Get On Board

Rated: PG

Parts: No clue

Genre: Humor/Romance

Pairing: Beckett/Chair

Author's Notes: The first ever Beckett/Chair ship story.... I'm releasing the idea into the wild... wish it luck!
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“Rodney! Can’t you get Sheppard to do this?”

“No, he’s out flying… somewhere and you’re the only other accessible one to do it.”

“Besides, there’s nothing you can do. Everything’s gone. We’ve disabled it.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, well the point is, we still need to see how much power is in this baby.”

“Yeah right, yer probably just trying to torture me.”

“Yes Beckett we are, now turn the damn thing on.” Beckett reluctantly did so, fearing what might come next. He winced.

“Very good. Rodney?” Zelenka asked, confirming his readings.

“Yes well, we have power,” McKay mused. He looked at his readings then back at the doctor, who was squirming in the chair. “Beckett!”

“Yeah?”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Hurtin’ someone,” he muttered quietly.

“You’re not gonna hurt anyone.”

“Yeah right.”

Hey you.

“What!”

“We didn’t say anything,” Zelenka said warily.

No, I did.

“Are ya-”

Speak with your mind, not with your lips, the voice said kindly.

Who are ye? Beckett called back to it.

I am on whence you sit.

“Wha-!”

“Carson, nothing’s gonna be hurt, nothing’s gonna be launched. Now sit still!” McKay ordered. Carson whimpered back. The scientists turned away from him again. Beckett sat still and listened to the feminine… was it female?.. voice. In truth, he’d heard it before, commanding him, leading him through McKay’s exercises to launch stuff. It freaked him out.

You’re the Ancient Chair? he inquired softly.

He felt something like a nod in his mind. I am she.

So ye are female!

Of course, all of us are.

All of ye? Including the Earth one?

The Chair sighed. No, he is the only male.

Beckett opened his eyes and glanced around nervously to see if the scientists were hearing this. Apparently not. He slowly relaxed his tense, arched back onto the chair’s surface.

So…what’s yer name? he pondered. Could this thing read his mind if it could talk to him mentally?

My name is a series of numbers and electrical pulses that you cannot make sense of. Although I will provide you with a suitable name.

The Chair processed and Beckett felt the nervousness come back. He back rose into a slight arch.

[I]I will be Arynn, you should address me as such.

What a beautiful name you picked.

Is it common among your people?

No, never heard of it actua’ly. Maybe if he kept up the act, McKay would force him to stay. This way he could talk to the chair.

Then you approve of my choice?

Most certainly my dear! “McKay! Are you done?”

“No, no, no, we still need you. You’re not going anywhere.”

“Oh God...”

He felt a metal frown. Why do you fear me so? The other Ancients never have. His eyes widened in surprise.

No! We’re not Ancients… well not really.

But I feel it, therefore I activate. I am most confused, please explain your situation to me. Could an inanimate object be confused? Well this one was, all Beckett felt in his mind was utter helplessness and misunderstanding.

Sure, myself and a few others have, naturally, Ancient DNA, our genetic code. This means that we can use the city no problem. A few like Major Sheppard- The Chair stopped him there.

Ancient Sheppard? He has called himself thus.

Ancient Sheppard! Oh well… then Ancient Sheppard has the gene ready at his disposal. Things come natural to him, like powering you up. I, on the other hand, must think about it. Beckett suddenly became very nervous. He could feel the Chair, Arynn, power up tremendously under him. It was powering up for something that much he knew. The power and control of it overwhelmed him.

“Zelenka? Rodney!” Carson called out helplessly. The Chair needed him there, but he didn’t want to be there.

The astrophysicists turned in surprise at their readings. The chair was giving much more output than it should have been. But that was good! Poor Beckett had his back arched as far as it would go. The chair’s blue light became powerful and the scientists squinted against the light. With a swoop, a blue light covered the outside of the city. The chair powered back down to its natural state.

