4. Request for Death
Demetri Ophir woke early out of habit and glanced at his watch and watched as the seconds counted down. His alarm for 3 in the morning went off and he pressed a button. Dressing, he stepped out of his room and started for the control interface. A quick glance around was all he needed to be sure no one was there. Sitting at the consol closest to him, he went to work, browsing screens and bypassing locks. It wasn’t long, however, till he was interrupted.
He didn’t look up when the footfall entered the room and even without looking up, Ophir would bet everything he had it was Rush. Sure enough, the Scottish accent pierced the semi-silence. “Playing around again?”
Ophir glanced up only to catch sight of Rush settling at his consol. “Is there something I can do for you, Dr. Rush?”
“Actually, there is.”
Ophir quirked an eyebrow in response, beating Rush with an answer to the unspoken question. “No.”
“Ophir –”
Ophir stood abruptly, cutting Rush off. “I said no.”
A smile played at the edge of Rush’s lips as he muttered, “You don’t really have a choice, Ophir.”
“I’m not choosing sides.”
Rush looked up, clearly not impressed by the remark. “You already have.”
Ophir laughed harshly. “Not a chance.”
“You did the moment you stepped onto Icarus Base,” Rush stated blatantly, dropping his gaze back to the control panel before him.
“No, I didn’t.” Rush looked up at him, catching the hostile glare. Rush tensed. “Dr. Jackson made that decision.”
“Then why are you here?”
A mask quickly came over Ophir’s face. “Because Dr. Jackson almost begged me to.”
Silence hung for a split second before he turned and left. It was still bewildering to hear Ophir talk so much but Rush knew that the likelihood of hearing much more out of the boy was minimal. He had just crossed a line that Jackson had warned him not to cross. Not really caring for much longer, Rush went back to work.
Something nagged at the back of Rush’s mind and no matter how much he tried to ignore it, it was becoming more and more clear. Rush needed Ophir’s young, trained mind for this. He had seen the skill Ophir possessed and it was what he needed. Only question was, could he gain Ophir’s trust? Could he trust Ophir?
Rush, however, wasn’t the only one that wanted Ophir’s help. The other scientists were all eager to work with the young mind but Eli was the only one to actually have enough courage to confront the other his age.
“Why not? You know more about this stuff than anyone else. Well, maybe other than Rush, but still!”
Ophir glared at the math wiz sitting across from him at breakfast. Eli was determined to get Ophir to work with him and the other scientists but Ophir wasn’t budging.
“No.”
“Please?”
“No matter how much you beg him, he won’t change his mind,” a Scottish accent informed over Ophir’s shoulder. Ophir stood abruptly, startling Eli and gaining a wary air from Rush. Ophir nearly laughed out loud. Rush half expected him to hit him! That or make some sort of physical contact. Ophir snatched up his bowl without a word and returned it to Airman Darren Becker, the guy in charge of the mess hall, without another word to either Rush or Eli.
“What just happened?” chased after him in Eli’s voice and Ophir didn’t even listen to Rush’s reply. He wandered Destiny till he came to the Gate Room. It was empty, dark, all to his liking. Ophir settled into his spot on the balcony and allowed his frustration to simmer away as slowly as it liked.
Three times someone entered the Gate Room but not a one said a single word. It wasn’t till well past lunch time did someone actually come looking for him. The voice of one of Young’s people gave a hesitant call only to scurry out of the room in a near panic. Ophir let a wry grin cross his face. Best hiding place ever. He would have to remember to bring his sketch book next time, though. Sitting with his thoughts for too long was dangerous and he knew that all too well.
Someone entered the Gate Room, drawing Ophir from his musing. A female figure was in the doorway but the backlight inhibited his site to see who it was. She moved to the stairs, moving as if she was just taking in the sites. This intrigued him and he sat up taller to watch her.
She made her way to the stairs, pausing at one of the consoles before starting up one of the staircases. She paused at the rail over the two consoles and looked at the Stargate. After a while, she moved on and Ophir was suddenly hyperaware of the fact that she was coming his way. He looked at the gate and waited, listening as she came closer. When her footing hesitated, he knew she finally saw him. She didn’t stop or turn around. Instead, she walked over and stopped at his side, asking, “Can I join you?”
Ophir looked up, having already put voice with name before he even saw her face. Chloe Armstrong shifted uneasily under his never wavering, sharp, amber gaze but she didn’t back off. He shifted sideways just a fraction, looking back at the Stargate, and Chloe settled beside him. They sat in silence for quite some time before she broke the silence with, “Colonel Young’s looking for you.”
