expected, particularly from Dr McKay, and this confusion from his lieutenant was unsurprising. In fact, given the underling's lack of understanding about the nuances of dealing with these humans, it was to be expected. Competent though he was, like all wraith he lacked any personal experience of dealing with these particular humans so it was only natural that his reading of the exchange would give no clues as to what might be fuelling his leader's obvious satisfaction.

Todd huffed thoughtfully to himself before answering. He had earmarked this wraith to take the role of his lieutenant well before the precisely executed coup that had seen the demise of the former Commander and Second. Once appointed he had quickly proved that his loyalty was beyond reproach but naturally he adopted a more conventional attitude to the Atlanteans than his Commander. To him they were a risk, a nuisance that needed to be neutralised as effectively as possible rather than allies who should be allowed access to the fruits of wraith intelligence gathering.

=Of course they do not trust us, just as we don't trust them,= Todd paused briefly, stopping in front of another monitor to check data about the world they were currently orbiting, =but in the end, after they have argued among themselves, they will accept because, despite their continuous threats and bravado, they are afraid my proposal might be of some value, might give me an advantage I could use against them.=

A far more comprehensive response than was needed but as the Second nodded his head, Todd sensed more questions. Moving closer he watched through narrowed eyes as a new wave of uncertainty sweep across the underling's face.

=And the Guardians, Commander, what of them?=

A slight wave of tension, not as strong as fear, filled the space between them. Something Todd did not welcome in his Second. Instinctively his hands flexed, allowing some of his growing annoyance to dissipate before he answered.

=The Guardians were nothing but myth. Illusions created by the Lanteans during the War to counter the victory we were close to achieving.=

=But Commander if they are not…=

=Enough!= Finally unable to control his nascent anger, Todd followed the admonishment with a deep, aggressive growl.

His plan was well-thought out, well-mapped in his mind but he would not be pushed into sharing it before he was ready. He trusted his officers but still, at the back of his mind, lingered the doubt all Commanders lived with that once his underlings understood his ultimate aim, they might think themselves better able to bring it to fruition. Besides so many questions were starting to grate on the intrinsic enjoyment he always got from bantering with the Atlanteans. The time had come to end this conversation. =Perhaps it is not the involvement of the Atlanteans we should be discussing, perhaps your own commitment to this project will leave us vulnerable to mistakes…=

The sentence went unfinished, the question unasked as the Second took the rare risk of cutting across his Commander's words. =No, you have no reason to doubt my loyalty Commander.=

=A wise decision.= A slight nod of his head accompanied Todd's response as he turned to leave. =We will remain here until the Atlanteans respond. I will be in the main laboratory going through the data and energy readings.=

Of course there was a good chance he would not make it all the way down to the lab before that response came but he wanted time alone. Time to think about the role in his plan he had assigned John Sheppard's team, to make sure he had considered all possible outcomes and perhaps most importantly calculated all possible risks.

x-X-x

As he got further away from the Control Room, Ronon's anger and confusion gradually receded, pushed to one side by the reality of his situation. Atlantis was his home and he had spent too long roaming the galaxy as a runner to even think about looking for a new one.

But his verbal outburst had left a residue of energy that could only be spent in a physical work-out so after a quick pause in the middle of a corridor, he turned towards to the exercise rooms. It was a pity Teyla was away visiting the Athosians but someone was bound to be down there, although Ronon doubted that their skill in hand-to-hand combat would be up to the standard he needed for a proper work-out.

"Ronon, wait."

The words surprised him and he immediately felt annoyed he had slowed down enough to allow a pursuer to get this close. But despite the authority vested in the request, or perhaps because of it, he just kept walking until a restraining hand was placed on his arm. Ronon finally stopped and spun round to face Sheppard. Even though the hand was immediately lifted, if this were anyone else he would have responded by hitting out but he knew that would serve little purpose here. There was nothing to do but tell Sheppard again where he stood.

"You know how I feel. I won't work with this wraith again so you're wasting your time if you want to change my mind."

Sheppard's eyes narrowed as he considered this declaration but Ronon knew he wouldn't just walk away.

"You're an important part of my team Ronon, if we do meet with Todd I want you there." Sheppard paused to look up and down the corridor and Ronan sensed he was searching for exactly the right words to use. "Look, I how you feel about him. I don't trust him either and would like nothing more than to tell him what he can do with this idea and finish him off for good. But truth is we have much bigger considerations here, if McKay is right, if Todd can deliver some more ZPMs then we have to follow-up on this."

Ronon just shook his head. "Working with a wraith is wrong and dangerous, your relationship with him is wrong. You think you control it, think you hold the upper hand but no human, no matter how strong or smart they think they are, is ever going to control a wraith. And giving him a name isn't going make him any different."

"I don't have a relationship with him." Sheppard's denial was loud but still managed to sound half hearted.

"Call it what you like, he comes here and you end up doing what he wants. You know how he works, how he manipulates but I bet Woolsey is still up there right now making contact again."

An answer wasn't needed, the look that crossed Sheppard's face said it all. Ronon huffed in disgust as he turned to continue the walk to the exercise areas but before he went too far he stopped to throw a quick glance over his shoulder.

"Next time I see that wraith it'll be to kill him so don't bother me again until you decide that's the way you want to deal with him too."