Author's Notes:

Hi everyone! Here's another chapter, it took me quite some time to write but it's quite long too, I think the longest chapter so far actually. But I just wanted it all in this chapter. The title of the chapter isn't too fitting, it just fits for the end of the chapter lol. Anyway, it's not like Easter Bunny James Bond is a good chapter title lol. There happens a lot in this chapter, Jennifer Keller also gets a bigger role then in the last chapters. A bit less dialogues and a bit more character thoughts. I hope you all like it. I've only read it once so it's possible that there are mistakes, if you see one please let me know (and then just say where in the chapter, at the beginning, the middle, the end or what's happening in the story then).

Btw I made a wallpaper about the story, I just felt like doing that. I've put it on image shack, img386.imageshack.us/img386/8886/thequeerqueenwallpaperaf3.png with http in front of it off course,it's just a bit smaller then it was on my computer so if you find that irritating or something, you can always mail me and then I can send the original to you if you want to (my e-mail address is kersetaartjuhh, hotmail, com). I've used a picture of Kristine Kreuk for Aylita and there's also a picture of the Wraith Queen from 'Submersion' because she gets a role in this and the next chapter. I hope you like it and I hope you enjoy this chapter! :-)

Greetz: Wraith Fan –xXx-

Note:

You've probably noticed there are quite some differences between my story and the series. Like doctor Weir, Kolya and doctor Beckett are still alive. They have more then one jumper with hyperdrive.

And Atlantis hasn't changed planet, so they still use the drilling platform and the Replicators are aware of their location. That's why there are still Lanteans at the drilling platform in this chapter and it also explains why McKay's so worried about contacting the Replicators cause they might just decide to destroy Atlantis if they interfere in anything.

I haven't really thought of a reason the Replicators stopped their attack on Atlantis. But I think a good reason would be their base code being changed. If they're at war with the Wraith there wouldn't really be a reason left to destroy Atlantis, because they would need to focus on the Wraith then.

In Reunion the Replicator in the Wraith facility doesn't seem to be interested in killing the Lanteans, even if they start firing at him. But I reckon Oberoth wouldn't mind taking them out if he felt they were a threat to him.

Btw the Wraith Queen from the episode Submersion isn't dead, but I don't think that's very hard to believe cause Wraith do have this habit of not really being dead after they've been shot and assumed dead lol.

Chapter 9: Moonlight Encounters

'I really think this is a total waste of time, doctor Heightmeyer. We know what was causing my… let's call it strange behaviour. I see no reason whatsoever for this session', colonel John Sheppard said, an irritated look on his face. He really wasn't any crazier then Elizabeth was. There was nothing crazier about trusting a Wraith Queen then there was about thinking that you could just negotiate with Oberoth.

Off course it was Elizabeth that had insisted on this extra check-up.

'Doctor Weir is just worried about you, colonel. And I must say, so am I. First this Wraith Queen makes us all think you're …', Kate Heightmeyer started.

'Insane.'

'And now you trust her without any reason …'

'It wouldn't be the first time we save ourselves or other people relying on my intuition.'

'And something tells me if it had been another Wraith Queen, you would not have trusted them so easily. I think this trust of yours really has to do something with the fact that she's been in your mind all this time.'

'So that makes me kinda know what she's about, right?'

'What I'm trying to say is, colonel, she might be influencing your thoughts without you even realising it.'

'I've been over this at least ten times now, she is not inside my mind anymore! She doesn't have to be anymore …', Sheppard realised he had said too much already.

'Why not? Why was she there in the first place? The location of Earth? The destruction of Atlantis?' Kate looked very worried, as if she still did not trust him.

Off course she didn't. It was only normal, his mind had been exposed to that of a Wraith Queen and he didn't give her a proper reason for the fact that he was so sure that Amarah could be trusted.

He was going to have a hard time getting out of this mess. Could he tell her? After all, everything he told her in this session was confidential … Could he trust her with his secret? It took quite some time for him to accept it. What would it take for someone else to do so?

'All right. So there is a reason, just not the kind of reason you're thinking of. She doesn't want to know the location of Earth, at least not at the moment, and she definitely doesn't want to see Atlantis destroyed. She's very interested in Ancient technology and thinks Atlantis is a magnificent city. Now would you destroy Atlantis if you thought it was magnificent and could be interesting for the improvement of your own technology?'

'Ok. I guess even a Wraith Queen wouldn't lie about something like that. And she didn't ask you or McKay anything about the location of Earth or Atlantis during your captivity at the hiveship. But she did put a tracker in your back without you noticing it and managed to find Atlantis that way. And if she's clever she would know you and McKay would rather give your own lives then to betray your own people. So she chose a more cunning way to find out what she wanted to. And maybe this whole Alliance is just another trick to find out the location of Earth as well.'

He hated to think it but that theory actually made sense. What if trusting her was wrong? What if she was just trying to find out the location of Earth through this Alliance and she was using him to gain the trust of the others? She didn't really need to be evil to do so, after all she would just be doing it for the good of her own people. Wouldn't he do the same?

