Chapter 9

The next day as he was escorted to the lab to finish up the last bits of the project he found the young captain sitting at her desk, staring boldly over at him. He ignored her and walked straight to his desk where the guards followed him. Though he was expressionless, his mind mulled over what could have gotten into her. For the first few hours, she seemed completely unaffected by him. It was starting to really annoy him when John walked in, dismissing his guards.

"Good news buddy, we got this from here, you get to head back to your cozy hive early!" He spoke enthusiastically, but his expression was bored, like there were a thousand other things he'd rather be doing. Val was disappointed. He had not finished his project.

"Wonderful, when do I leave?" He asked calmly while trying to steal a glimpse at Bethany, trying to gauge her reaction. To his satisfaction an emotion crossed her face for a split second, was that relief? Or disappointment? He tried to reach out with his mind but was interrupted.

"In about 3 hours, we have a team preparing to leave; we will send you off first. So pack your bags!" John turned on his heel and walked from the room. Val scowled slightly at John's obvious excitement. He was a bit upset that he had not had the opportunity to continue his investigation with the Captain. His guards soon approached to escort him out of the lab, but before he left he stopped and turned to her.

"Pleasure working with you." He purred softly and flashed a toothy grin. What crossed her face brought him immense joy. Her face flushed red as shock soon began to spread through her body. He could feel her muscles tense and embarrassment radiate off her. She had just begun to realize she was not simply dreaming.

"No…" She managed to squeak out before he was gone. She was incredibly distressed as he let her tablet drop to the table. "It's not possible." She shuttered and quickly left the lab as well scanning the corridors to find the wraith that had been her source of torment. She typically was not one for confrontation, but she simply could not let this go. She could not have him vanish forever and never actually know if it was true or not.

Finding where they had been keeping him, she nodded the guards off and entered the room, ensuring the door shut behind her, what she had to say was for his ears only. Val looked surprised as she entered. As surprising as ever. He pulled himself up straight and clasped his hands behind his back and looked at her with as blank of an expression as he could manage.

"Captain, is there something else you needed?" He asked smoothly, holding his place but allowing his head to tilt slightly. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"You have made my life hell." She growled, stepping closer to him. "In the lab you have proceeded to bother me in any way you could, but it did not end there did it?" she demanded once again stepping closer. "No! You then made you way to my private quarters! How you found them god only knows! But that's not the point!" She snarled, now only about a foot away from him. She shoved a finger into his chest. "How dare you!" She was obviously hurt and confused, but he could not help but smile slightly.

"You called for me." Was all he answered as he took her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently. She stared at him in shock but made no move to pull away.

"No I didn't…" She whispered softly, shaking her head.

"But you did, I am afraid not even I could resist the pull that dragged me into your dreams. Your dreams, my dear." He added letting her hand fall.

"So they were just dreams…" She began to say, trying to make herself feel better as she stepped back from him. He shrugged.

"Well I couldn't help myself with that last one." He said, a smug grin across his face. Val was very much a wraith, with human emotions. He certainly could be quite cruel.

"You bastard!" She yelled, stumbling back from him. He quickly moved up beside her and held her in his arms, restraining her from hitting him until she relaxed.

"You loved it." He whispered into her ear. He felt a shiver run through her body as he let his lips brush against her skin. He knew he did not have much time, but he would make the most of it. He turned his head and brushed her hair back from her shoulders. His lips met with any exposed skin he could find. There was little resistance on her part. Occasionally she would push away from him, only to grip him tighter as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. When he could hear someone approaching the door he quickly released her and with a slight shove pushed some space between them. She was confused and then flustered when the door opened and Shepard walked in.

"Erins?" He asked glancing from the blushing girl to the statuesque wraith. She stuttered trying to find the right words.

"The Captain was simply bidding me farewell." Val spoke up for her, saving her from an awkward conversation. John was still confused but shrugged it off.

"Alright, well you should get back to work, as for you, time to go." John motioned and the guards moved in behind him to escort him to the gate room. With a nod, Val moved back her, probably the last time he would ever see the puzzling girl, though he hoped not.

The gate was dialed and with a flash of blue sprang to life. The address inputted was a random lifeless planet that Val intended to use to gate to another world, one where his hive would pick him up and hopefully, finally, receive him with open arms. He had accepted this mission in order to prove himself, or at least show he was capable of more. Now he only hoped the others would see it as such. He was tired of being an outsider in both worlds.

Todd anxiously awaited the return of his son. The longer he was gone, the more he began to regret his decision. He did not want to lose Valimor, especially not to the Atlantians, but if they offered him even the slightest chance to live a normal human life…he feared he would take it. Todd's reasons for keeping Val around were purely selfish. He missed her, the human girl. He would never admit it to his brothers, but he loved her more than anything, and with her loss, he felt he would lose himself. He was offered a second chance with Val, but in order to hold on, the human side needed to be repressed. The human soul simply could not survive on a Hive, they were far too fragile.

Im baaaacckkkk! Sort of…sorry it has been so long, I am trying to wrap up all my started stories and give them good endings! I really appreciate those of you that have stuck with me, or at least with this story! I am still extremely busy, but I am going to at least finish what I started. If you have any ideas, or what you want to see happen, PM me.