The Wolf Among the Sheep Chapter 1, a stargate: sg-1 fanfic

The wolf among the sheep

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis. This is just for fun. Set in the new Season 4 of Atlantis. What would happen if a Wraith had lived on Earth since the Ancient Wraith War?

Chapter 1

Too much activity around him. He felt it and it drew him from the long sleep. How many years had passed? He felt his limbs were heavy, so very heavy. He could just lay her for a time, oh yes he could but it was the hunger, that burning hunger that filled his belly and seared his joints and set his skin ablaze with fever. He rose…

A month later…

The world had changed, a great deal in only a hundred years. When he had laid himself to rest the American colonies had just defeated their British mother country. Now there had been 2 world wars and the invention of the atom bomb and multi-shooting rifles. What a concept, guns that shoot many times before needing to be reloaded.

And the past had been dug up, the Stargate. The foolish humans had dug up that infernal machine. Why, why do such a thing. Didn't Merlin learn anything; leave the past buried where it belonged. Well, he would have to defend his world soon enough for now, the joys of life were his again and he would indulge.

He walked without fear of being stared at or have people scream. His long white hair was tied into a ponytail and he wore a light grey suit and tie. People tended to look at the cloths and less at the man; even if his skin was a bluish green and his brow was fuller than a normal person's and his hair was pure white with a few light auburn highlights. He wore dark sunglasses over his yellow eyes and his hands were in his pockets as she strolled down the boulevard. At this time of night people more or less ignored him which was fine. As he passed an outdoor restaurant people clapped and he gave them a smile and bow as he strolled past. Only in New Orleans could a wraith walk like anyone else and not be hassled. After the hurricane people were so busy with their own lives what did they care if an alien walked among them.

His heightened senses picked up the scuffling and the sounds of the cut off yelling. He turned off the street and went down an ally. Well, well, well a mugging how lucky for him. Two men were beating up on another smaller man. Without a word he charged and in two seconds both attackers flew across the ally and hit the far wall. He looked down on the man who was being mugged. "Get up and get out." With that he turned to finish what he started. He turned back and went after the men. One got up and started running, coward, well not really, he had not chance to win. The one that didn't get up to run in time was lifted up by his color and his hand went over the man's chest and his feeding grip clamped on through the cotton of the shirt and the feeding began.

The body fell to the ground shriveled and lifeless. The wraith bowed his head in a small prayer. "Bless me Father…" Then he turned and gave chaise for the second man.

Daniel Jackson was parking his car and getting out. Vala was also exiting the vehicle. They had just gone out to dinner and were coming back when Vala let out a startled yelp. Daniel turned ready for anything…but what he saw.

Vala was being held by the shoulders be a…a wraith! He had only seen the photos of the dead ones and footage of Michael sent back from Atlantis but never one in person. Jackson's startled stance was short lasted and then he charged at the wraith holding Vala. The wraith let her go and stepped back just out of Jackson's swing. He smiled. "Doctor…" he jumped back again as Daniel tried again to hit him, "…Doctor Jackson…" The wraith ducked and came up around Daniel and wrapped his arms around Daniel's shoulders. "Enough Doctor Jackson, if I wanted to kill you or Vala it would have been too easy." Daniel struggled but the wraiths arms were like solid rock. "Dr. Jackson, I'm a wraith, you can't break my hold by brute force. Calm down, I'm not going to hurt…" he didn't finish when Vala came up behind him and swung a tire-iron into his back. To his credit he budged but didn't let go. He turned his head around and looked at her with his yellow glowing eyes, and with a delayed reaction just sounded out slowly an Ohhhwwwooo. His attention turned back to Jackson who had stopped struggling. "If I let you go will you hear me out, Doctor Jackson?"

Finally Daniel realized he was out matched and nodded his head. "Good," the wraith said and let him go. Daniel turned as quickly as he could to see if Vala was alright. She was. Now he looked at the wraith a long hard look. He must have been about 6'1" or 2". His hair was long and white just like what he saw in his pictures. But the cloths were too human. He wore light tan pants and black leather shoes, not boots. And he didn't have the wraith long coat but a tan leather jacket with tendrils hanging from the sleeves and shoulders like you see in the mid-west. And his shirt was blue buttoned all the way up except for the last two top buttons. And a pair of sunglasses hung from his jackets outer pocket. He smiled showing those rows of sharp teeth. "Doctor Jackson, you're staring."

"Um, Daniel," Vala said from behind the wraith. "We should really get inside." "Good idea," the wraith said, "wouldn't want any noise neighbors watching you converse with a wraith."

Daniel got hold of himself and moved to the door of their apartment building and fished out his keys. The wraith remained a respectable distance behind and let Vala past him and waited for both of them to get inside and stood outside the door and…waited. Daniel looked perplex, "A guest should not barge in uninvited." The wraith answered the unasked question. Calmly Daniel invited the wraith in, "Will you come in?" "Thank you Doctor Jackson, I would love to." The wraith came in.

Daniel got him, Vala and the wraith into his apartment and stood back. Both him and Vala stood back letting the wraith have his space. He moved slowly and nonchalantly around the room and then to the windows to close the blinds. He then sat down in a chair. "Do you mind?" he asked as he sat.

