Chap 21 : Invasion
-City of Atlantis- Unknown planet-
"He's breathing but unconscious again." Perkins said, leaning over John's inert body.
Ronon, McKay and Lorne looked at each other gravely.
"OK, Woolsey is in another galaxy, Wilson is prisoner with thirteen other people in the Stargate room, Sheppard is ... " Rodney preferred to let his sentence pending. "Who takes command now?"
All heads turned to Evan Lorne.
"Darts!" Perkins, his nose pressed against the window, announced the news with a touch of hysteria in his voice." There are dozens landing on the city!" he added, casting a despairing glance upon the group.
"Here we go again ..." Rodney whispered.
"McKay, we must fight" Ronon replied.
Evan Lorne took a deep breath and began.
"He's right, but first we must neutralize the clones. Rodney, can you overcome this virus? "
"Uh ... yes, but I must get to the ZPM room."
"Good. We will go there together with Ronon as he can open the doors. Second, we must retake the Stargate hall to re-establish communications and to organise the defense of the city ... and we should also try to let our close allies know our situation so we need to send an SOS."
The Wraith were here. Atlantis was completely disorganized. The city was not in their control. There was probably a ship-hive nearby. They had no more drones. All the soldiers were scattered and trapped throughout the city. The situation was totally hopeless.
The Satedan looked down at the lifeless body of John. Larrin made him as comfortable as possible in a corner of the room next to Katie and her colleagues.
"Will we be leaving him here?" she asked.
"We don't have much choice" Lorne said.
"If we don't try anything right away, and we are all dead. Everybody take a weapon. Rodney, bring your gear. Here we go!" Ronon decreed, arming a P-90, the first one to rush into the hallway.
OooooO
-Hive ship-
The Wraith Queen was pacing in front of the still inactive Stargate.
"It's been too long. Did the code work to give us open passage to the city?" she roared suddenly.
The black coat cautiously approached her.
"Do not worry my Queen. All the humans are trapped. Nobody knows they're here. None of their vessels were detected nearby. In a few moments you will be the mistress of Atlantis."
The female Wraith grinned impatiently, the subordinate dressed in gray joined them.
"Teyla Emmagan?" she asked to the newcomer.
The Wraith shared a knowing look with the black coat Wraith before bowing before his sovereign.
"It's done." he said with a triumphant smile.
OoooooO
-City of Atlantis - Unknown planet-
"Hurry" Lorne yelled. "Now we have to go to the Stargate. Larrin and Perkins, you stay here with McKay."
The young sergeant was stationed at the entrance of the ZPM room while the Traveler stood alongside the physicist.
The team of Lorne and Ronon disappeared into the corridors.
"If I manage to neutralize the virus, all the doors in the city will unlock, which is like leaving the field open for our people but also for the Wraiths."
"McKay, they will come here and do exactly the same in a few minutes."
"Jennifer ..." Rodney muttered, beginning to tremble.
"Rodney. If you do nothing, we are all doomed, including Jennifer." Larrin decreed with a harsh tone.
The scientist looked at her with animosity but soon the terrible truth hit him hard.
He unlocked the cylinder compartment.
"I'm sorry ..." Larrin murmured, a little ashamed for being so direct.
"You're right." He replied before going to look at the data on the screen behind him.
He then turned to the young woman.
"When I tell you, press it," he said, pointing to a button marked with an Ancient symbol.
Larrin nodded and placed her fingers on the button.
OooooO
They progressed rapidly in the direction of the control room. With Ronon, all doors were opening for them and the stranded people found themselves free. In turn they were immediately redirected to room B201. By now they had all recovered their headsets and tested them regularly. For now, they were still not operational and they wouldn't be until Rodney had neutralised the virus.
Arriving at a crossroads, Ronon raised his fist. The column of men behind him froze. The sound of repeated impacts echoed through the deserted hall.
The Satedan cast a glance. A ventilation grate was beginning to buckle under the kicks of an individual.
Ronon nodded to Lorne and he raised his weapon towards the site of the intrusion. The Wraith had perhaps used the conduits to enter waiting for the unlocking of all the doors.
The ex- runner posted himself against the wall beside the grate.
The metal square finally gave up and was thrown a few meters away. Ronon pointed his gun at the hole. Legs appeared and a breathless body extricated itself to fall face to face with the Satedan's weapon.
"Amy?" Ronon exclaimed.
The young woman passed from stupor to relief. The Satedan wanted to take a step toward her. She was safe. He wanted to hug her, to ask her for forgiveness. Lorne's team joined them. Their enthusiasm was muted.
"Banks?" Lorne was surprised at seeing the technician.
