Persuasion


John watched as Rodney scowled from where he was squatted on the floor.  They'd been out of radio contact for over four hours so it was likely a rescue party was on its way.  Of course, if they could manage to get out of the trap themselves, then all the better.  John glanced up at the holographic display and tried to figure out the next move.  He'd always been good at chess, but this was light years beyond chess.  He could hear Rodney mumbling to himself down below.  The marines behind him all looked bored.  A quick look over at Major Lorne showed that the marine had a certain set to his jaw.  John followed his eye line to the smirking hologram that stood across the playing field waiting for their next move.  He looked back at the major in time to see him grab Rodney's arm and pull the scientist to his feet.

"You're not just going to take that are you?" Lorne said to Rodney.

"What?" Rodney whined, pulling his arm out of the major's grasp.

Lorne squared his shoulders and said, "You're Rodney fucking McKay, PhD!  You're the smartest fucking guy in this backwards galaxy.  Am I right boys?"

The marines that were standing behind them all straightened to attention.  "Hooya!" they barked in unison.

Rodney blinked at them a moment, his mouth moving with, for once, no sound escaping.  John crossed his arms over his P-90 and let Lorne continue.

"I haven’t known you long, McKay, but I know you're not the type of guy that would take shit from some hologram."

"I'm not?" Rodney asked before quickly nodding fiercely.  "Of course I'm not!"

"Now get in there and own that n00b!"

John watched with amusement as Rodney gave a sharp nod and turned back to the floating playing board with a glint in his eye.  He marched up to his player position and started making his move.  There was heated back and forth with their holographic host as Rodney let his opinion of pretty much everything be known.

"Nice pep talk, Major," John said finally, when things had quieted down.

"Well, sir, if it's one thing I've learned in my years with the military, it's when in doubt always play to the ego," Lorne replied.

John shot him a look out of the corner of his eye, but the major was wise enough not to acknowledge it.  They both watched the determined and stubborn set of Rodney's shoulders and waited for the game to finish.


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