You needed power, I have provided you this.

“Wha-?” Beckett exclaimed partly to himself, to the beaming scientists, and to the Chair.

I have seen you needed power, so I have opened the reserve power. The ne-finium, or the Zero Point Modules, as you call them, have been re-powered along with two others I have opened.

Wha… what! How can we thank you? Beckett sputtered.

Take care of our city. Protect it, defend it, heal it. This is your duty. I shall see you again Carson Beckett of Earth. With that the chair went dead and released Beckett. He jumped up and flew straight into Zelenka’s arms.

“Sorry,” he mumbled by means of an apology. They paid no attention, they just stared at him. McKay found his head first and hit the radio.

“Lizbeth, this is McKay.”

Silence.

“We have a shield.”

“I…I see… who did it? Major Sheppard?”

“No. Beckett.”

Beckett sat on the floor of the Chair Room in consternation. He’d seen Rodney go for the comm. and just watched him do it.

“We have a shield,” McKay had said and then Elizabeth had stuttered back.

“I…I see… who did it? Major Sheppard?” When she’d said that Beckett chuckled to himself slightly. Ancient Sheppard, my arse.

Then McKay gave Weir his name. “No. Beckett.” Whoa, wait… he got the shield up. THE Shield of Atlantis. Bull. Carson turned his head ever so slightly to face a window. There was a shimmering blue light outside. Yeah, he’d done it. Not Ancient Sheppard.

Hehe, how funny. I think I need to see a doctor… wait, I am the doctor.

Beckett fainted.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Carson… Carson? You in there?”

“Mmmm?”

“John, he’s awake.”

“Mmm…”

“Beckett, you alive?” Carson opened his eyes a crack to see Elizabeth’s, McKay’s, Sheppard’s, and Zelenka’s face peering over him anxiously.

“Wha… wah hap’ened?”

McKay’s face broke into a smirk. “You fainted Carson.” Wearily, Beckett rolled his head toward Rodney.

“Did I now?” The scientist nodded. John and Weir had a different question.

“How did you get the shield up?” Sheppard rumbled.

“I… what?” He had to remind himself again. He peered out the infirmary windows this time. “Right… I didn’t do it. Major… you know.”

“I do?” Beckett motioned him to bring his ear to the doctor’s mouth. He did so, confused.

The good doc whispered, “Ancient Sheppard? What’s with that?” Sheppard brought his head back up and bit his lip in amusement.

“May I speak with him only you guys?” Weir nodded and herded the others out. Once outside the infirmary and into the Lounge area, McKay mumbled something to the air.

“I wonder what that was about?”

“Who knows,” Zelenka answered. Weir brought chairs for the other two men and they all sat and waited.

~In the Infirmary~


“Okay, there’s no one here.”

“Good. What’s with you and the Chair major?”

“The Chair…? Oh, the Chair.”

“Yeah. You told her you were an Ancient?”

“No, I didn’t – her?!” Sheppard sputtered. “I didn’t know chairs had sexes.” The major had taken a seat next to the bed-ridden doctor and Beckett was in an upright position. Beckett was confused; Arynn had said they had communicated.

“Yeah, Arynn said you two had communicated, I thought you knew about her.” John gulped.

“I… I did?”

“That’s what she said. When you get in the Chair, don’t you feel her?”

“Uh, no.”

“Oh. Then how do you work it?”

“I don’t know. Remember I kinda know how to work the gene without thinking… somehow… Apparently, I don’t need help controlling Atlantis because I never heard… oh.”

“What major?”

“Well…the first time the evil masterminds got me into the Chair, the one on Earth, a voice said something like, “Welcome inexperienced one” or something. I paid no attention to it; I thought it was like a tour guide for people. Mind you, I didn’t know what Ancients were, remember?”

Beckett chuckled, he remembered.

A young major came walking into the “Chair Area” unguided. Beckett looked up to see him poking around the alien technology. He went to sit in the Chair.