"I just came from the Stargate room ..." Amelia said.
She explained the situation to the group.
"If there are only two and the women are locked in the office, we must act quickly and take over the tower. Banks, well done " Lorne said.
At the same time, McKay's voice sounded in his headset.
"It's OK! I kicked this damned virus ass!" the scientist yelled.
Lorne turned to his men.
"Here we go. "
OooooO
"Communications and systems are restored and reset. They can't do anything in the chair room anymore. I have to go to the infirmary to see if I can find Jennifer." McKay threw, rushing towards the exit.
"We go together" Larrin added, overtaking him and putting a P90 in his hands.
They had not gone fifty meters when the Traveler pushed the scientist against the wall. She motioned for Perkins to do the same. Someone was coming in their direction. Hidden by the angle of the wall, Larrin put her finger on the trigger. Then, suddenly, she burst into the middle of the corridor. Her gun pointed in front of her, ready to shoot, she realized the individual was none other than a Wraith.
At the sight of the young woman, the creature stopped and looked up at her. Larrin stopped. Something was amiss. The Wraith leaned against the wall and seemed ready to collapse. Rodney and Perkins joined the young woman.
"Todd ..." Rodney whispered.
"What?" Larrin said, staring at McKay with amazement.
"How did you...?" the scientist began.
The Wraith looked unwell. He almost tripped. Larrin pulled herself together. She raised her arm to him again.
"Your buddies have landed, Todd! Your immunity expires right now!" the young woman exclaimed, ready to shoot.
Suddenly, a cry echoed through the corridor. Tears, which came from something the Wraith had hidden in his coat.
Rodney's face froze. Larrin stopped her gesture. Perkins was not moving. Todd fell to his knees. The scientist dropped his weapon. He walked slowly and leaned on the Wraith, the little creature's body wrapped in a jacket. Todd handed him to Rodney before collapsing to the ground. Larrin approached. Todd was breathing with difficulty.
"Your child" he managed to articulate, however, while McKay remained paralyzed, the wriggling baby squawked in his arms.
"It's not true ..." Larrin whispered.
"But ..." was the only word Perkins could utter.
Rodney could not take his eyes off the little creature full of life whose tiny fingers clutched at his thumb now forcefully. His thoughts tumbled. In shock he finally turned his head toward Todd.
"How ..." he stammered.
The Wraith made a final effort to respond.
"She gave birth in the stasis room. I helped her. The child was dying. I had to step in and give the child a little energy to save its life."
The baby was waving its feet frantically. The jacket covering the baby slipped, revealing the small and nervous child's body.
"It's a girl." Larrin noticed, a little shocked.
A vision of horror crossed Rodney's face.
"How did you survive out of stasis?" Rodney yelled staring at Todd with a mad look. "Jennifer!"
"Not her ... " the Wraith hissed. "A man ... Jennifer called him Walter. But I am again weakened."
"So where is Jennifer? " Rodney was on the edge of breaking point.
Todd lowered his head.
"I hadn't enough strength anymore ..."
The face of Larrin fell. Rodney, the baby in one arm, bent to pick up his weapon. He placed the gun against the head of Todd.
"Where is she!" he screamed, his eyes flooding with tears.
OooooO
The bright flash of the entering vortex lit up the Stargate hall for a split second. The hostages were herded into a corner of the room under the supervision of Rob. William and Chuck were behind the console.
When the iridescent surface stabilized, a cohort of Wraith soldiers emerged from the ring and progressively invaded.
Rob and William finally relaxed. At the same time, Melena and Ben also made their entrance into the room and stationed themselves next to their peers.
Finally, the black coat Wraith came through the Stargate and stopped on the platform, admiring the deployment of his troops. The darts had released his squads around the city. Soon, all sections would be taken. The Atlanteans were helpless. The Queen would be satisfied ... He put his hand to his dagger.
A firm voice rose in his back.
"Atlantis! Finally!"
The black coat turned, a bit surprised.
"My Queen ..." he exclaimed. "You should have stayed in the ship ... We have not yet fully ..."
The female Wraith raised her hand to silence him. She walked up to the top of the stairs and looked around the stately hall in front of her.
Two soldiers burst in behind the black coat. They held a young woman who tried to resist their iron grasp.
Teyla suddenly seemed to realize she was back on Atlantis. Her blood ran cold at the sight of six men held at gunpoint by Rob, and the Wraith army which now trod the soil of the city. Wilson recognized her and gave her an imploring look.
The Queen turned to the Athosian and showed what seemed to be a smile.
"I hope you will show me around our new home ..." she smirked
Her gloomy laughter echoed through the hall like a bad omen.
TBC….