"No, no…" Vala answered for Daniel. She was handling all this with the grace she always handled unexpected situations. She sat down on the sofa across from the wraith. "Daniel, perhaps our guest would like something to drink…" She looked at Daniel pointedly. "Yah, yah," Daniel moved to the kitchen and to the phone in the kitchen. "Whatever you have will be fine but I'm partial to coke' cola, regular, please." The wraith sat unworried and just grinned at Vala.

Daniel moved a bit too quickly into the kitchen and started directly for the phone and picked it up. No dial tone. He reached for his cell in his pocket and looked at it, no servos. Damn. He went to the fridge and poured out the soda and brought it out.

Vala and the wraith were talking and she was leaning in close over the coffee table that separated them to hear what he had to say. She must be acting, or at least he hoped.

The wraith sat back and excepted the class of soda. "Thank you," Daniel sat next to Vala and she looked at him hoping for some signal that he had called the SGC. "I noticed that my cell phone has lost its service and there is no dial tone on my phone." He said openly and looked at the wraith. He didn't play games not if the wraith was just going to kill them.

"I know but I figured it was better to let you figure that out for yourself," the wraith said and leaned back after taking a sip from his beverage. The technology has made leaps and bounds in only a hundred years, I am very impressed. And that isn't easy."

"Who are you?" Daniel got to the point.

The wraith smiled, "Who I am, who are you…who is she…who are any of us in this infinite world of infinite questions?"

Daniel was just perplexed, what was going on here? "You know who we are, you must be invading, how many, when are you and your ship going to attack?"

"Doctor Jackson, you seem certain that I'm going to suck the life out of you and your lady friend. Why?"

"You're a wraith."

"Yah, so, you have a gun does that mean you are going to shoot me? And Vala is a thief…oh sorry, former thief, does that mean she is going to steal?"

"You're playing games why?" Daniel Jackson was waiting for something anything to tell him he was safe or going to die.

"I have read and researched a great deal about you Doctor Jackson and Vala. I can read all I want about you but still not know the real man and woman. Even when I talk to you I only get a closer glimpse of who you really are. If I plan on having a relationship with either of you should I not get to know you first?"

"You want a relationship?" Vala picked that up and looked to Daniel, "Might I say EWE?"

"HA, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha," the wraith's head snapped back laughing. "My Lady, your mind is far dirtier than mine. But that would be quite a sight. And yes, Ewe would be appropriate…an understatement, more like and uber EWE."

Vala started chuckling too being put at ease by the wraith's good humor. Daniel was now the only one feeling way too intense. "Vala, what are you doing?" he whispered under the laughter. "Daniel I don't think he is going to hurt us." Vala said back.

"It was not my intention." And the wraith stood up. And both Daniel and Vala shot to the feet in defensive reaction. "This was a good first meeting." The wraith turned and walked around them towards the door. "Thank you for the soda."

"Where are you going?" Vala asked after the wraith had moved away. "I've met you, you've met me. We had a good conversation. That is all for now."

"Will we see you again?" Vala called as the wraith opened the door. "Oh, I'm sure, might want to get Doctor Jackson a stout drink," the wraith stared at Daniel catching his eyes, "he looks like he needs one."

Chapter 2

Later at the SGC that night

"Okay, a wraith was in your apartment drinking a coke?" General Landry summarized what Daniel Jackson just said.

"Yup, a Wraith, as big as life," Vala chimed in, "but very polite and kind of funny in a I know I can kill both of you so play my game or else kind of way."

"And he was wearing human clothing?" Landry asked Jackson.

"Yes, the clothes weren't anything special but the jacket was almost mid-western, and looked like it was real leather, not some cheep knock off. Not that I know clothing."

"And he did nothing else but just talk, what did he say?"

"He wanted to introduce himself for lack of a better word. He made not threats except that if he wanted to kill us it would be too easy and with how fast he got Vala and took me I bet he wasn't making that up." Jackson finished as they reached a lab.

Some new lab tech was there, man he missed Sam about now. "Sir," the tech said, "There have been no wraith ships or any alien ships anywhere near earth in the last 6 months. If this wraith came to earth recently he had to use a stargate. But ours is the only working one so he didn't get in through this way."

"So maybe he was here longer?" Daniel posed the idea. Landry looked at Daniel and the tech.

"As far as we know only two wraith ships knew where earth was and they were both destroyed." Landry said. "Wait, that isn't right…" Vala jumped in. Landry looked at her annoyed at her interruption. "Sorry Sir, but that isn't right. The ships were destroyed but the expedition was able to change most of the wraith into humans and deposited them on some planet."

"But Col. Sheppard destroyed them…" the General slowed down and his eyes widened. "Michael survived so maybe others did as well."

"Right, Sir" Vala said.

"Okay, I'll assign a team to look into anyway a wraith could have gotten her from the Pegasus Galaxy. Dr. Jackson you and Vala are going back to your apartment." Daniel blanched. "Don't worry Doctor, a team will be guarding you all the time and I'm sending both Teal'c and Col. Mitchell with you. Let's see if this wraith shows himself again."

10 hours later.

General Landry got up from the small bed in one of the bases guest quarters. The wraith thing was keeping him from going home and he needed to check up on what was going on with SG-1 and SG-14 at Dr. Jackson's apartment.

