Jennifer spent days treading a fine line between looking like she was achieving something whilst ensuring that she was producing nothing that would gain these Wraiths an advantage. Hoping that by buying time the others would come to her rescue. But after the second day the hope of a rescue was fading. As was the hope there were others from Atlantis on this Hive. By the time she reached day five she was beginning to believe that her friends on Atlantis had either given up hope of finding her or really believed she was dead. As those thoughts grew her fear spread. As it spread her ability to concentrate on faking her work deteriorated. Instead she spent hour after lonely hour in the lab losing hope.

"What progress have you made?" The Commander demanded as he entered the lab.

"It'd be easier with equipment I'm used to." Jennifer replied, hoping to continue stalling the Commander, but sensing the Wraith's anger she nervously added. "Or at least give me someone who can explain these symbols."

Snarling the Commander walked up to Jennifer and heaved her to her feet. Bearing his teeth he said.

"I warned you that there'd be consequences if you tried to trick me or resist me. If I thought you were stupid you wouldn't be here. So I'm forced to think you are stalling because you believe your people will come for you, despite me telling you they believe you're dead. There will be no rescue for you. You will serve me until you die. You have two days to show progress or I will demonstrate that you are truly alone."

Jennifer spent the following two days trying to come up with something that would look like progress that would not give the Wraith faction any advantage. She also increased her efforts of finding out where she was so she could plan an escape.

When the deadline finally came the Commander entered the lab. However, instead of asking Jennifer about her progress he shoved her to one side and reviewed her work himself.

Jennifer nervously watched as the Commander grunted and snarled his way through her findings. After what seemed like an eternity the Wraith stood and walked past Jennifer. As he reached the door he looked to the guard and ordered.

"Bring her."

As the guard grabbed her, Jennifer felt an overwhelming feeling of dread. Dread that built as she was roughly dragged through the labyrinth that made up the Hive.

As she was dragged she began to wonder if she was being taken on a deliberately circular route as every corridor seemed indistinguishable from the previous. Eventually the guards came to a stop in a large, busy room, which Jennifer guessed was the bridge. As the guards pushed her onto her knees the commander approached her and said.

"Had you done what I demanded you would have decreased the number of Wraith in the Galaxy making it safer for humans. Instead you have tried to mislead me due to false hope. Hope that I will destroy once and for all. And in doing so I will cement my faction's place as the most powerful Wraith in the Galaxy."

Part of Jennifer's brain imagined Sheppard standing next to her giving a sarcastic response to the Wraith's dreams of grandeur. However, the other part could not escape the present and forced her to look at the central display. As she did so the spine chilling realisation of where they were set in.

"Ah good." The Wraith sneered. "I see you recognise where we are."

Although most of Jennifer's travel to and from Atlantis had involved the Gate, once Lorne, in an attempt to cheer her up after another off-world mishap, had taken her up for a sightseeing tour of the system. Back then she marvelled at how beautiful and peaceful the planet had looked. She had been filled with excitement and awe. But now, the sight of the planet, home to her friends, caused raw fear to rush through her veins.

"While you have been conspiring with the traitor I have been building stealth technology. You're people don't even know we're here. The first clue they'll get is when the missiles tear through the sky and rip to pieces your precious city." The Wraith went on, although Jennifer struggled to hear him over her thumping heart.

The commander then yanked Jennifer to her feet and forced her to stand facing the central screen. Standing behind her and holding her in place he leaned forward and whispered. "Remember, what is about to happen is your fault. Their blood is on your hands."

"No. Please no." Jennifer pleaded, the panic building inside her. "I'll give you what you want."

"Yes you will." The Wraith sneered. "But first you shall watch your home, your people and your friends perish." With that he nodded to one of the other Wraith on the bridge who tapped at a console in front of him. Moments later Jennifer saw hundreds of projectiles heading towards her home.

"Please, call it off." She begged. Her pleas only causing the Commander to laugh.

She watched, whilst continuing to plead, the projectiles stream down to the city. As they progressed the central screen zoomed in, allowing Jennifer to see more and more detail. She saw Atlantis standing in all its glory, unprepared and unknowing. She helplessly looked on as the first projectiles started to hit their targets. The control tower demolished within seconds, then the hanger bay. She was forced to watch as each missile hit the city, destroying more and more of her home. Soon the flying debris caused by the explosions caused a dust cloud, which blocked her seeing first hand any more destruction. Instead all she could see were the steady flashes of light, indicating explosions.

"Commander." A Wraith called after what seemed like an eternity. "We are detecting no more life forms on the planet."

"Good. Keep firing just to be sure." He added. Although Jennifer had her back to him, she could sense his evil grin as he held her in place, watching the screen.

As the seconds ticked by the flashes decreased in rate and the dust began to disperse allowing Jennifer to glimpse at what remained of her home. On seeing the nothingness that remained all hope drained from her system. Her heart beat so fast her blood pumped loudly through her ears allowing her only to hear its roar. The shock was quickly replaced with despair and desperation at what she had caused. She tried to focus, but the roar of her blood was distracting and her throat felt so tight it was as if she was being strangled. She tried to breath, but it was as if something was stamping down on her chest. She felt her knees go weak and realised it was only the Wraith commander that held her upright. She could still make out his grip on her arms, a grip that seemed to be getting tighter and tighter. A tightness that her chest seemed to mirror. A tightness that was stopping her breathing. Just before the world went black Jennifer saw one final glimpse of her destroyed world.


A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up over the weekend.