Teyla felt warm and comfortable. Her mind drifted happily among her dreams and memories calling up pleasant experiences. There was something outside this happy existence nagging her. She didn't want to acknowledge it, but it was becoming more persistent. The last thing she remembered was fighting the wraith so the people in the tunnel could escape before it was collapsed and isolated from the rest of the tunnel system.

There was an awful smell around her, something the dreams couldn't completely cover up. Teyla became alert, wakeful, yet unable to breach into consciousness. She began to panic slightly. She tried more forcefully to wake up, aided by her heart rate which seemed to increase. This was like no other time she had tried waking up. It felt as if she were immersed in warm water with her arms tied behind her back, trying to float her way to the surface.

Her eyes opened briefly, but closed again. What she saw during that brief moment etched into her mind, the image remaining even after her eyes had closed again. What she saw horrified her.

She was standing upright, looking out of an alcove in the wall. Across from her, a body, a decayed husk stood upright. She had seen this before, only from the outside. This looked like the inside of a wraith hive ship.

She willed the image to go away. Perhaps this was all a bad dream. She opened her eyes again, but the same scene was before her.

Her mind delved into desperation. She tried to call for help, but her lips remained sealed, yet in her mind's eye, she called loudly.

"Help!," She called into the ether of her mind. "Anyone!"

Voices responded, a multitude of voices, all of them ignoring her and going about their business. The voices grew louder all around her as if she were weaving through a crowd of people.

"Please!" she called, "somebody!"

This time, the voices quieted. Everything around her becomes dark and quiet. She was no longer stuck in that stasis pod, but standing somewhere private and comfortable.

She became aware of someone standing behind her. She wanted to turn around to see who it was, but was afraid to. The presence seemed to sense her fear and moved away, but remained nearby. She wanted to see who it was, but it was as if she couldn't move, she could only look straight ahead.

The presence spoke, not with audible words, but with feelings.

"Don't be afraid. Someone will be sent to help you."

Teyla wondered who was speaking. She tried to turn around but was prevented as if she couldn't move in that way. She decided to just stay still and calm, not wanting to return to the stasis pod.

"Do as they ask. You will not be forced to betray your values or your people," it said inaudibly.

The presence remained there, but did not speak any further. Teyla didn't know the identity of this person, but it seemed to want to reassure her.

Was this just a dream?

Suddenly she was forced from that place. Her eyes jolted open, and she was tossed back into reality as someone is tossed into cold water.

In front of her, a wraith stood at eye level with her. Its yellow slit type eyes glaring widely at her. It hissed at her in disgust.

Teyla didn't have time to prepare for anything. Her heart slammed in her chest and her breaths were short and hurried. Her mind kept repeating, 'this is the end.'

She fell forward out of the stasis pod onto the cold soft floor in front. She collapsed, unable to move, staring at the feet of the wraith which was still standing over her.

"You are well enough to move now," it said in a grating double toned voice. "Get up."

The wraith grabbed Teyla and forced her to her feet. Her entire body was tingling pins and needles, but she found herself being pushed down a hallway, clumsily putting one foot in front of the other.

The hallway was long, lined with stasis pods just like the one she'd been in.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, her voice hoarse and cracked.

The wraith didn't answer, but only pushed her again. It took considerable effort not to fall down as she stumbled.

As she was being led through the ship, she saw that all the walls, floors and ceilings looked the same. The hallways were cave like, but instead of rock, the floors and walls were some dark colored soft material, slimy in appearance but leathery to the touch. The light was dim, alternating between orange in some parts, and blue in others.

Teyla tried to calm down, thinking of the other times she had been in a similar situation. She thought of all the times she and her team escaped from wraith captivity, but weight of the situation fell on her. She was alone now and there was nobody looking out for her.

Teyla couldn't keep track of how far they'd walked. She tried looking out for landmarks, or possibly means of escape, but nothing seemed to follow a straight line. Also, her mind was acting slowly. She tried to brush off the drowsiness, but couldn't. It occurred to her the stasis pods might inject a sort of drug to keep their occupants calm.

