Stargate Fic Recommendations

Show: SGA
Rec Category: AU (robots, androids and cyborgs)
Characters: John Sheppard/Evan Lorne, Ronon Dex, Cameron Mitchell, Rodney McKay, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla Emmagan
Categories: M/M
Words: 11830
Warnings: It's "chose not to warn" but there's nothing to trigger an AO3 warning. Some mechanical-being body horror, with the automata being disassembled and rebuilt.
Authors on DW: busaikko, mific
Authors' Websites: busaikko on AO3, mific on AO3
Link: The Reverberation of a Blazing World on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: This is a partial self-rec, but the main inspiration for the fic was busaikko's, and then we split the writing. As this is set in a steampunk AU, the term for John, Evan, Ronon, and Cam is automata rather than robots, with Rodney as the genius craftsman who repairs and restores them. It's a dystopian AU, with the four aerialist automata playing a key part in helping overthrow Ba'al, together with the resistance in which Elizabeth, Teyla and Sam are involved. All this was inspired by theeverdream's gorgeous artwork and written for the 2014 SGA Reversebang. It's a rollicking adventure and also features the familiar theme of robots developing emotions and learning to love, so there's romance at the core.


"Fortunately for you," Rodney went on, steering the conversation away from dangerous directions, "I happen to be familiar with the technology Ba'al used to make his ten mechanical copies. I saw one, once. It was remarkable. Indistinguishable from a real man from the outside." He held up one of Sheppard's kneecaps. "The gleaming steel look is passé."

"I had a costume," Sheppard said defensively. "Black silk."

"I'm sure you were gorgeous," Rodney tossed off absently. He wasn't prepared for the bleak sorrow that somehow flitted across Sheppard's immobile features – it was those eyes – or the way his jaw seemed to set with stubborn anger. "You were created to be a beautiful distraction. That bothers you?"

For a moment he thought Sheppard wasn't going to answer, but apparently it just took a while for Sheppard to find words. "We thought we were artists," Sheppard said finally. "We were the creators, not the creation. But it turned out we were just toys. And toys get broken and are thrown away."

While Rodney wasn't a fanciful person, he couldn't think of a way to describe Sheppard's tone that wasn't bitter. Or furious.

"I don't make toys," Rodney said, dismissively, which appeared to be the right tack to take with Sheppard, if his smirk was anything to go by. "But once I get the rest of your set out of your head, we'll get each of you in a modern automaton unit. With a few... unique... modifications."

"Thanks," Sheppard said. "Remind me to shake your hand when I can."

"Shut up," Rodney said, embarrassed. "I'm going to pull your crystals now. So you should power down. I'll see you in a while."

Sheppard closed his eyes obediently. "Night," he said, his features stilling. Rodney waited a moment, just to be sure, and then started taking him apart.