Could Amarah really do this to him? She had to know what it would do to him to be betrayed in such way, to loose his family and people, to see his whole planet in ruins …

No. She wouldn't risk it. She knew he would hate her till the end of his life and she didn't want him to hate her. Maybe she really wanted to help. After all, she wanted the Replicators destroyed just as much as they did.

'I don't think so.'

'You did have to think about it for some time …'

'I'm one hundred per cent sure Amarah wouldn't do something like that to us. I swear on my life, she wouldn't …'

'Even if your words can be trusted, colonel, you still did not give me a reason for this trust. Why are you so sure she wouldn't try? You've had enough experience to know you cannot trust anyone too fast in this galaxy.'

'She cares about me. And I care about her. Now if you care about someone and you don't want them to hate you, it wouldn't be wise to destroy their planet and slay their people, would it?'

'Why? Why do you care about her and what makes you so sure she cares about you? Just answer my question, John.'

He sighed. This was only going to work the hard way. He was going to have to tell her the truth. The entire truth.

'This conversation is confidential, right? That means you're not allowed to tell anyone about what we discussed here without my permission, right?'

'There's something. Something that's missing, that you have known all along and that you haven't been telling anyone. I don't know if I can promise to keep it for myself if it is important for the sake of all of us, colonel.'

'Swear. Swear you won't tell anyone, or I won't tell you in the first place.'

Kate Heightmeyer didn't know what to think about this. It wasn't like Sheppard to keep this kind of secrets for his Team. Yet they didn't know what was going on either. She could find out right now what it was that he wasn't telling them.

But only if she swore not to tell anyone else. But could she keep that promise? If it was something of great importance… No, if it was that important he would have told the members of his Team. If she promised, she would have to keep that promise.

'All right then. I swear I won't tell anyone about what you're about to say, colonel.'

'Okay. I guess I can trust your word.' John looked very tense.

There was a silence of ten seconds or more.

'I don't know if we should be doing this without John here. It feels like I'm betraying him, or something', Ronon Dex said.

'I think it would be better if he's not here, that way he can't cause any trouble', doctor Weir insured him.

'Then maybe non of us should be here because non of us really agrees with this', Teyla spoke. A bit of aggression in her voice. They had no right to do this without John knowing, it felt like lying to him. Besides, he wasn't the only one who thought this was a very bad idea.

Even McKay thought this was definitely not a solution, more like creating extra problems. The brilliant scientist was sweating. 'What if they just decide to destroy us first and be done with it?'

'Don't you think we owe it to the people that live in this galaxy, Rodney?', Elizabeth asked. She seemed to be quite confident that she was doing the right thing. And maybe it would have been a good idea … if Oberoth was a man and not a machine. These machines weren't capable of reason, they didn't care about the lives of others.

'You're right. We must do something. But not this! This only makes it worse! If we're destroyed because of this idea of yours, we won't be able to help the other people and then this entire galaxy is doomed!'

'Then tell me why talking to Wraith is a better idea then talking to Replicators. What is it that makes them so different from us, according to you?', doctor Weir said, entering the control room and looking at the gate room through the glass.

Rodney McKay stood in front of her, as if trying to stop her.

'They are machines! They're not capable of feeling compassion! They have no soul!'

'How do you know they don't have a soul? What's the difference between flesh and the material their nanites are made of?'

'That's your mistake. You think they're just humans, but not made of flesh. But they're not! They resemble humans, but they don't have everything we have. The Ancients destroyed them. Maybe they did so for a reason, maybe they knew the Replicators would eventually become a threat without mercy!'

'I made up my mind, Rodney. Dial the Replicator homeworld, Chuck.'

There was a silence of ten seconds or more. Then John spoke again.

'I… I'm in love with her. And it's mutual, I'm quite sure of that.'

There. He'd said it. Now he just had to hope she didn't think he really was crazy.

Heightmeyer stared at him as if this was the first time she saw him.

'I'm sorry, ergm … did you just say you're in love with a Wraith Queen?'

'Yeah, that's what I said. And it's not a joke or anything. I've been denying it for quite some time. Then I grew to accept it. It doesn't have to be wrong, I mean, if she wants an Alliance with Atlantis, we're not really enemies…'

'But she's not human …'

'Why wouldn't Wraith be capable of falling in love with a human then?There are differences but not that many if you come to think of it.'

'I just don't know what to say about this. So this is why you trust her, because you think she's in love with you?'

'I don't just think she is. I'm sure she is. That's why she was stalking me like that. She even came to Atlantis, all alone in a puddle jumper.'

'All right. Why don't you tell Elizabeth about this? Maybe she'll change her mind and consider an Alliance with these Wraith instead of trying to talk to Oberoth about this.'

'You think that's a bad idea too?'

'I know your Team thinks it's a very bad idea.'

'It's good to know they still support me. But will they still support me if they knew this?'

'I don't know. I … God, this really is the last thing I expected to hear.'

'Just… don't tell anyone. At least, not yet. Can I trust you?'

'Yes. I won't tell anyone. But please be careful, John.'

He stood up and nodded. 'Don't worry. I will.'

Doctor Heightmeyer looked astonished at Sheppard as he walked through the door of her office.

