Alisha walked into the dimly lit room, nodding to the few people that littered it. In all the years she had been around they had never had more than a small handful. She had seen others come and go, and had learned to never grow attached. She glanced at her weathered hands as she sat. old. She was growing old. And in that moment she grow weary. She wished that she could continue growing old until she died. She wished she could not live another's life. And she wished in vain.
"she wishes to see you." there was never any doubt who SHE was. Not in Alisha's world. The guard walked with her through he mist shrouded halls, taking Alisha closer to the HER.
In the dark room Alisha waited. She did not flinch as she once had as the icy hand caressed her face.
"I have neglected you my pet." A voice cut through the darkness.
"Never." she breathed, as she always did.
"yes. But I never entirely forgot. My gift." the icy hand slammed into Alisha's chest. As pain ripped through her body, time sped backwards. Black hair once gray shot darkened and filled in. Lustrous black curls fell to mid back. Her skin firmed and unwrinkled. What had once been a middle aged battle scarred woman was a strong beautiful girl not yet into her twenties. Through this she locked her muscles allowing no weakness to show. Living on yet another's death Alisha had no time to grieve. She bowed and thanked the queen for the gracious gift. Back in her cell she would make another tally on the wall for another's borrowed time.
One way or another, it must end soon.
"Alisha today you get to serve me."
Alisha carefully arranged her features into joy and pride.
"anything my queen. Name my life and it be yours. Forever my will is bound to your wishes."
"my girl. You are almost alright for a human." she sneered the words insulting. Humans were vermin to be wiped out.
"you look so appetizing. One day I won't be able to resist. That day you will die." the queen sent her away with the usual threat. Taking her to the transport ships. They beamed her in as she stood in ragged clothes. As she lost all senses she heard the stargate activate. She began counting. Her mind never slept when beamed. Not anymore. She was aware of the disembodied emptiness. Her mind clung to counting.
Nightfall had reached the village when she arrived. She waited patiently for the screaming to start. Her mind never missing a second.
"the wraith." she screamed terror in her voice. "they cull. Follow me I know of a safe harbor." and that easily she had them rounded up. She took them to a open space. As the villagers noticed something off it was to late the wraith descended. And as they descended Alisha fled. Her count telling her that now was the only time. She dialed not caring which world she went to as the gate shut off she entered the last part and he tunnel appeared. She ran for her life and many others she had lived. A stray stun hit her back as she entered and she knew no more.
Coming awake she was fuzzy. She had never had this much trouble. She wandered if the queen had grown bored. Had finally given her to deaths embrace. She was not in her cell. And her actions hit her. She screamed. Fear couldn't be controlled. For this she would not be allowed to die. For this there was something worse. Her hands were firmly secured at her sides. She thrashed violently her eyes not yet past bleary shapes. Hands reached for her and she screamed louder begging to be killed peacefully. Voices shouted over her. It took her a moment for her confused mind to realized the hands were no the icy ones she had expected. She stopped. Simply stopped. Had she gotten away.
"that's better now isn't it." a warm female voice stated from above her. "look at her the poor thing she doesn't look able to run for long. I wonder what made them choose her." Alisha had no idea what she was talking about.
"I don't know. I have only ever heard of them running after males." a gruff voice answered. "I know what running requires. I doubt this girl could survive long."
"I agree." a smoother males voice said. "she looks young and vulnerable. Probably just started and wouldn't have lasted long."
"well obviously." yet another male said his voice arrogant.
"maybe her people are still alive. I could help her I know what she must be feeling."
"your safe now." the smooth voice said to her. "we took the tracking ship out and disabled it. Relax the wraith cannot harm you here." Alisha knew this for lies
"Teyla what do you think?" the smooth males voice questioned.
"something….. A moment." the voice sounded dreamy. A flutter at the edge of Alisha's mind.
"She was not a runner." the voice stated now fully awake and fearful.
"not sure I am following."
"she is old. Older than the legends have ever gone. I never knew…" the voice trailed off.
"Teyla breathe and finish the thought, you lost me."
"you once told me that you claimed to be a wraith worshiper to save your live. This girl is a living breathing one. And old. I was under the impression that they never lasted long. But imagine the wraith slamming herself into you for the longest time. Then imagine living in the hive with the flutter of the mind hive there always. And having years and years stretched back through time to adjust. Her mind isn't the same. She is old." the female said in wonder. Silence reigned.
Gathering the strength she cracked open her eyes. A group hovered over her.
Her eyes met only fear and wonder.
"she veils nothing. I can see most of her mind."