He snorted. “Don’t care.”
“TJ’s looking for you too.”
Ophir frowned, looking at Chloe. She was avoiding his gaze. “The medic?”
“Yeah. No one knows where your room is. Rush won’t tell us if he knows or not.”
“He shouldn’t.” Ophir sighed as he stood. “No one should.”
He started for the stairs as Chloe hurried to her feet. “Where are you going?”
“To go talk to Lt. Johansen,” Ophir clarified, shrugging. “I don’t have an issue with her.”
Chloe followed him. “I’m coming with.”
Ophir looked at her with a raised eyebrow but said nothing. It was a slow, quiet walk to the infirmary. He wasn’t in a hurry and it was clear that Chloe wasn’t leaving either. Hearing chatter from the infirmary the closer they got, his mood darkened with each step. When they entered the room, it was clear that they weren’t going to be alone.
TJ was talking with Young and Rush while Lieutenant Matthew Scott, Sergeant Ronald Greer, and Eli talked a few feet away. When Ophir and Chloe entered, all chatter ceased. Chloe joined Scott, Greer, and Eli while Ophir walked over to TJ, ignoring both men there.
“You wanted to see me?”
TJ smiled at him. “Everyone’s getting a physical. You’re the only one that hasn’t had one yet.”
“And the platoon?”
TJ looked to both men standing beside her and Ophir shot a glare at them that even had the Colonel hesitating. Only Young was trained enough to not outwardly show it. Ophir turned to TJ, cutting Young off as he stated, “I’ll do a physical but only when everyone else has left.”
TJ looked at Young with a look that had a reserved order hidden within it. Young nodded and people filed out. It wasn’t till the door closed did Ophir relax a bit. He looked to TJ, losing some of his edge. “I apologize if you get drawn into the battle between me and the two heads of the different snakes.”
TJ smiled again, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it. Strip to your boxers.”
Ophir pulled his sweater and shirt up over his head as one piece, folding it as he asked, “If I trusted you with a secret, would you keep it even if ordered to tell?”
TJ hesitated before stating, “It depends on the secret.”
“My room.”
He placed his folded shirt on the bed before looking at her. She was watching him, thinking it over. She nodded. He kicked off his shoes, stating, “Take the back hallway from the control interface room. Take the hallway till it ends and then take a right. Follow it till it ends as well. Take a left and it’ll be the door on the right.”
TJ nodded as Ophir finally placed his folded pants on the bed. He faced her and allowed her to examine his body. It took little time and he was soon pulling his pants back on. As he did the button, TJ requested, “I want you to tell someone else about where your room is. I don’t want to be the only one to know and it doesn’t have to be Rush or Colonel Young.”
Ophir smiled at her but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I can’t guarantee it’ll be any time soon.”
TJ nodded, understanding. She walked away as Ophir finished getting dressed. As he made it to the exit, the door opened and Young entered. “Stay, Ophir.”
Ophir rolled his eyes and turned around, walking back to where he had just been standing. Young was right behind him as TJ walked over. Ophir angled himself so that his back wasn’t to either person and he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“He’s healthy, Colonel. Nothing wrong from what I could tell,” TJ offered. Young nodded and TJ walked away again. Once he was sure TJ was out of ear shot, Young turned to Ophir.
“What happened between you and Rush?” Young asked, getting straight to the point.
A quirk of an eyebrow was all the response Young got and the Colonel warned, “Ophir.”
Ophir rolled his eyes. “Rush crossed a line. That’s it.”
“Did he harm you in any way?”
The glare Young got in return was one Young hoped he would never see again from the 23 year old. Ophir stepped around Young and left with, “If he had, you would have known.”
Young watched Ophir’s retreating back, wondering what could have cause such a young lad to become so harsh to the outside world, having heard the threat underneath his words.
Ophir went straight to his room while taking the most secluded route he could. Rather pleased that he encountered no one, he pressed the door release. His pleased mood went right out the window as the inside of his room became visible. He glared at the man sitting at the foot of his bed.
He entered, snapping, “Get out.”
Rush stood up, stating, “Oh good. I was wondering how long it would take you to get here.”
“Did you not hear me? Get. Out.”
“I want your assistance with the main issue of unlocking Destiny’s systems.”
“No.”