He went up the stairs and came into his office through the side door. He sat down at his desk and was about to pick up the phone for a status report when Walter came in. "Sir," Walter addressed Landry, "SG-14 just checked in and it is all clear."

"Okay, fine, tell them to sit on it a while longer."

At Daniel Jackson's Apartment

Mitchell and Teal'c were sitting in the truck down the street from Jackson's apartment and SG-14 where in the building across the street, and in the empty apartment below Jackson's. This way two man teams could get to the wraith at different intervals were ever he appeared.

"So, what do you think this wraith is playing at?" Cameron asked Teal'c. "I have no idea what the Wraith it playing at." Teal'c answered.

Cameron was very board waiting for something, anything to happen. Then his cell phone rang. Teal'c looked at Mitchell, "Are you expecting a call?" "No." Mitchell got the phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Cameron Mitchell."

"Col. Mitchell, will you care to join me in the alley behind your vehicle." Cameron looked at Teal'c, "Who is this?"

"I'm about 6' 1", weigh over 200 lbs, have long white hair and the most intriguing yellow eyes. Oh and I drain the life out of people through my hands…need I say more?" The voice was almost mocking. Cameron looked behind them and there was a figure in the shadow of the early morning by the alley way between two buildings.

Mitchell put the phone back to his ear. "Okay, sure, just give me a moment." The line hung up after Mitchell finished his sentence. "Teal'c call SG-14 have the guys in the other building get around to the other end of the alley."

"Are you going into the Alley, Col. Mitchell?" Teal'c asked.

"Yah, I am."

"Very well."

Mitchell got out of the car and started moving to the Alley. He was three steps away when something grabbed him from the back of his jacket and he felt like he was flying through the air. Then OH he landed rather hard onto a surface. He rolled and tried to get to his feet.

"Time is of the essence, Col." A voice with a kind of strange echo not unlike a Goa'ulds' sounded behind him. He turned and a wraith, a wraith wearing what looked to be a blue Brooks Brother's suit stood not a foot away. "Thank you for meeting me but there is not time for us to get to know each other or exchange witty banter…Col. Are you listening?"

Mitchell was still trying to get his bearings, where they on the roof of the other building. "Col. I assure you your people will not get here before I make my escape. You should have had one of those…helicopters, yes helicopters if you actually wanted to capture me…" he was cut short when Teal'c burst through the door leading to the roof of the building. His P-90 shot several rounds scoring the wraith in the chest. The beast didn't fall but grabbed Mitchell and placed him between him and Teal'c as a human shield.

"Well done Jaffa, I forgot your kind had such physical prowess, and I should have expected nothing but the best from a first prime." The wraith lifted Mitchell up and threw him at Teal'c who caught Cameron full in the chest and fell over. "I had liked this suit." The wraith ran past them and as Teal'c and had gotten to his feet he saw the wraith leap off the edge and onto another building and again until dropping out of sight.

Mitchell got to his feet, "That could have gone better?"

Chapter 3

Mitchell and Teal'c headed back to Jackson's lab. Mitchell had kept going on about how fast the damn wraith was. "Mitchell, I believe you have repeated that the wraith was indeed very fast and strong and scary." Teal'c finally stopped Mitchell.

"Sorry, T" Mitchell opened the door to the lab. "Any word from Atlantis on this?"

"I do not believe so. The General said they were as perplexed as we."

"Let's hope Jackson has come up with something." Daniel was at a computer and Vala was wandering around the lab. "Any luck Campers?"

"No," Vala answered.

"Jackson?" Mitchell asked.

"I'm leaving the spaceship idea to the techs. But I'm hoping that maybe his choice of clothing might lead us to something."

"Like what?" Mitchell looked over Daniel's shoulder.

"Well think about it, he shows up to us looking like he came out of the mid-west with that jacket and the second time he is wearing a…Brooks Brothers suit, if I got what you said correct."

"Yah, Brooks Brothers," Mitchell said, "My dad has one. So anything?"

"No. Except that either the wraith is killing people for their cloths or he has money, but you would think that a wraith wouldn't be able to go shopping to a tailor."

"How about how he got my cell phone number?"

"Yah," Daniel looked away from the computer. "He must be able to read English, and we both heard him check his language as if he was focusing on his choice of words. Why would a wraith dress like a human and try to learn common earth terms?"

"Daniel Jackson, did you do a search on the internet?" Teal'c interrupted both Mitchell and Jackson's musings.

"No," Daniel said. "Why?"

Teal'c stepped away from another computer and the screen was filled with a painting of their wraith. What was even more amazing was that he was dressed in the uniform of an Early Spanish soldier. "There are others like this as well." Teal'c stated as Cameron, Vala, and Daniel rushed to the screen.

"No, way, what is he wearing?" Vala asked.

"It is a uniform worn by Spanish soldiers, I would say 1500s."

Teal'c clicked the mouse, "And these, Daniel Jackson." The window collapsed showing another window with rows of tablets and portraits, even engravings on vases and plates. They were from all eras, from every part of the world, and they all had one thing in common, the image, some closer than others, of a humanoid being with a prominent brow and fangs. The ones with color showed varying degrees of skin tone but there was no mistaking it, it was all the same wraith.

"Oh my God." Mitchell quietly exclaimed. "What website is this?"

"I typed in 'wraith' and 'cloths' and that was the 2nd option." Teal'c answered.