'Wormhole established. Lowering the shield …'

They all looked at the gate. Worrying, and in McKay's case even afraid. Elizabeth was tense but was sure this was better then the alternative.

'They're not lowering their shield. We can't establish contact with them if they don't lower their shield.'

Off course they didn't lower their shield. They were probably expecting an attack of some kind. The last thing they'd expect was a negotiation.

'Great. They're not answering the door. See? This was a bad idea. But cheer up, we've got the alternative of taking our chances with the Wraith and hopefully destroying these Replicators once and for all', McKay started, obviously very happy about the failure of this plan.

Doctor Weir just stared at the gate room, thinking.

'Right? Elizabeth?', Rodney said.

'Doctor McKay, I think there is another way in which we can contact them.'

'Oh no. Elizabeth, this is probably some sign from above that we're doing the wrong thing here!' They all looked at him in surprise.

'Okay, so that doesn't make any sense at all, I know. But still, should we really continue to try contacting them when we know it's a bad idea?'

'I don't think we should. Definitely not when there's an obvious alternative.'

They looked around to see John standing in the doorway.

'Oh, thank the Gods, you're here! Please! Please, convince her this is a very bad idea!', McKay exclaimed, panic in his voice.

'Elizabeth? Why didn't you inform me of this meeting with my Team?'

Jennifer Keller was running as fast as she could towards the small jumper bay, she looked over her shoulder in fear to see if she was being followed. Shortly after her arrival at the drilling platform (about a week ago), strange things had been going on. Especially when people started going missing.

This morning they'd woken up to see there was no power and all the systems were down. The technicians had tried to get primary systems online but their passwords somehow were incorrect.

It just didn't make any sense. It seemed as if someone was doing this on purpose. They had already suspected and interrogated three people, strangely enough the same three people that went missing in the past four days.

Jennifer didn't understand why they would want to shut down the systems on the drilling platform, she had known those people. They had been acting strangely, as if they were not theirselves. Someone or something was causing this, she just had to get to Atlantis because from the moment things started going very odd, the communication systems had been down.

There was no way Atlantis would know something was wrong, at least not in the coming week or so. And the situation was escalating. She had no idea how many people were missing right now or where they'd gone to but she didn't want to stick around until she went missing too.

Finally doctor Keller reached the jumper bay, she was quite sure she hadn't been followed. She went to the nearest jumper only to see the jumper bay was flooded. The front windows of all six jumpers were shattered. It seemed like someone didn't want anyone to leave …

'She wanted to contact Oberoth through the Stargate. Apparently, it didn't work because…', Ronon started.

'Because the Replicators didn't lower the shield. Which is as a matter of fact quite logic.'

'Why was I not invited for this then? It's not like I'm the only one who thinks this is a bad idea. Actually, nobody in my Team seems to think it's a good idea.'

'No, but you were the only one who would not follow my orders in this matter', Elizabeth said. She felt sorry for keeping him out of this, after all it was his Team that was the best Team. It was always the four of them she could trust and involve in any situation. But she had to, he wouldn't want her to contact Oberoth and would do God knows what to prevent her from doing so. Maybe John wasn't under the mind control of a Wraith Queen anymore but she had a feeling it didn't make him less dangerous.

Those Wraith had done something to him that made him like this. She just didn't know what and doctor Beckett couldn't see anything, and obviously doctor Heightmeyer didn't notice anything out of the ordinary either. Elizabeth was just so scared he was slowly turning in to something again. This is how his transformation had started the other time, when he was infected with the retrovirus prototype.

'I don't agree with this. And maybe I would not follow your orders if I was really sure you were doing the wrong thing. But standing here and watching you talk to it, I think I could manage that. Unless you still think I'm dangerous because I'm under the control of a Wraith Queen or something. I've told you over a hundred times, I'm all right! Nobody's in my head!'

'I think he's right, Elizabeth. He seems to be back to his old self. There's no reason to go paranoid over this.', Teyla said. 'I was very worried about him too. But now we know that it was the Wraith Queen that was causing him to act like he did. And he's talked to her. She proposed an Alliance and John said he would think about it. Therefore there's no use in doing things with his mind again. At least not until she has heard our answer to her offer.'

'I agree. Besides, you let him out of that cell because there's nothing that suggests he's still under mind control.', the Runner added.

'Maybe you don't trust John, but trust me, this is a bad idea! I'm the smartest man in this galaxy and you know I'm not exaggerating it, don't you think I know what's best?'

'Rodney, Ronon, Teyla … can I and John have a word?'

'Yeah, sure. Off course, I'll just save the rest of my speech for later…', McKay said.

'I mean face to face.'

'Oh. All right, we'll just … wait in the canteen.'

Sheppard watched his Team leave the room and he followed doctor Weir to her office.

Just great. Now how was she supposed to get out of here and contact Atlantis? Jennifer doubted if there was even the slightest chance she could get communication online without the help of the technicians. Anyway, staying here waiting for whatever threat that was out there wasn't going to do any good.

Doctor Keller took a stunner out of one of the flooded jumpers and made her way out of the small jumper bay.

Where would she have to go next? Maybe the control room. If there still was anyone that hadn't disappeared yet, she would probably find them there.