“Please don’t sit in that!” he cried. The major stopped and proceeded more slowly.

“What’s the chance of me having this gene?” he said as he sat. Beckett started to answer.

“Actually very-” The major had sat down and the seat activated and reclined without him doing anything.

“Slim,” Beckett had finished, gulping. He ran off. “Stay right there! Don’t move!”

John grinned wryly, “Yeah well… what was I supposed to know? Hell, Ancients, Goulds – all Greek to me.”

Beckett smiled. “So, then what?” Sheppard shrugged.

“Well, it asked… well, it didn’t ask per say, it kind of “pulsed” at me, “asking” if I wanted to do anything. I could feel it ask. Scared, I mentally yelled, ‘Nonononono!’” John looked thoughtful. “Actually it was more like me going, ‘Don’t move, stay still, don’t think of anything.’”

“I can imagine laddie. I’m terrified of the bloody thing.”

“I saw that.” Beckett snorted.

“Of course ya did.”

“So, back to my question, how’d you get the shield up?”

“Arynn.”

“The Chair?”

“Uh yeah, either tha’ or she’s the Chair’s personality. You never met her?”

“I don’t think so. Oh, well, I think something asked me if I needed help or what I wanted to do, but I dismissed it and focused on… fighting, yes.”

“Oh, so she came to you after the battle?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway, before she discharged me, quite literally mind you, she… well we were-” Carson blushed suddenly and stopped. Sheppard tilted his head looking for more. Seeing this Beckett sighed and continued. “We were talking about genes and I mentioned ye and she told me about the Ancient thing. She called you Ancient Sheppard.” John couldn’t figure out whether to feel honored or stuck-up.

“Oh…”

Beckett shrugged again. “Anyway, all of a sudden she powers up and discharges. She tells me that the shield is back online and that she’s opened two more ZPM’s.” Beckett suddenly looked put out. “Tha’ didn’t sound right.”

Sheppard felt a huge grin take over his face. “You dog you; I think you’ve turned her on.” Beckett winced.

“Tha’ was a horrible pun major.” Sheppard leaned forward, put his elbows on the bed, and placed his head in his hands.

“So, what’s she look like? Is she sexy?” Beckett balked slightly.

“Actual’y, I dun know.”

“Ask her next time!”

“Why dun’t you?” Beckett questioned suggestively. Sheppard was enlightened and fell back into his chair.

“I think I will.” He got up and started to head out the door.

“An’ major?”

“Yep?”

“This business about the Chair and voices does not leave my infirmary,” he pleaded. Sheppard winked, gave a thumbs-up, and left. Beckett sighed and fell into his bed.

John found the crew in the Lounge, as he expected. They stood up in his presence, anxious to ask how the doctor was. Sheppard held out his hands.

“He’s fine, just tired.”

“Good,” McKay murmured, “Next time we get hurt, he’ll be here.” Sheppard smiled at that.

notes: font like this is them speaking to the Chair, font like 'this' is them thinking to themselves and font like "this" is them speaking normally, got it? Good.

anyway, enjoy: )
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John sauntered back down the hallway, looking like he was walking around aimlessly. In fact, he was carefully weaving his way towards the Chair Room. Sheppard felt like he was going to a blind date of sorts. Every so often he’d run his hand over his hair, in a subconscious attempt to flatten it. The major peered around carefully then hopped into a transporter. The doors closed, but Sheppard didn’t press any destination. Instead he sat there, contemplating.

“Will she like me? I mean she thinks I’m all stuck-up according to Beckett. What’s she look like? What if she’s really ugly?” He stopped and realized his situation. “What am I saying! It’s only a chair… well not only. It’s the Chair, but it’s still inanimate! Jeez…” He slapped a location and off he went.

A minute later, a certain major was sneaking around the Chair Room, closing off the entrances and sat down in the Chair slowly. Immediately it reclined, no voice came. He assumed it was because he never needed its help before, so John searched for it.