"What was the first?" Vala asked quizzically.

"An ad for some sort of car."

"Oh," Vala said. She focused back on the screen, "Wow that is a nice one," she pointed to one that was rather colorful and looked like it had been done recently. It had the wraith wearing a black tunic and white cross down the front.

"That is the uniform for the Knights Hospital." Jackson stated.

"Who," Vala asked.

"They were early field doctors in the crusades. They were a religious order like the Templar but instead of being just warrior priests they were also early doctors, and trained ones, not just guys who liked to cut people up."

Another one was a tablet where the wraith was in a kind of makeshift Roman military uniform, except the cloth was painted purple instead of red as was common and he held a battle axe instead of Roman short sword.

"How far back do these go Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked.

"Uhhhhh," Jackson moved the window down, "This last one looks like a basic early Mesopotamian pot with a crude drawing." Jackson shook his head. "We got to show Landry this. If this is right, this wraith has been on earth for thousands of years."

Next day:

Landry sat at the conference table. To his right were Brigadier General Jack O'Neal, and several members of the IOA, as well as the Secretary of Defense. To his left was SG-1, now that Col. Carter was back from Atlantis and Lieutenant Col. John Sheppard. Landry knew that it was coming but he had been up for hours trying to get as much information as he could. The IOA started immediately complaining and making accusations the moment they heard of a wraith being on earth. But the latest information through the web-site as well as several others implied that their newest trouble had in fact been on earth for years, take that back, thousands of years.

"Are we sure there are no ships or invasion," Jack finally shut the IOA up.

"Yes," Landry said. "We checked the satellites over and over again, there is nothing. No way had he got through the gate."

"And Atlantis is the only gate capable of getting to earth," Col. Carter added. "There is no way the wraith got in on our end."

"And if the new material we found on line is accurate, than he has been here before the System Lords even found earth." Doctor Jackson finished.

"SO! What are we going to do?" A blond IOA member said in a way to feminine voice for a man.

"At the moment…" Mitchell got everyone's attention, "We wait, for him to contact us. He has done it twice, and he will probably do it again."

"So we just wait," A Chinese IOA woman representative asked.

"There isn't anything else we can do," Sheppard finally spoke up. "He's a wraith, he'll have to feed so we look for bodies that have been fed on. Maybe that will let us know where he is before he contacts us."

"I'm sorry Col." Jackson addressed Sheppard, "But if this guys been here all throughout human history, and we haven't noticed the odds of us finding his victims now is slim. He probably knows how to hide them by now."

"Fine, then I'll get Ronan and the rest of my team back here and we'll go wraith hunting. Ronan is really good at this kind of thing." Sheppard said. He liked Dr. Jackson but as far as anyone was concerned he and his people were wraith experts.

"Yes, that should be an option," the blond IOA man said again in his high feminine voice.

"I'm saying he is invincible, but maybe he is different from your average wraith," Jackson responded. "Think about it. The only other wraith that we know of to contact humans was your Michael after her escaped from the Atlantis Alfa site."

"Your point, Dr. Jackson?" Sheppard said, trying to hold out the irritation.

"Well, think about it, his behavior is more like the one wraith that has out maneuvered every attempt by Atlantis to get rid of him. Do you really think trying that with this wraith on a planet where he has the home advantage." Daniel seemed a bit more earnest about this idea than most. Except for the Goa'uld he didn't like dismissing any race because of what they were.

"Daniel, when did you start using sports lingo?" O'Neal asked.

"Jack!" Daniel said both relieved and annoyed by O'Neal's off the topic remarks.

"Sir, maybe we can do both." Col. Carter suggested. "We bring Sheppard's team here let them try and wait to see if the wraith tries anything."

"Why not?" O'Neal seconded.

The IOA reps also nodded their heads. The Secretary was as usual very quiet. Teal'c and Vala just looked around. Landry was all too happy to end the meeting. IOA made him feel uncomfortable.

In a few hours, Ronan Dex, Teyla Emmagan, and Dr. Rodney McKay were in the SGC. "So, where is this wraith?" Ronan said holstering and upholstering his weapon.

3 day later:

Vala was returning to the base with Daniel after a shopping trip, she had insisted on. "With any luck our wraith might show up to buy a new suit." Vala had said. She meant it as a joke but Daniel couldn't help but cringe at the possibility.

They still had about another mile to go when POW, a tire blew out. "Damn" Daniel said and pulled over to the side. He got out and took a look at the weal. It was the front left tire.

He turned to Vala, "I don't suppose you know how to use a tire iron?"

"A what?"

"Never mind. I guess I'll just call the base and tell them we are going to be late." He looked at the sky, it was getting dark.

He got out his cell phone and startled dialing. He dialed the base directory and held the phone to his ear. There was just static. He scrunched up his forehead. This was too coincidental. A motor was sounding coming down the road. In the fading light he saw a motorcycle and rider coming down. The rider was in a full leather suit with padding and a black helmet and visor. He knew who it was, there was no doubt in his mind.

The rider stopped and kicked the stand down and dismounted. He stood up and walked towards Jackson not saying a word. Daniel stood his ground. Vala popped out of the car and ran to Daniel's side. The figure kept coming step by step without saying a word. "Nice Bike." She said offhandedly, she also grabbed Daniel's sleeve in case they had to run.