The hallways became wider and taller as they walked. The macabre atmosphere of the other parts of the ship became replaced by what seemed like decoration. The usual black slimy walled hallways were replaced by those with patterns of colored decoration.

Teyla was led through a large doorway into a large hall. She looked upward. The ceiling reached farther than the light from the walls could reach, causing it to look like a black abyss. The wraith leading her jerked her shoulder backward, ordering her to stop. She looked behind her, wondering what was happening. Two drones moved to block the exit, while the one who was leading her stood at attention.

Two wraith occupied the center of the room, one was standing, and the other was sitting in what looked like an elaborate chair. The one standing was male, wearing a long black leather overcoat. His appearance was typical of what she had seen other wraith wearing. The identity of the other wraith was immediately apparent to Teyla. It was the hive's queen.

The two of them seemed to be involved in a whispered argument. Teyla could barely hear the words being spoken, and what she did hear sounded like a rough guttural speech. She supposed it was a wraith language.

The queen became suddenly agitated and raised her voice at the other. The other departed swiftly, seeming to smirk contently as he walked. The drones moved out of the way, clearing the exit for him. The one who had been speaking with the queen slowed his pace and regarded her momentarily before passing out of sight.

The queen's attention went toward Teyla. She rose from her throne and walked fluidly toward her. The queen regarded her, her yellow slit type eyes showing arrogance and haughtiness. Her pale bluish green face was absent of any markings which were common on other wraith. Her hair was black, and went straight down to her shoulders to which Teyla's eye level just exceeded.

The cold damp air made her want to shiver, yet she suppressed it. She straightened her back and tried to appear defiant, not allowing fear to show through.

"She will be adequate," the queen said with a tone of disgust. She gestured to the other standing behind her who she heard move and exit the room. The queen began to pace slowly around her.

Teyla wasn't sure what this wraith wanted with her, but she very much disliked being referred to as if she were some common trading item.

"Do you know why you have been called here?" the queen asked.

"I do not," she responded, her voice still hoarse.

"You are here because I am in need of a servant."

"Why me?" she asked, trying her best to sound unafraid.

"I desired someone with your profile. I described what I wanted to one of my subjects, and ordered him to retrieve one from among the recent arrivals. Additionally, we are aware of your actions in the tunnel system on Mistra."

"I will not serve you," She said bluntly. "I will die before serving you." Surely torture was the result of that attitude, but serving wraith was one thing she would never do.

"You have the spirit of a warrior," the queen said, "such is what I desired in choosing a servant for myself."

"I won't be your servant!" Teyla said, her voice hoarse to the point that she spoke no louder than a whisper. "I will die!"

The queen stepped closer to her, her face only inches from her own. "You will not," she said, showing off her sharp predator teeth. "You will do as you are told."

She resumed pacing. "In any case, I have ways of swaying your feelings, but I believe that will not be necessary."

"I will not sway," Teyla said loudly and confidently.

"Take her," the queen said abruptly. The wraith behind her pushed her again, leading her away from that place, further through the ship into a hallway lined with prison cells. The door of one of the cells parted open to admit her.

The wraith shoved Teyla inside, throwing her on the floor, the door closing quickly before she could protest or make a move to escape. She sat still for a time, cold, shivering and unsure what to do with herself.

This part of the ship was very quiet, which bothered her. The silence seemed to be a form of torture, although that may have simply been the circumstances making it seem that way.

_-iIi-_

Rodney stopped in front of the fruit stand and set his tray down on the counter. He made a face upon seeing the selection of fruit. There was nothing but canned fruit imported from Earth. He missed the fresh vegetables and fruit which they had been growing on the mainland. Apparently the seasons wouldn't allow growing crops continuously, so they were experiencing a shortage in fresh food.

Disappointed, he picked up his tray and walked off to find a table outside. He stepped through the doors leading to the balcony off of the dining hall. Outside, the Lantean sky was light blue and hazy.

The colonel was sitting off in a corner by himself. He couldn't remember seeing Sheppard since the news about Teyla's disappearance, and debated whether he should go ask about any new leads or developments.

