Chapter 7 Defiant
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis.
Warning: contains spoilers and an AU version of episodes Adrift and Lifeline from Season 4.
(Beta'd by Amaruk Wolfheart of the Wraith!)
The two – human and Wraith – stared at each other. The tension was growing. Even the forest's sounds stopped.
For a single moment Miranda saw what the Wraith was feeling. Hunger, a terrible pain, knowing that this human will kill him, but defiance overwhelmed the other emotions and thoughts.
'He knows he is going to die, but he is still defiant?' A wonder filled her mind.
Somehow she felt a respect and even sympathy for the Wraith. A thin line of black blood began to flow from his mouth, indicating unhealed internal damage. He ignored the blood and continued to look at her, ready to die.
She looked at the gun, then at the Wraith….
'Even a Wraith does not deserve such an end,' she decided, and put the gun back at her waist. The Wraith was observing her movements with surprise. He looked stunned when he became aware she would not kill him.
'I cannot kill him. I just can't!' Miranda thought, glaring at the suddenly confused Wraith 'But what to do with him? If I leave him here he won't be able to reach the Stargate and escape, not in his condition. If I inform the others he will be probably killed or kept as a guinea pig for the retrovirus! What do I do?"
The stunning silence was interrupted by the activated radio. "Dr. Langner, we saw three Wraith flying machines, bigger than darts. Colonel Sheppard decided to stop searching for the Wraith life sign and we are coming back to you. If you see any suspicious movements, fire at will."
She understood with relief that this solves her dilemma. Taking the radio she answered. "So far I haven't noticed anything to worry about, Ericson." Miranda turned off the radio and, taking a look at the Wraith, she asked,
"The Wraith that are coming… Are they your comrades or your enemies?"
He hesitated for a moment but answered. "The enemy cruiser was destroyed. My brothers are searching for survivors."
"That's good." She confidently turned and walked back to the Jumper. She was only few steps away when the Wraith spoke.
"Human!"
Miranda stopped and, turning around, faced the Wraith. He was still on the forest's leaf-covered soil. Lifting an eyebrow, she said sarcastically,
"Wraith?"
He threw her an unreadable look. Obviously wanting to figure out how to express his thoughts, he finally whispered, "Why didn't you kill me?"
She signed and just shook her head. "Because…" She looked at him. "I know how you feel. I could sense your hunger, your pain…." Miranda saw his astounded face. He seemed shocked. "And even you, a Wraith, don't deserve to end killed in the dirty mud."
A buzzing sound of approaching Wraith darts echoed a few miles away.
Miranda reached the cloaked Jumper seconds before Sheppard and the others returned. Without talking they walked into the Jumper and headed towards the sky.
Miranda was listening to the excited talk of the Marines with a blank expression on her face. Teyla and Sheppard were speaking to each other, looking at the tactic display. She saw how the Wraith flying machines, a little bigger than darts, hovered over the place in the forest that she has found her Wraith and a beam hit the ground.
'My Wraith? That's weird,' she thought with disbelief.
The Jumper reached space and Miranda focused her attention in opening a hyperspace window.
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