The black biker stopped about six feet. "Thank you," came the muffled voice of the wraith. He reached up and took off his helmet. "I like it. Not as much fun as my BMW but still fun." He then flexed his legs and bend down into a squat and back up to stand. "Killer on my thighs. Been too long since I was in the saddle." He smiled and it looked like his yellow cat eyes were glowing.

Chapter 4

The lid to his coffin was heavy, too heavy. The burning in his elbows and shoulders got worse as the moments slipped by. Why so weak, he asked himself. Never so weak, his mind try to form thoughts and control the flow of information. Burning, must feed. Johnny, where is Johnny? Trapped, can not move the lid.

Even in the delirium of awaking from his slumber his natural instinct told him to get out of the small space. But he couldn't lift the lid. Then he heard the words. They were faint but they rang with familiarity and…and fear. The fog lifted from his mind and purpose filled his thoughts. He did not need to see the owners of the voices, he knew the words. And the words were death. Focused at his task, a scrawny weathered limb moved to the seal of the lid and started picking, bit by bit then chunk by chunk. The words became clearer as his mind's eye looked beyond the physical barriers. Many, many of them where here.

With considerable effort but a will tempered by ages his withered hand found the small space between lid and side. The joint, he needed to break the joint. His withered finger pushed at one end trying to unhinge it. No use. Again he tried. Still nothing. Finally taking hold of the small mettle between his fingers he pulled. The mettle twisted and broke away from the stone it was set in. It shouldn't have worked but he did not pay it any attention. With the hunger rising and the burning in his body screaming he reached for the lid again and pushed. There were those outside that needed…needed to be relived of their lives. PUSH!

He made his way to the surface of the water. Ocean, salt water. He broke into the early morning light and gasped in air. The light stung his eyes so he had to shut them. He squinted and found land not far off. With pained strokes he swam to the shore. The chanting was till going on. As he made it to land he tramped up the beach, letting sand be kicked up with out care.

Hunger, pain and duty all collided into a perfect union of focus. They were not far. Instinct drew him to them. Through the brush and the trees he went. He could see a clearing ahead and the chanting. The natural hunter warned him away from wandering out despite his need for sustenance and to silence those who chanted.

He crawled under the brush and peered out. So many, so many people. They chanted and danced in their revelry. The symbols of the great Mother were prominently displayed. Even if he was not starving he would have had to destroy them, they were an abomination, a mistake of the human race that somehow refused to die after every purge. In the name of the Lord Almighty He would cleanse the land with their lives.

A man, in a costume walked timidly on the outskirts. The weak die first. He moved among the trees and circled around. The man didn't have time to scream as his jaw was ripped from his face. The feeding hand extended and took hold of its prey and he fed. There was no prayer, no pity and especially…no…mercy.

He pulled the body under the cover of moss. Things were better now. His mind was clear, the pain in his body still lingered but his mind, what was most important, was able to take command. Where was he? He had been under water that was not where he had laid to rest. And this land was not where he had planed on awakening. Where was Jonathan and the others who swore to awaken him?

The chanting had died down. He wondered close to the edge of the woods and looked out at the heathens as they dispersed from their festivities. He hadn't taken notice of the smell but there had been a fire recently, a large one and…oh yes, the smell of flesh…

Questions on how he had arrived here and why were his carefully arranged plans torn asunder would have to wait. He was not safe here among these witches. He had thought that the purges in the colonies would have driven them away but these devil worshipers seemed to have come back in force during his rest. Not since the dark ages had he come across such a colony. Practitioners hid among communities, keeping their craft behind closed doors, but here…here they seemed to be the majority. Had he been delivered here to wreak holy justice on these abominations?

After the people disperse into the woods and along trails he ventured out. Yes, he smelled flesh, charred by fire. At the end of the clearing was a giant pile of burnt ashes and timber. And among those ashes were the blackened scull and little remaining flesh of the sacrifice. Fortunate enough these monsters sacrificed their own…wait. He law it and ventured into the ash and wood pile. What flames still burned did not hold fear for him. He reached out and lifted from the corpse's neck a cross. A Christian. This human had been a Christian…oh…the inhabitance of this colony would pay. It had been the revelry at this soul's sacrifice that had awakened him and now…now he would show these heathens what fear was all about. Damn them, damn them all…

That evening:

He had waited despite his hunger. He had left the body among the ashes. It would not serve to burry him now. No he would wait until the earth screamed for its soon to be massacred children. Let the Great Mother take what she will to her bosom it wouldn't be enough to save anyone tonight.

Things had changed, the structure of the buildings was sounder and materials different, neither iron, steal or lumber. Moving machines of metal that smelled of oil and gas were everywhere. He crept along the first house of this street. The roads were covered in a smooth rock that was not cobbled nor gravel. Silently he checked the door, locked, no matter. Moving to the side he hopped the small barrier fence and slinked along the grass garden to the dwellings back. An entrance covered by large glass seemed to be the primary entrance and exit for the rear of this dwelling. He examined it and figured that is moved from side to side instead of swinging, and it was unlocked. He slid the door open and closed it again behind him.