Half an hour later Jennifer still hadn't found the control room yet. She was beginning to fear she was lost. Cursing under her breath, she moved on. Why did these Ancients always build everything in the same way? Every corridor looked just like the one after it. She should have taken her flash light with her.

When she came around the corner she saw a burning flash light lying on the floor. Aha! Just what she needed right where she needed it.

But hold on a second! How did that flash light end up there, all alone? She ran towards it, only to see it was covered in blood. Fresh blood.

'Not a problem with blood here but this is just too creepy …', Jennifer said as she lifted the flash light of the floor. Who would it belong to? She tried not to think of what happened to the last owner of the flash light.

Bloody or not, she could use this if she wanted to make it out of here in time. Or alive.

'John, I know what you're going to say …', doctor Weir started as she sat down behind her desk.

'At least give her a chance! Talk to Amarah before you talk to Oberoth.', colonel Sheppard said, standing at the other side of the desk.

'I seriously doubt she could convince me if you, whom I trust, couldn't.'

'So you do trust me? Why do I have the feeling that you don't? I'm fine, Elizabeth. I'm me, I'm myself. Nobody is controlling me, obviously not even you.'

'I'm just not sure, that's all I can say. I've had enough experience to know that even if our doctors cannot find anything physically wrong it doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. And I have the feeling that there's something you're not telling me, John, and so does doctor Heightmeyer.'

'I know. She told me. At least consider it. Have I ever given you any reason not to trust me, Elizabeth?'

'I'm not saying it's your fault, John. Maybe you're not even aware of it yourself but you've been acting very aggressive lately.'

Sheppard sighed in understanding. 'So that's it. You think I'm becoming aggressive, you think those Wraith did something to me, maybe some sort of experiment? I guess if I can't remember them putting a tracker in my back, I can't remember them doing anything else to me either. Look, I trust her. I can't tell you why right now, but I really do. You don't have to trust Amarah, just trust my judgement. Have I ever been very wrong about anything like this?'

He looked her in the eye. Come on, Elizabeth. Just trust me. Getting Oberoth's attention is the last thing you want right now and you know it.

'John, this is very difficult for me. I don't just have to make the right decision, I have to make a decision where as few people as possible get hurt. Last time we had an Alliance with the Wraith..'

'I felt bad about that back then. As did the rest of our Team. But we all decided to give it a go, because you said so. This is exactly the same with Oberoth now. Don't make the same mistake again, Elizabeth. Yes, you are our leader. But we are here to advise you, to help you, please listen to us!'

Elizabeth stared at her desk, as if she didn't want to look at him, afraid of his reactions. Afraid to see feelings of betrayal in those hazel eyes. I'm not betraying you, John. I just want a way out of this, a way without people dying because of me …

'There isn't always a peaceful solution, Elizabeth. You're right, if there is, we should try that first. But talking to Oberoth isn't going to make this any better. Maybe you'll just get Atlantis destroyed. Then what will those people do?

All right, so maybe the Travelers can do something, or the Wraith. But maybe that will be too late. In order to fix this problem efficiently and as quick as possible without as less as possible deaths, we must work together. The living against the machines.

The Ancients wanted to destroy them. Niam told us that was because they knew the Replicators would never be the weapon they wanted them to be. But can we trust what he tells us? Maybe he just made his own version of the story. Maybe the Replicators are a threat no matter what and the Ancients came to realise that at some point.'

Come on. Come on, you know I'm right.

Jennifer Keller silently ran through the corridors of the drilling platform, her hand shaking that much she almost dropped the bloody torch. She had to get to the control room. She had to. God knows what was after them. Why did she always end up in this kind of mess? What did she ever do to deserve this? Oh how she wished there was someone there to support her.

Then she heard the sound of footsteps somewhere in front of her. Quickly she put out her torch and silently went closer in the direction of the sound.

'Hello? Is anybody there?'

Her voice was shaking with fear. What if there was but just not the kind of person she hoped there would be?

Jennifer saw the silhouette of a man, she got closer and was standing at two metres distance as he turned around. She almost got a heart attack as the man slowly started walking towards her…

Come on. Come on, you know I'm right.

Elizabeth looked up at him and wanted to say something but then somebody knocked at the door.

'Come in', Elizabeth said.

Chuck came in. 'The Stargate just activated and there are no Teams on the road. They don't have a DHD code either.'

'The Replicators?', Sheppard said, hoping that it wasn't true.

Chuck shook his head. 'No, not their homeworld anyway.'

They followed him into the control room where the rest of the Team just arrived.

'And there's something strange about their Stargate address.'

'What's strange about it then?', McKay asked, joining Sheppard and Weir at the computer.

'The address slightly changes every three seconds or so.'

'But that's not possible. A Stargate has to remain on one particular place to establish a wormhole connection! This is imposs… I mean, I don't know how it could be possible …', Rodney started, looking very surprised.

'Let's lower the shield and see who they are.', doctor Weir said.

'And now you do dare to take a risk?', Sheppard said.

Elizabeth looked at him. 'If we do not allow them to make contact with us we'll never know who they are, what they want.'

'And if you never give Amarah a chance you won't know if she's trustworthy and a good ally or not.'