Rush didn’t falter at the glare. In fact, he didn’t even stop talking. “We need every able mind working on it.”
“I said no!” Ophir barked. “Now get out!”
Rush didn’t move. Instead, he just talked even more. “Ophir, I don’t have time to convince you that the other scientists are ill informed in the systems. You already have a basic understanding of the language and–”
Ophir landed a right hook to Rush’s jaw, throwing the man back into the nightstand. Ophir stood over him, glaring down his nose at Rush as he hissed, “I gave up on that life a long time ago. Bring it back up and I will lock you out of Destiny’s systems faster than you can understand the language. Come back to my room and I’ll do more than just a right hook.”
Rush was quickly getting over the shock that had come when the pain had erupted in his jaw but the threat in Ophir’s words took a while to sink in. Rush was in over his head here and he knew that all too well. He stood and looked at Ophir one last time before leaving without another word. Ophir’s hostile gaze never left Rush’s back until the door closed behind the scientist. Shaken by the encounter, he started for the control interface. He was going to have to figure out what to do about Ophir. The boy was what he needed but there was no way either was going to get the other to trust them.
For Ophir, though, his thought process was nowhere near Destiny. When his door locked, his fury just left him. A wounded gaze fell onto the door and Ophir sat on the edge of the bed, burying his face into his hands. His world was turning upside down faster than he could get his footing. Already he had talked more than he normally would and had even screamed. He rubbed his throat, trying to make the raw feeling to go away.
Dropping his hand, he looked at his sketchbook, his mind wandering back to Jackson and his sister, back to the days he truly missed. He frowned, looking around. Standing, he walked over to his duffle and dug through it before he came across a black velvet necklace box long forgotten in the depths of the bag. Pulling the box out, Ophir settled on the floor before opening it.
A charcoal gray clock no bigger than a quarter hung on a chain, a spring loaded cover for the face of the clock was a crest long since forgotten in purpose and origin. A sad smile graced Ophir’s lips as he pulled the necklace out. The clock pendant bounded against his chest as he closed the clasp behind his neck, running his fingers over the silver chain before wrapping his hand tightly around the little clock.
A gentle tap on Ophir’s door brought back a bit of reality among the memories and he tucked the necklace under his shirt before he opened the door with haunted eyes. A bit of life flooded him at seeing the medic but it wasn’t fast enough to hide the pain he had been feeling just seconds before. “How can I help you?”
“You punched Rush?” she asked, clearly hesitant as she stepped out onto thin ice.
Ophir stepped aside, gesturing into his room. When she had entered, he closed and locked the door. He didn’t remove his hand as he stated to the far wall, “He knew about my quarters. He was in here, without my permission, and crossed a line.”
He looked at her, guarded. “I only hit him hard enough to bruise. I also warned him that if he trespassed, I would do more damage than just leaving a bruise. I doubt he will do so. Pain isn’t a familiar sensation to him.” A look crossed Ophir’s face and he smiled a bit as he shrugged, “Well, not physical pain, at least.”
TJ nodded. “Is your hand OK?”
Ophir looked at his right hand as if the question had never occurred to him. Turning it over so that it was palm down, he flexed it once before stating, “It’s fine. Is there anything else?”
TJ placed a hand on Ophir’s shoulder and felt the unconscious tense of the muscles underneath. “Are you OK?”
“I will be.”
TJ removed her hand before walking over to the door. Ophir unlocked and opened it, allowing her to leave. She turned and looked at him, gaining a gentle smile from the young man. “I’m not use to trusting others or having much physical contact. I need a bit of time.”
TJ nodded, smiling. “I’ll inform the Colonel.”
“Keep this from Rush, if you can,” Ophir requested as he pressed the door release. The door slid closed, locking. TJ sighed, not so sure if she could. Turning, she left, leaving before she could hear the frustrated yell that could be heard through the door. Ophir had turned on his pillow, throwing it across the room and into the wall.
“Why? Why the hell did I have to end up back in all of this!” he yelled at no one. Picking the pillow up, he continued his rant. “It’s been years. Years! And now it’s all coming back to throw itself in my face? Ha! I don’t think so.”
Panting slightly, he flopped onto his bed with an annoyed grunt. He buried his face into his pillow that he stuffed into the corner, croaking into the stuffing, “And to think. I’ll have lost my voice from overuse by the end of tomorrow if this keeps up.”
With a half hearted sigh, he rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling with dead eyes.
...last for a while