He waited for a moment as the sounds of the house's occupants drifted to him. His vision was perfect every angel, every turn was visible, and he could hear their harts beating. Up stairs, so many homes with a second and third level. This colony was wealthy in deed. He moved up one flight to the next and stopped on the landing. Several doors, all closed presented themselves to him. He turned to the far left, where he knew the adults slumbered. The door opened just enough to let him in. He remained low and watched, and took in every detail. Yes, this was the home of a witch; he saw a charm above the bed. He went to the man's side first. For this cult, women were most highly praised; they would be the ones he purify last. He placed both hand on the man's sleeping head and in one swift motion lifted and twisted, crack. Laying the head to rest on its pillow he moved to the woman's side. She would not go so quickly.

One hand clamped on her mouth to prevent her from screaming as she awoke and tried to struggle. He startled her pining her flaying arms and legs with his larger body. She looked up into his face and screamed but little noise escaped his clamp on her mouth. He let out a low hiss and barred his teeth, "Prey to your Mistress all you want, a son of Rome has come to your door." He said and then he fed and watched the life drain from her eyes. She was fortunate, he needed to feed or her death would have been far more painful.

The next was the room across the hall. He moved into it with less grace and silence. There asleep in a bed was a small child, a girl child. She was blond with long curls and a dimply face. She must have been about three seasons old. Old enough to be corrupted. He did not care for age. All the followers of the Goddess and the Devil would burn equally on the other side. Gently he picked her up and carried her out her window to the roof. Then he let her go…Perhaps she would be saved but probably not, it wasn't for him to judge the worthy from the damned. But he could judge them on this side.

The nights work repeated several times until he had taken enough into himself and his body was restored. Then instead of going slowly from home to home, family to family he found oil and torches and started to burn the streets. People ran everywhere and in their panic they missed their attacker as he grabbed them in the chaos and threw them into the flames. Others he rounded up and tied to stakes and then set ablaze. Many cried, mothers shrieked for their children who were dashed against walls and men tried to defend their families but were cut down by a true warrior. Those that he found who clearly led the community and tried to reestablish order he neither burned nor fed nor cut down. Now for them he rounded up and tied to one another. Then with the labor of digging a large hole he rolled them in and started moving the dirt back in.

Screams and curses were yelled through the night and mercy was begged for but never received. Some had stood their ground and clamed that the Goddess would punish this demon as he went to work lighting the fires. He ignored them; no goddess had power over him. And still others died even slower than by flame or the dirt. Others he decorated the beach with as their mutilated bodies hung limp from pikes he had fashioned from the trees.

By morning he sat down on the beach and took in his work. It had been a night of blood and horror. When was it last that he was called to make such a spectacle? The war with the French where he and English Colonists attacked for Wilderness. They had butchered the French and Indians alike. There was no pride in these acts. He looked on the bodies still moving trying to hold on to life and searched his feelings for something, anything that would allow him to take joy from this but no there was nothing. This was a duty, a dirty, bloody duty. He fed because he was hungry; he killed when he had to, in battle or in the execution of justice. What was done here was neither. Justice demanded their lives but the acts he performed were demanded by conscience. Let any man, woman or child that saw this land know that witches had been here and they had paid the price for their deeds. Perhaps others would be turned away and more souls would be saved. It was a small chance but everyman must do according to his conscience.

Now that the cleansing was all but done he went inland for the high priestess. An elderly woman, too frail to run or save her children. He walked into her large home and into her bed room where she sat poised like she believed her Goddess would save her from her fate.

He stood before her. He had listened to the people talk during the day so he knew they spoke a dialect of the King's English. "Your colony is dead, your children are dead, and all that you have is gone." He said this mater of fact. There was nothing to prove here and in truth he did not care what she thought, he wanted answers before he turned her over to the angels. "How is it that I find myself among your land?"

The old woman remained straight and silent. Reaching out his hand and an extension of his will he applied pressure to her mind and she started to flinch and lean to the left as if her left side was struggling to support her elderly frame. "How did I arrive here?" His voice was calm with out emotion. One way or another he would know and he had all the time in the world.

Chapter 5

The wraith looked Daniel in the eyes and then turned to Vala and his smile disappeared. His mouth was closed and his lips firmly pressed together. "Lady Vala, would you give me and Dr. Jackson a moment?"

Vala looked at Daniel and the wraith. "I would rather not…"

The wraith's stair turned a bit harder on her. It lasted for a moment then he focused on Daniel Jackson alone. Jackson wasn't sure but he felt as if something was applying pressure behind his eyes, not a head-ache but something. The wraith approached again and Vala squeezed Daniel's arm indicating they should move but Daniel didn't flinch this time. He wasn't being held but for some reason he wouldn't move his own feet. He knew this was happening but was powerless to stop it.

The wraith stopped when he was toe to toe with Jackson. He was taller by at least an inch or two and his eyes peered down never breaking contact. "What are you doing? Stop it, right now!" Vala said with as much force as she could but didn't try to move the wraith away from Daniel. What good would it have done anyway?

"Myrddin, don't you know me?" the wraith said while staring into Jackson's eyes. Daniel's brow furrowed, what, what about Merlin? He didn't answer; he knew it wasn't him that the wraith was talking to. After a moment the wraith stepped away. "Thank you, Dr. Jackson. I needed to know."

"Know what?" Vala asked and looked into Daniel's face for any sign of harm or acknowledgement.