'That is completely different, the Wraith are dangerous…'

'For all we know whoever's trying to contact us now is extremely dangerous too! If you lower the shield, a whole damn army could come through that gate and blow us all to pieces, or maybe a bomb that explodes the moment it reaches our gate room …'

'Could you please stop saying such things, Sheppard!', McKay exclaimed.

'Do we lower the shield or not? There's a passenger on the way …', Chuck said.

'Yes, lower the shield. We can't risk killing any potential allies or innocent people', doctor Weir answered.

Jennifer Keller sighed in relief as she recognised one of her fellow doctors of the medical team that was staying at the drilling platform.

'Thank the Gods, Peter, it's you. I was so scared. For a second I thought you were.. I don't know who. We gotta get to the control room, Peter. Have you seen other people? I just found this torch covered in blood, I hope whoever it belongs to is still alive …

Peter? Are you listening? Can you hear me? Oh my God, you're probably in shock.'

Peter stared in front of him, as if he didn't see her or recognise her. As if he was not conscious. Then suddenly he grabbed her by the neck and tried to choke her.

Jennifer Keller screamed as loud as she could. 'What are you doing!! Help!! Somebody help!! Please, somebody help me!!'

The Team had just reached the gate room as a woman with long chocolate brown hair and white leather clothes stepped through the stargate. She looked around in awe, studying the insides of the gate room and what lay beyond. Then she said, her voice friendly but loud and clear.

'I am Aylita, follower of the mighty Queen Amarah. I wish to speak to colonel John Sheppard straight away. This is a matter of great importance.'

The marines in the gate room held their weapons ready and aimed at her.

'Are you always this friendly to visitors?'

'Yeah. I guess you could say that.'

Aylita smiled. 'So are my people, colonel Sheppard.'

Jennifer managed to get out of his grip by hitting him hard at the side of his head with the heavy torch. He fell to the floor and she stared running away from him as quick as possible. There was definitely something very strange going on here. If she could only contact Atlantis!

After twenty minutes of running without looking back Jennifer thought she'd lost him. That was close. She actually was surprised by her own reaction, she had hit him with the torch in an instinctive reflex, without really thinking about what she was doing.

Obviously Peter had been under some sort of control. That explained why the power was down and all systems were offline, some of the technicians must have been under the same kind of control. But who was causing all of this and why? She had a bad feeling about this.

Maybe I don't want to know. Jennifer thought as she tried to find her way to the control room. Not being in utter darkness did help to orientate better. Suddenly she saw a stretcher through an open door. The infirmary.

Okay, she could manage to find the second control room from here. There was no way she was heading to the first control room, if there were other people there that were under the same mind control Peter had been under …

'You do know we could have just left our shield down.', John mentioned.

'Life's full of risks, isn't it? That what makes it worth living.'

'I hate to say it but I don't think it's a good idea to take more risks then you need to. I mean, there's off course always a certain per cent chance that you'll die or be destroyed, but there really is no use in increasing that chance …', Rodney started.

'You must be doctor McKay, it's an honour to meet you.', the Wraith worshipper said as she reached him her hand.

'Well, I… how did you know who was who?'

She giggled. It somehow reminded John of Amarah's giggle.

'It wasn't really difficult to know.'

'We're a bit in the middle of a crisis here actually and… this is the rest of my Team, Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagan… and our leader, doctor Weir. The one you probably should be talking to.', Sheppard said.

'An honour to meet you too, friends of John Sheppard are friends of mine.'

Teyla looked a bit as if she expected some kind of a surprise attack on her, but then carefully shook her hand.

Ronon looked extremely hostile, as if he was considering pulling out his gun and shooting her straight away.

Aylita noticed this but still reached him her hand, which he looked at threatening but did not shake.

'As you wish. Know that it makes no difference to me. I haven't shaken hands now for a long time anyway.'

She turned around and faced doctor Weir. 'You're the one I should be talking to. Off course an honour to meet you and your people, doctor Weir.' She even made a small bow.

John couldn't help chuckling.

'Oh, you find that funny now do you? Strange how you smell like fear when you're in a very funny situation then.'

'You threaten my friends and I swear I'll pull this trigger!' Ronon threatened, now aiming his gun straight at her.

'Go ahead then. Try. Or do you honestly think I'm such an idiot to come here unprotected?'

'That isn't just a brooch is it? I already thought it looked a bit like an ancient shield.', Mckay said.

'Look, she wasn't threatening me, all right? You can lower the gun, Ronon. You heard what she said, it's not gonna do any damage anyway. Not that it would be a good thing.', John assured him.

Ronon growled menacing but then lowered his gun, staring at her for a moment before putting it away.

'You're lucky to have friends that are willing to die for you, John Sheppard. I've met lots of civilisations where it's every man for himself. Not an example of a good society if you ask me. Loyalty has no price for me. Don't think I do not understand your situation, I'd die before I'd betray my tribe.'

'But you'd betray another tribe if you have to?'

'Not if they're allies and not unless they've proven to be dangerous enemies.'

'Well, that sounds only reasonable. Maybe you and Elizabeth should talk, you know, like without talking to me all the time. Sure I'm very interesting and all of that but she's in charge after all.'