"And?"
"she ran away. She hated what she stood for there…. The queen… made…. She never wants to return and she wishes death." the female stated emotionlessly. The only waver came when she saw how the queen had tested her allegiance.
Alisha faded again. This time she woke to a cell. One she knew well.
Waking up this time was all at once. As she had for years she sat straight up, only to be brought done again be intense pain.
"shush. Lay still. They only just cut you open." the smooth voice said from the other side of the bars. "you are a pretty little thing."
Alisha just gazed. Still not sure this was real.
"well can I have a name?" the voice belonged to a man. His messy hair was pitch black and he had kind eyes. Eyes that still showed no trust.
"I'm only good at boys names but if this stays the same I'll have to give you one." the man warned.
Alisha still stared. She could never be trusted by these people. This she knew with certainty. She would act the same way if it was up to her.
"how bout Kate." he nodded to himself. "well Kate are you hungry?" he waited for the response. "well then I'll go get you some food."
He pushed himself of the bench he had been sitting on. Slowly she pushed herself into a sitting position. The blanket of the bed she had been ling on pooled around her. She had been changed into a weird form of dress. She wondered if all the people wore this strange apparel. The man was suddenly back carrying a tray of food and some folded clothe.
"I brought you some clothes to. Hospital gowns are not the most dignified. When you feel up to it you can change into them. But for now here is some food. Looks like today's choices are… well I'm not sure. But it'll be good. He opened to cage and put the items on the bed before her. Retreating he locked the door once more and sat back onto the bench. They sat for hours Alisha never moved. The food enticed her but she refused. Eventually the man left. She cleared the food from the bed and managed to pull the clothes into the right places.
'free.' the word played over in her head. Somehow she couldn't quite come close to believing it.
she woke up the next morning to her cage opening yet again. This time it was the first lady who had spoken not the wraith lady.
"my name is Jennifer." she smiled warmly. She had another tray of food. "john said your name is Kate so Kate here is breakfast."
She watched as Alisha sat up no pain involved today. To Alisha's surprise she sat on the other end of the bed and put the tray between them. "I brought mine here as well so we could eat together." she picked up a metal thing and pushed some food onto it.
"it's good the cooks made pancakes today." she put the food into her mouth and chewed. "you know that if you don't eat I'll feel awkward. It really is good and you do need to keep the strength up."
Alisha watched as the lady ate she finished part of the food and looked at Alisha.
"why wouldn't you eat?" she asked clearly not used to unwilling patients. Every meal time someone else brought food and tried to get her to eat. The wraith lady took two days to get to her turn.
she carried the tray and set it on the bed standing back.
"Kate…." she paused. "I…"
"is this Atlantis?" Alisha cut in.
"yes."
"but they are not the Ancestors." she stated.
"no. they are long dead. But these are the people that descended from them."
"then they are the cause of the awakening."
"yes…."
"they woke my sleeping queen. I had hoped she sleep until my death." Alisha said looking down.
"Why would…"
"459."
"I'm sorry." the wraith lady asked.
"the number of times I have let another die in my place. The number of people who's lives I have stolen and lived, they died so that I could kill more. I was the queens toy my life stretches so far back I remember the siege that led Atlantis to sink to the ocean depths. I will give these people the only thing I have. My life for theirs."
"maybe you have something else to give back."
"no nothing."
"You have information. You know the enemy help us fight to make sure no one else will have to die."
"fight with people that could never trust me."
The wraith lady fell silent.
"I trust you. You are similar enough to the wraith that I can see into your mind. I know."
"did you see… what she made me do?"
"yes."
"I couldn't take the pain any longer. I did what I had to, to survive. I was young."
"I know. Let them have a chance to trust you. They are a kind people."
She picked up the metal item and took a bite.
"thank you." the wraith lady said and left.
"Bacon." the man said proudly throwing open the cage.
Alisha let confusion show. Bacon wasn't a familiar word.
"we have bacon today. Fresh from earth. Real bacon. So Kate you talked to Teyla yesterday will you talk to me today?"
"it's Alisha."
"see not so hard is it."
"no." she carefully picked the bacon up and put some into her mouth.
"better than the weird things the wraith have been feeding you it's got to be." she smiled tentavialy.
"I don't know they spend oh so much time cooking for their human pets." she stated taking another bite.
"oh I'm sure they value them very much." and for the first time it truly hit her. She knew she was free. She wasn't a pet. She was human and she would die before going back. Things went fuzzy.
"Alisha." she heard John calling her. "Jen I need you here now."