Wow, Daniel had to take a step back to keep his balance. What the hell. He got his footing back he looked at the wraith in the leather outfit. "What do you know of Myrddin? What was that you just did?" He wasn't angry but the burning question had to be asked.

"I just needed to know if he was still there, in you." The wraith's voice was low, and almost mournful. "But he is gone." Then his face looked up and he turned to Vala and back to Jackson and beamed them a smile that showed all his sharp teeth. "I believe you need a new tire, allow me to oblige you." He went back to his bike, which now that they looked at it was a Harley Davison, big and black. He went into the bags and pulled out a power tool of all things and then went to work on the car. The jack came out of the back seat and the spare. In about seven minutes he had changed the tire in its entirety. Vala and Jackson just watched not sure if they dare move or not.

"There you have it Dr. Jackson, Vala…" the Wraith said standing up and putting his tool away.

"Okay, this game has gone far enough. Vala left Daniel's side and marched right up into the wraith's face. "Who are you? What do you know about Merlin? And why do you keep popping up?"

The wraith looked down at her and raised his brow. "My you have gotten bold."

"That isn't an answer." Vala was defiant and didn't step back.

"I remember hearing something about personal space and I think you are invading mine."

"Don't care, answer me, and what is your name, we just keep calling you wraith…what kind of name is that for a species anyway?"

The wraith smiled amused more than threatening. "So you've been talking about me, what do your compatriots say?"

"Don't try to change the subject. I'm a professional at that you can't kid -,"

"- a kidder." The wraith finished. "I like that saying but it is a bit nondescript. I prefer something with a bit more lesson, such as 'old age and treachery will always over come youth and skill.' What do you think?"

"Personal motto?"

"Kind of, yes."

While the wraith and Vala continued to exchange banter Daniel checked to see if his phone was working, it was still showing no signal but then his beeper buzzed. An idea. What ever was blocking the phone didn't affect the beeper. The small button on its side, a panic button that signaled the SGC immediately might still work. He pushed it and tried to remain calm.

"…So you saw my portraits, how do they look?" the wraith was talking with Vala about the website.

"I thought the one with you in the knight's outfit was fun but the pottery didn't do anything for me. Um are any of those pieces valuable?"

"Why yes, some of the earlier once are gold and the historical value alone would be astronomical to a museum or privet collector. As a mater of fact if you come across any of them do hold on to them for me, I can pay a generous sum."

"You don't have them?"

"A few, yes but over the years many were lost or taken. Material wealth is so hard to keep track of when you travel as much as I do. Some might say it is a burden but trust me, it is better to have than to have not."

"True…good points…" Vala saw the wraith's gaze turn from her and rise to look at Daniel.

"I'm afraid that our chat will have to wait till another time." The wraith said and picked his helmet from the back of the Motor Cycle. Not enough time, Vala heard the helicopters coming now and she knew cars wouldn't be far behind. The wraith looked up and back down the road. He knew it too; the bike wouldn't get him out of here. He turned to her and reached into his pocket. For a moment Vala thought he would have a weapon but he pulled out the bikes keys and placed them into her hand. "Enjoy. Rental info is in the bags. Paid up till Sunday." Then he dropped his helmet and taking something from the other bag on the bike he ran up the side of the hill and into the woods.

O'Neal had been in the SGC when Daniel's emergency signal went off. Instantly he called Col. Shepard and sent them in one of the vans that immediately exited the Mountain. He had guessed it right, the wraith was having a pattern and he seemed fixated on Jackson. This time he hoped it wouldn't be so lucky.

Ronan jumped into the truck as it pulled up and fell next to McKay who was pulling out a life-signs monitor that he brought back from Atlantis. "Can you find the wraith yet?" McKay nodded, "Yah he just came up on the screen. And I hope those two dots are Jackson and Vala."

"Okay, guys, Col. Mitchell and Teal'c are in the choppers and going to provide security and over watch. We have two marine squads with us but we are primary." Sheppard started briefing as the truck turned a corner on the road. "Ronan, take point, Teyla you protect McKay."

"Hey." McKay sounded indignant.

"Rodney, this guy has out maneuvered the SGC once lets not take any chances."

The cars turned another corner and soon they saw Jackson's car. Vala was sitting on a motorcycle and waived to them. "What do you think?"

"Where'd you get that?" Sheppard asked as his team exited their transport along with the marines in the other trucks.

"The wraith left it," Jackson answered. "He ran into the woods when he found out you were coming, I don't know how."

"Okay, we'll get him Dr. Jackson, don't you worry." Sheppard assured him, "Okay guys move out…McKay where to?"

"Col." Jackson grabbed Sheppard's attention again. "Bring him in alive, he knows something about Merlin."

"Dr. Jackson…" Sheppard was going to argue but saw the look in the man's eyes. "Okay, we'll do what we can. Ronan put that on stun."

The look Ronan gave Shepard could have killed if looks could do that but he flipped the switch and McKay told them where to go.

Sergeant James Wales was nervous as all hell. He had listened intently to the briefing on wraith and this scared the hell out of him. Forget becoming a host to some snake or being killed by the Ori, but to have the drained from his body, seemed unimaginable. Kind of made him think about every bad Vampire movie he ever saw.