Curiosity won out, and he walked casually over to where Sheppard was sitting.

"Want some company?" he asked brightly. Sheppard didn't even move and continued staring out over the ocean. He turned his head and looked out over the water to see if he could spot whatever had the Colonel's attention. Despite searching diligently, he couldn't see anything.

He sat down tentatively, afraid that his presence might be suddenly unwanted.

"So uh…" He started, clearing his throat to buy time to find something to say.

Sheppard still didn't look at him.

"How's the-you know-coming along?"

"No leads yet Rodney," Sheppard deadpanned. "If we had found anything, you'd be one of the first to know."

"Right," he said awkwardly. "I mean, I'm sure you know I'm almost as anxious as you are to-to find her."

"How bout you?" Sheppard asked.

"Hm?" he said, wondering what the Colonel was referring to.

"How's the search for your super-weapon coming along?"

"Oh, uh, it's going along. I've developed a program which will search the most remote parts of the database to look for potential hits."

"What exactly are we talking about?"

"Well, to be honest, and this is one of the few instances where I'll say this, but I don't know. It was something the Ancients spent a lot of resources on, we know the date of all the known records coincides with the start of the Lantean-Wraith war, but other than that we have no Idea."

"Sounds pretty big," Sheppard said. "I really hope it pans out for you Rodney." he sighed deeply. "I really hope those bastards get what's coming to them."

"It's really bothering you isn't it?"

"Yeah," Sheppard said, finally turning to face Rodney, "It is. I don't know why I should care so much about it, I mean we're not even from this galaxy, these aren't our own people." He gestured his hands around and scowled, as if he were trying to portray his emotion. "I just can't rest knowing what's happening to these people, what happened to Teyla, Ford, Sumner, and all the rest."

"Well, It may surprise you, but I also, feel the same way about it. I mean," he stammered, "I uh, that is to say, "I have the same sentiment, I just go about it in a different way."

Sheppard was a military man, and a man of action, whereas he was a scientist, and a man of learning. They probably both felt the same way, but they addressed their desire to do something in very different ways.

Both of them sat there silently for a time. Finally Sheppard stood up and walked away, leaving Rodney to eat his turkey sandwich.

_-iIi-_

As evening time rolled around, Rodney wandered in the direction of his laboratory. He decided it might be good for inspiration to walk the long way instead of taking the transporter. Most of the ship was vacant in the space between transporters, leaving plenty of peace and quiet to think.

He walked along the hallway leading from the central spire to one of the adjacent buildings. The sun shone through the south-west facing windows, causing specs of dust in the air to reflect, probably because the ventilation in that section was left off in order to conserve power.

He thought of his conversation with Sheppard earlier that day. Seeing Sheppard like that really disturbed him. Normally the man was calm and lighthearted, even after some of the most extreme circumstances they'd been in as a team. His reaction to Teyla's disappearance made Rodney examine his own emotions and motivations.

When he first heard Teyla had gone missing, he was concerned, but he didn't think it was important enough to go along for the rescue mission. After all, Sheppard and Ronon could probably handle it alone. Instead he stayed behind and continued working on his stupid project, thinking she could take care of herself.

"Well, they did handle it by themselves," Rodney said quietly to himself. "She wasn't even there! And this isn't a stupid project; it's probably one of the most important things I've worked on to date." "Still," he sighed, "I feel like a jerk."

"Probably because you are a jerk," he said in third person. "You should have gone along with them, at least to search."

"What?" he said loudly, "I am not a…"

One of the expedition's engineers walked out of a doorway right where Rodney was carrying on talking to himself. The man slowed and glanced strangely at him, then continued on his way.

Rodney stood still, embarrassed and unsure if he should try to explain what he was saying. He groaned, fully expecting to catch crap about the incident later from Zelenka or one of the other scientists.

Rodney poked his head into the room the technician had been working in. Inside, were what looked like ancient washing machines. Their design looked like they worked almost identically to Earth made appliances. He supposed there was only so much improvement you could make to something like a washing machine. After a certain point, it just works.