'I understand. I apologize if I may have insulted you in any way, doctor Weir.'

Elizabeth Weir looked as if she didn't really know what to say for a moment.

'Off course you have not insulted me. As a matter of fact I appreciate the opinion of John and his Team. Welcome to Atlantis, Aylita.'

'Thank you very much, doctor Weir. Or should I just call you Elizabeth?'

'Well, I would prefer doctor actually.'

'All right. Is there a place where we can talk in private if it's not too much trouble?'

'We can talk in my office, if you wish.'

'But off course, doctor Weir.' Again she bowed before she followed doctor Weir in the direction of her office, studying the city at the same time. She obviously seemed impressed by it. Just wait until she'd get a proper view at the whole city.

'That wasn't so bad, she seems very ni..', doctor McKay started.

'I don't trust her!', Ronon barked.

'That seemed very obvious when you pointed a gun to her head, Ronon. I don't think we should be too hostile, after all, they do know the location of Atlantis.', Teyla said.

'She was threatening Sheppard!'

'Strange, I didn't really feel threatened. Besides, I kinda made fun of her because of the whole bowing thing.', John said.

'I have to say, that's rather slimy. And why doesn't she bow to me too? I'm obviously very important around here …'

'She thinks as Elizabeth of the Queen of Atlantis, I think.', the colonel added.

'So it would seem.', the Athosian leader agreed.

'I'd say it's a good sign. I mean she accepts Elizabeth's authority, she has respect for our leader. And she says friends of Sheppard are friends of hers. They see you as their friend, and because of that they also see the rest of us as their friends.', the scientist said.

'Aylita didn't seem threatening to me, I don't have this feeling that she can't be trusted. Like I had in our last Alliance with Wraith. But maybe I cannot sense it now because she is not Wraith.', Teyla mentioned.

'They didn't want to startle us, I guess. That's why they have sent a human and no guards.', colonel Sheppard said.

'Or they wanted to show us they had advanced Ancient technology, by using that Ancient shield.', Rodney added.

'I don't think she would have mentioned it if Ronon hadn't pointed his gun at her. Maybe it was even some sort of test, to find out if we really can be trusted.'

'The question remains if they can be trusted. I would have somehow felt more confident if Amarah had come herself. I would have sensed it if they were up to no good then.', Teyla sighed.

Finally, the second control room. Jennifer thought she would have never reached it. She looked around carefully but nobody was there. All right, now what? The emergency transmitters should be in here somewhere.

She searched the whole room but found no transmitters. Damn, obviously she wasn't the first to come here. That made her feel a bit unsafe too.

Just stay calm, Jennifer, they have no way of knowing you're here.

There was nothing to be found, no transmitters, no guns, no lifesign detectors, no …

No lifesign detectors!! Somebody else had the lifesign detectors! They could know she was here! And there was no way to make sure they didn't know where she was, unless if she was to take the detectors from whoever it was that was the threat. How do you steal something from a person that sees you coming on a detector?

I have to get out of here. The jumpers are all useless but… whoever is causing all this trouble had to get here somehow. Their way of transport probably hasn't been disabled. All right, think, Jennifer, think. How do I get there without them noticing it?

Mind control. A lifesign detector showed no difference between one lifesign and another, if she could somehow made them think she was one of those under mind control she might just reach a ship before they noticed something odd about her behaviour. It was definitely worth a try.

They heard a door opening, and the voices of two women. Footsteps of a woman on high heels coming closer.

Aylita made her way towards the gate. 'In that case I should give you more time to think this over, doctor Weir.'

She stopped in front of the gate and turned around, facing doctor Weir and the rest of the Team.

'After all, you have all the time in the world, haven't you?' Her voice was sarcastic at that last sentence.

She rematerialised some sort of Wraith device from her ring, pushed a few buttons on it and suddenly the stargate activated and established a wormhole.

'Good luck in the future and may life stay with you for all eternity.', Aylita said.

'Yeah, goodbye to you too.', colonel Sheppard answered.

Aylita stepped through the gate an a few seconds later the wormhole disappeared.

Chuck ran at them from the control room. 'I don't know how it's possible! I suddenly lost control of the computers, and then the gate just activated!'

'She had some sort of device which she used to dial out… I don't know what address she dialled though, the address where she came from constantly changed. One thing is for sure, having them as allies definitely would be very handy as it comes to trading technology. Who knows, they could have ZPM's or maybe something even better. Even after this whole Replicator thing is over …', McKay said, obviously very impressed by their technology.

'I still think that …', doctor Weir began.

'We should talk to Oberoth first, yes, I know that's what you think to be wise. I'm not going to argue about this anymore, if that's how you feel, I just guess I can't change that.', Sheppard said. Then he turned around and left.

'I feel this will continue to pull us apart if you don't make up your mind soon, Elizabeth', Teyla said, her voice worried once again.

She really hoped Elizabeth would make the right decision. But whatever decision it was, she knew John and Rodney would have to deal with it. And if they did, so would she and Ronon.

Jennifer sensed that she was being followed. She knew of no way to act as if she was one of those under mind control besides from killing one of her own people. That she just couldn't do. Not only because it was wrong, also because she as a doctor was not capable of hurting her own people.

