Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has commented on this story! I'm glad y'all are enjoying this. Just a warning…there is a Character Death coming up. (It's not a good guy, if that matters to you.) Consider yourself warned! And as always, enjoy!
No no no no, John's mind screamed as he hid behind the boulder again. If Michael was already there, that means he had already intercepted Teyla. Though he looked as though he was alone, Sheppard knew Michael could have an army of his super bugs waiting out of his line of sight. They would have to be careful.
He shot a look at Ronon, trying to silently come up with a plan. Four Marines, a Satedan, a scientist and a medical doctor was hardly a match for one of his creatures, let alone a group of them. Damn, he thought, they should have been prepared for this.
"You can come out, Colonel Sheppard. I smelled you and your friends the moment you stepped from the gate," called Michael from behind the boulder. John could swear the wraith was almost laughing at them.
He cursed inwardly. So much for the element of surprise, he thought bitterly. He turned to Ronon. "Do not harm him in any way until we find out where Teyla is."
Ronon considered this. John knew all the man in front of him wanted to do was kill Michael; Ronon's finger was still on the trigger of his gun. Finally he nodded. "Fine, but once we know where she is, I make no promises."
John knew that was the best he would get from Ronon. He looked at Carson who paled at the sound of Michael's voice. Though part of him still blamed the doctor for Teyla's condition, Carson was still his friend. "You ok?" he asked quietly.
The Scot nodded. "Aye, I knew there was a chance we would see him. I'm alright, Colonel."
John nodded. They couldn't waste more time; Teyla needed them. Taking a deep breath, he led his men from behind the boulder. As they approached Michael, John could see that the wraith was near the ledge of a cliff. Looking in the valley below, John could make out buildings in the distance.
"Where's Teyla?" he asked.
To his surprise, Michael laughed. "Don't you want to inquire as to how I am doing?"
Ronon pointed the gun at Michael's head. "No."
John pressed his lips together. "I wouldn't piss him off. People usually end up dead that way. Now, where is Teyla?"
"She is safe, I assure you. She is in the best place she can be to have her offspring," answered Michael elusively.
"And that would be?" Rodney asked.
"In a medical facility building, of course," Michael answered simply.
John blanched. "You mean she's in a Wraith hospital?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"Well, if you don't mind, I think I would prefer for her to be on Atlantis in our infirmary," John said sarcastically.
"I am sure you are aware that I do not intend that let that happen," Michael responded.
Sheppard looked around. "Where are your bodyguards anyway?" At his confused look, he added, "You know? You're super bug friends."
Michael frowned for a second, to John's surprise. "They were insistent that they stay with the Queen."
Blood roared in John's ears as anger coursed through his body. The Queen? Teyla? Flashes of the beautiful woman he had become so close to over the years played in his mind. There was no way she would never be something as hideous as a Wraith Queen.
Sensing his thoughts, Michael smiled cruelly. "It's only a matter of time, Colonel. After she bears the offspring, her state of mind will be like the Wraith. And after a dose of the improved retrovirus, her physical appearance will be altered, completing her transformation. She will be our new Queen."
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Ronon said, shooting Michael in the chest.
The blast knocked Michael on the ground. Carson ran to him, checking his pulse. After a few moments, he stood up. "He's still alive."
Another round flashed from Ronon's gun, hitting Michael in the chest again. "Not anymore."