An idea came to mind, spurred on by seeing the ancient washing machines. He dismissed it and smirked to himself. The smirk faded, his slight amusement replaced by inspiration and excitement. He ran out of there and bolted through the hallway toward the nearest transporter. He slowed down after only a few dozen steps when his side began to hurt.

"Ow, ow, ow," he said as he limped along. He was too excited to stop; he had just found a way to solve his problem!

_-iIi-_

Teyla awoke as though startled. She opened her eyes and stared straight ahead; from that she could see she was lying on her side. Across from her was the wall of her small cell. It was as if the walls in their macabre sliminess were reminding her that she was trapped, that she was a prisoner here. Her ability to sense wraith nearby had dulled with the presence of so many. There was no longer any effect from it, just as had happened the last time she'd been aboard a hive ship.

She sat up and pushed herself over to the side of the cell. She touched the wall, testing it before resting her back against it. It felt solid, warm, and leathery rather than slimy like it appeared.

The burden of her situation came crashing down on her. She was more than a prisoner, she had been chosen as a servant. The emotions of fear, the separation from her family, all built up, too much for her to handle. She began to weep, but not audibly. She stared at the ground as the tears ran down her cheek, falling on the ground beside her.

There was no call for this. Her friends in Atlantis, her family would not give up so quickly! They would be looking for her; they would find a way to save her.

She resolved that she would disappoint her new 'masters.' Whatever they demanded she do, she would refuse. She noted the torture they could make her endure, but she resolved to stay strong to the last.

But what if she couldn't endure it? What if the wraith were able to cause someone to succumb to their will involuntarily? Would they take it as far as to crush her spirit to the point where there was nothing of her remaining? She had seen what methods the wraith could employ to force someone into servitude. She had seen how their minds could be altered, as if their spirit had been fragmented, leaving only the parts the wraith wanted to see. She willed to think of herself as stronger than that, but was she really?

"I will endure," she said softly, her voice echoing through the area.

What seemed like hours passed, and she was becoming very hungry. She had no idea how long she'd been kept in stasis, or how long she'd been waiting there. The stress of the situation was taking its toll on her body and she was finding herself almost unable to stay awake. She must have not slept very long earlier. That sleep must have been forced, an after effect of stasis.

The ether of silence was removed by footsteps approaching. She stood up, readying herself for whatever approached.

This time, a man, a human approached in the cell doors, behind him, two drones stood armed. The man looked younger, possibly in his thirties. His hair was short and dark colored and well combed. He was carrying something in his hands. He touched something on the wall, causing the door to open.

"Who are you?" she demanded, "What do you want?"

"I am here to ensure you are aware of what's expected of you," he said, his tone bored and matter of fact. He tossed the things he was carrying on the floor. The sound they made as they hit the floor told her that they were clothes.

"If these sizes don't fit, we have others to choose from."

Teyla looked at the clothing disgustedly, knowing where they must have come from.

"No," he said, smirking, "That's not where the clothing is sourced; these have never been worn before." Her disgust must have shown, and she made it a point to not allow her emotions to be read so easily. "In any case, I am here to acquaint you with your responsibilities."

"And what is that?" Teyla asked, uncertain what to make of this new person.

"You have been chosen by the queen to be her personal servant, that is essentially it, along with a few other things like tending to her every whim." He paused, rolling his eyes upward. "Accommodating unwise requests," he said, seeming to address the ceiling.

"On a more serious note," he continued, his face becoming very serious and his tone becoming more quiet. "Your experience from this point depends entirely on you. If you choose to be defiant and uncooperative, you will be miserable, and you won't ever see the outside of this cell. However if you choose to do as your told, you will be allowed certain privileges and freedoms."

"I will no.." Teyla began.

"Don't!" he interrupted, "I really don't want to hear it. Just promise me that I won't have to see you in this cell anymore."

Teyla stopped cold, mid-sentence. This man's wish to not see her locked up surprised her. She wondered if his wish was a desire to show kindness, or something else