“Hello?” he asked awkwardly to the open room. Sheppard expected something to appear in front of him. Nothing. He tried again, but this time he spoke in his mind.

Hello? Anyone home? His back arched uncertainly like Beckett’s might. Hel-

Hello, came a soft “voice.”

Whoa… hiya! I’m-

You are Ancient John Sheppard, I know.

Wait, how do you know me? Sheppard was confused, did Beckett show his features or what?

Your gene marks you and from that gene and from where it is placed, I can read your DNA and process it, it explained simply. It probably recognized that he wasn’t a scientist of any kind. Yeah, that made sense to him… wait… Ancient Sheppard?

Um, you know I’m not a true Ancient, right?

Do you have the implanted gene that Carson Beckett spoke of? it asked, confused.

No, I have it naturally.

Then are you not an Ancient?

Nope, you see after the Ancients left this city and went to Earth, they found us humans. Humans are the second evolution of our form, err, the Ancient form. I, apparently, am one of the few people that had an Ancient ancestor and that ancestor must have passed the gene to me… somehow.

I do understand now. Are you a fighter? ‘Damn was this thing nosy or what?’ he thought without the Chair hearing him. He couldn’t believe he just explained the whole gene thing to a Chair. ‘I must be going crazy…’

I suppose so, are you considered a fighter?

Yes.

Oh. Arynn, that’s your name right?

That is the name I picked for Beckett, do you like it?

Yeah, it’s great. Um… I don’t suppose you have a picture of yourself or… He didn’t even finish his question when the room seemed to warp and it brought forth a picture of a woman standing in a mild darkness.

Wow. Sheppard was virtually speechless. He knew his real mouth was agape back in the Chair. The woman in front of him was incredible. She had soft red highlights in her deep brown hair. She seemed to be of multiple nationalities, but of none at all. Her skin was white, but not pale – slightly tanned. Usually brunettes have brown eyes, not her; she had vivid, pure, crystal green eyes. They seemed to search your soul. And the curves on her…

“Stop gaping Sheppard.” She seemed shy. He snapped out of it and finally realized that voice wasn’t in his head, but it reached his ears.

“You are Arynn?” he said slowly. She nodded carefully. Now he could talk like it was a “she” he was talking too, rather than just an “it” or “the Chair.” Sheppard patted himself to check of he was “real,” even though he knew he was in his head.

‘That’s confusing…’

“Yes, you are made of substance here. As am I.” Oooh…

She was no a valley girl by any means, she was strong and composed. He’d never really put faith in the phrase, “Beautiful, but deadly” until now. That’s what she looked like. She almost radiated power, but he sensed Arynn could be tender also.

She blushed as she noticed John was staring at her. “I’m sorry,” he apologized quickly.

“No, it is fine. I fear I must explain myself.”

“Oh?”

“I am an Ancient of Atlantis, or was. When a Power Chair is created, a personality must be put in it to keep watch over the city and its defenses. It is considered a great honor for a warrior to be “Recreated” as we said. To be put in charge of the City… you don’t even know half of what it can do at full power. By any means, when they all left, I had to be left behind in hopes your people would find the City and me.

“The others communicate through subspace to cross the great distances between galaxies. The Earth bound Chair, Thurn, told me that your people had found him and that they might be coming soon.”

“Oh dear…” he muttered. Arynn saw what he thought of and she chuckled.

“Yes, he did inform me of the minor incident with the drone.”

“Yeah, well, that was Beckett, not me.” They stopped talking. “Do you hear that?” Sheppard asked her. A disembodied voice floated towards them.

“Major Sheppard? Major, I need you in the Control Room immediately.”

“Ah, that’s our commander Elizabeth Weir,” he informed her. Arynn seemed deep in thought and he felt power flow through his body.

‘Ah shit.’ Suddenly he was in the Control Room.

“Hi major, that was quick.” He was disoriented.

“Uh, hi Lizbeth.”