How doctor Keller wished she had at least a stunner to defend herself with. She doubted if she'd be able to use her torch again as she had before. And she had been able to get close then.

Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps behind her. Quickly she jumped behind a column and tried to stay as quiet as possible. The footsteps came closer and closer …

After waiting in silence and listening for ten minutes Jennifer looked around the corner of her hiding place. The corridor was empty. Nobody there. Maybe the person she'd heard had left.

Jennifer moved out of her hiding place quietly, the person could still be in the area and she didn't want him to hear.

Jennifer screamed out as she heard a voice behind her. 'Put the torch down and put your hands up in the air where I can see them. Slowly! I have a gun and I swear I'll use it if you make any suspected moves.'

Doctor Keller obeyed and put the torch on the ground and kicked it out of her reach. Then she put her hands up in the air, shaking with fear.

'Please don't hurt me. Please, I've done nothing wrong. What is it that you want from me?'

Jennifer started crying, she couldn't help it, the stress and fear just became too much for her to handle. 'I just can't take this anymore!', she sobbed.

'Jennifer? Is that really you?'

She turned around to see Ajax standing there, a stunner in his hand and a scared but determined look on his face.

'Ajax? Are you not under.. control?'

'No. Are you?' The look in his eyes wasn't empty as has been the case with Peter.

Jennifer cried out and slowly went towards him. 'Oh, Ajax. I.. I'm so scared. What's going on here? I went to the second control room, but all the weapons and transmitters were gone. And the lifesign detectors too. They can track us. Hunt us down and… God knows what they'll do to us!'

'I went to the control room and… I actually got an idea of what they might do to us.'

'How do you mean?'

'Come. I'll show you. I don't know where else to go anyway, now that you tell me there's nothing of interest in the second control room. All the passwords are changed too.'

'I know. But whoever it is, they must have come her by some sort of ship, right? I don't think they'd disable their own ship so if we could just find it, we could get to Atlantis, get help.'

Ajax nodded. He didn't have the strength to tell her what danger they were in. She would have to see for herself …

Doctor McKay was quite nervous as he stood in front of the door of doctor Weir's office. She had asked for his assistance, he just didn't know what she wanted him to do. He and Zelenka had been working on that Replicator base code for over a week now and they really were looking for a needle in a hay stack. There was no way they could ever finish this on their own in time.

Whoever they were going to trust, they would have to make that decision quickly now. Why hadn't she just accepted when that worshipper came here? There was no way to contact Oberoth, and it wasn't as if he was going to listen to her anyway. As for that Wraith Queen, Aylita seemed quite sure Sheppard would be able to contact her through his mind.

Rodney sighed and knocked at the door. 'Come in', Elizabeth's voice sounded from inside.

McKay nervously entered. 'You called me, doctor Weir?'

'Yes, I have, Rodney. Please, sit down.'

The scientist sat down at the other side of her desk. He was that nervous he was actually shaking and sweat was shining on his forehead.

'I think there might be another way in which we can contact Oberoth.'

He sighed. She still wasn't giving up on that plan.

'Oh? What way were you thinking of then?'

'The nanites can communicate with each other over a long distance, right?'

'Yes. Yes, that's right.' What was she trying to say?

Elizabeth sighed and then continued in one breath.

'I want you to reprogram the nanites that are still inside my body and activate them. That way I should be able to contact Oberoth, right?'

'I… I don't know if Sheppard's gonna find that a good idea. Actually, it's a bad idea. But it should work if I properly reprogram them. But maybe it isn't such a good idea to contact them, that'll probably just get some unwanted attention, they might even consider starting an attack on us once again.'

'Risks are what makes life worth living.'

'Oh, come on! If you agree with that you really should take your change with the Wraith! Besides, I think there's far more risk in contacting Oberoth then there is in accepting the Wraith their help.'

'I guess I'll just have to make that an order then, doctor McKay.'

This is unbelievable!! Okay, if she doesn't trust John after the whole mind control thing, all right! But that she doesn't trust me, that's a bit too far! Rodney thought.

I hope I'm doing the right thing here. But their real goal is the Wraith, not humans. They can probably come up with another method to destroy the Wraith then killing all humans.

And then we'd end up with one of our enemies already destroyed. The Replicators don't need to be disabled if they don't cause anyone harm. At least we wouldn't risk their wrath once again.

It definitely is far better then trusting that Wraith Queen that had almost made John crazy! And I didn't like the way that worshipper insisted on a long term Alliance with us. Elizabeth thought.

When Ajax opened the door Jennifer almost screamed at the sight of at least ten crumpled aged bodies in the first control room. They had obviously been fed upon by Wraith, when she went closer she could see the marks on their chests. Jennifer started crying again.

'Oh, this.. this is terrible! What are we going to do…', she started. Then she turned around to see Ajax was nowhere to be seen. 'Ajax? Are you there?'

What if he's under mind control too. Can I really trust him?

She walked into the corridor, holding up her flash light defensively. Jennifer almost got a heart attack when she saw his, now also, crumpled dead body on the floor.