To his left about twenty feet was Lt. Kent and to his Right another fifteen feet was Sergeant Sharp. They moved quickly and quietly through the dead leaves that covered the ground. Dr. McKay directed them through Radio and they moved to the left trying to circle around where McKay said the wraith was. He squinted and tried to see anything in the dark but nothing was visible. Should have been issued night vision.

He kept his weapon at the ready and kept his eyes open but there was nothing. "He is about thirty feet in front of you, can you see him," McKay's voice was over the radio in his ear. The Lt. answered no. Where was he? "He is coming towards your position; he is right on top of…" Sergeant Wales went flying back as something kicked him in the chest.

"What the – AHHHH!" the lieutenant screamed. Sharp started shooting but the fire stopped after only a few bursts. Wales got back up as fast as he could and pulled up his weapon, he must have been thrown 7 feet from where he had been. He had hit this tree – his arms were grabbed by something behind him and he was pulled backward, and the world spun as he was flipped over and once again thrown into the tree. His head snapped back and struck the trunk. His weapon…where was his weapon?

"Nice gun, I think I'll take it." The voice was low and kind of disembodied. He felt something be taken from his belt and his eyes opened and he saw the wraith for the first time up close. Its yellow eyes glowed as they focused on him. "Don't worry soldier, I'm not hungry."

There was an electrical sound and a colorful burst flashed behind the Wraith shoulder but it didn't hit the wraith. He rolled to the side a split second and Wales saw black.

Teyla, yelled for Ronan to stop firing. She left McKay's side to check the fallen Marine. "He is still alive." Her head turned back and forth the wraith had diapered again.

"McKay, where is he?" Sheppard's voice was heard somewhere to the left.

"There, there…" McKay pointed to the corner of Teyla's vision. Ronan started shooting into the bushes but McKay said he is moving again. He looked up. "He's right here, right here."

Teyla looked up just in time to see the wraith fall from a tree limb and land on top of McKay. Ronan kept firing. The wraith ran to the side and back to the left just ahead of each shot and plowed into Ronan. He carried Ronan through the trees and out of Teyla's sight.

Ronan saw him coming and kept shooting but the damn thing was just in front of each shot then POW, he felt the force hit him and lift him up as he went flying through the air. But instead of letting himself go free he grabbed the wraith and took him along for the ride.

The two of them went rolling over the ground and then down a hill until they plowed into a tree. Ronan tried to get his head up but the wraith threw him free and broke the already weakened grip he had on the leather clothing. He rolled to his feet ready for the wraith and drew his long knife. The wraith was in a fighting stance five feet away and his teeth bared in a snarl. Ronan saw the long curved blade in the wraith's back hand. The wraith changed grips on the blade shifting it sow it ran along his forearm.

Ronan charged and the wraith side stepped but intercepted the attempt to stab him from the side with his elbow. The wraith's blade went down and up to try and slice him open. But he turned away and felt the tip graze his stomach. The wraith also spun around and tried to punch him in the face but Ronan pulled his head back. He didn't see the wraith fallow through with the elbow of the arm he tried to punch him with. He felt himself flip over and land on is side, dislocating his shoulder. He managed to get up but not before he saw a booted foot kick him in the head.

Ronan took the blow but his still good arm shot out and stabbed the wraith in its leg with one of his backup knives. "Ah!" the thing shouted, and jumped back. He landed a few feet from where Ronan was still sprawled on the ground. He pulled the knife out and drooped it into the dirt. He gave Ronan one more look before someone started shooting from on top of the hill they had rolled down.

Sheppard ran to check Rodney. He was still breathing but he was out cold. He yelled for the Marines and two showed up right away and another two were heading from the other direction. "You two stay here, aid and liter…" Sheppard ordered and ran after Ronan and the wraith with Teyla and a third marine that just arrived. The cleared a small hill opened fire on the wraith when they saw him.

He saw the wraith stager but then disappear into the shadows again. They went down and Sheppard checked Ronan. "I'm okay, get him!" Ronan shouted.

"Okay, buddy, Marine stay here." Sheppard ran to Teyla, "Okay, do you sense anything."

Teyla took a moment, yes there was something. The wraith wasn't far. "This way." The two of them ran off again threw bushes and trees. The must have run about a quarter of a mile before an arm shot out of the ground under the leaves and caught Teyla from by the leg. She went down and the wraith emerged from the dead leaves covering him.

Sheppard tried to open fire but his hand was knocked away and he felt a sharp bite into his shoulder. A long curved blade had cut into his shoulder and scraped along it ripping flesh. If not for the protective vest it would have gone through all the way.

The wraith dropped and spun around kicking John's legs out and he went back and felon the wounded shoulder. He tried to see what was happening but the world was spinning.

Teyla got to her feet and pulled her own knife but the wraith charged and knocked her to the ground. He was on top and sitting on her. She couldn't move and he lifted up her torso and slammed it back down knocking the wind from her lungs. "You're different from the rest aren't you."

There wasn't time to answer, she raised her knee as much as she could and the wraith rolled off in a howl of pain. He cupped his crotch and gritted his teeth. "Nice, move…Human." The wraith recovered and got up, "But not effective. Think on how this could have gone."

The wraith then disappeared and ran into the woods.

Note: Hope this is okay. I am putting more chapters in one chapter so the story's size is more managable.