'Oh my God!' Jennifer exclaimed as she shrank back, her eyes wide open with fright.

This is all going terribly wrong. John Sheppard thought as he was heading towards his room, he'd better go to bed early today. He really did need some rest after all of this. Activating her nanites in order to contact Oberoth and then try to negotiate with him, propose a way to destroy the Wraith without harming humans. This was ALL WRONG!!

John was actually hoping it wouldn't work, or at least that Oberoth would refuse. For crying out loud, an Alliance with Kolya would've been better now he came to think of it!

He entered his room, deep in thought and shut the door behind him. He was about to flop down on his bed only to see somebody already sitting on it.

'Hello, John. I told you I'd come back for you.'

Suddenly she heard a wicked laughing behind her. She turned around only to see the evil grinning face of the Wraith Queen. No, it was not possible. She was dead, John had killed her over half a year ago!

She was grabbed and then everything became dark for some time.

Until she wake up to feel cold water surrounding her as she was being forcefully pushed under water in one of the flooded jumpers. Breathing became harder and harder. Eventually she opened her mouth in a muffled scream, ice cold water flowed into her longs …

She was pulled out of the water just in time, coughing and trying to catch her breath. In the half broken glass of what was left of the puddle jumper front window she didn't see her own terrified face …

Cold water was thrown into her face. 'Teyla!! Teyla, wake up!!' She managed to get her eyes open and got up to see Ronon look at her. A worried look on his face.

'Finally, I thought you were having an attack in your sleep or something. Are you all right?'

'I… ' Teyla looked around, seeing that she was in bed in her own safe room in Atlantis. 'I just had a nightmare, Ronon. Why did you come here?'

'Why did I… you were screaming that loud I could hear it in my own room. I thought you were being killed or something.'

'Yes. So did I. Only it wasn't me that was in danger.'

'How do you mean?'

'Where's doctor Keller?'

'Don't know. At the infirmary? Anyway, doctor Weir will know. Why don't we go and ask her, that is if you can walk. Sure you're okay?'

'Yes, yes, Ronon, I am fine. But I think this isn't just a nightmare, something is wrong. As you say, it would be best if I spoke to doctor Weir.'

Five minutes later they knocked at the door of Elizabeth's bedroom. A few seconds later a sleepy Elizabeth opened the door.

'Ronon.. Teyla… what is it that is this urgent?'

'Well.. Teyla's had a bad dream.'

'I don't' think it was a normal dream, Elizabeth. I must know this… where is doctor Keller?'

'At the drilling platform, along with around fifteen others, they'd been sent there at the beginning of last week. Why do you ask? What has this get to do with your dream?'

'Oh my God, so it really was her! We have to go there as quickly as possible, Jennifer's life may depend on it!'

Both Ronon and Elizabeth looked startled at the almost panicking Teyla.

'Yeah, I just didn't expect to see you again this soon. By the way, why didn't you show up yourself instead of just sending some girl…'

Amarah stood up and walked towards Sheppard.

'Aylita isn't just some girl. She is my most loyal and trusted worshipper. I care for her as if she were my own daughter.'

'All right. It's just that Teyla still doesn't trust you now, if you would've come yourself, I would have at least one team member completely at my side.'

'I am sorry. I had more urgent matters at my mind at the time and I didn't want to scare your people.'

John sighed. 'I understand. Really, I do. It's just that Elizabeth doesn't.'

Amarah looked deep into his brown eyes.

'She thinks she can negotiate with the Replicator leader and find a peaceful way out of this.'

'Yes. She does. Don't take this the wrong way, Amarah, Elizabeth just wants the best for her people. And she's having a difficult time taking risks and putting people's live in danger.

She just wants to find a peaceful solution and I'm afraid that's not gonna happen. Not with Oberoth anyway. How can I convince her that the Replicators are not like humans, that they're erghm…'

'Heartless? Not even alive?'

'Yes, something like that.'

'I think she'll have to learn that the hard way. Do not fear an attack of the Replicators. The city of Atlantis is perfectly capable of defending itself against a long attack.

That is, if it has enough power to use cloaking technology, a powerful shield and it's hyperdrive engines in order to move to a safer location at the surface of this planet or another as you'd want to.'

'Yeah, except if Oberoth blows up the whole damn planet. Besides, we're limited in energy here. There's absolutely no way we can get shield, cloak and hyperdrive working at the same time. And if we leave this planet, we'll have to take the Athosians with us.'

'If you dematerialise them they'll not take much space. I heard they live in tents, so they wouldn't even have to lose their homes.'

'I know, but we don't …'

'I have all the dematerialise technology and ZPM's you could wish for, John. All you have to do is ask. No matter what doctor Weir thinks, I'm sure she won't refuse any help from me if it comes to an attack.'

She gently caressed his dark brown spiky hair and studied his hazel brown eyes. If she stared long enough in them she could imagine being in a forest during fall.

'Amarah, I… I don't know what to say.'

'Then don't. You don't need to speak.', the Queen said, hugging him closely. It felt good to have the heat of his body against hers.

John pulled her even closer, softly stroking her long blue hair.

For the first time in her life, Amarah had found somebody whom she felt truly safe with.

TBC …

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