27/05/2008 19:30:00
A week and a half went by since the first annual jumper race. Amber was lying in her quarters, unable to sleep. Ever since the swim to the underwater bay, she had been fighting off a flu type bug thing. It was hard to speak now, but it's better than before when her whole throat was nearly swollen shut.
Down the hall from the poor sick Amber, Raine and Alek were sitting in their quarters. Raine's head jerked up as her ancienty sense kicked in. She looked at Alek; he had felt it too. "Did you feel that?" Raine asked, trying to make sure her sensing were working right.
"Has it been five years already?" Alek grumbled getting up as Raine did.
Raine nodded hesitantly and ran out of the room, Alek raced after her. She emerged into the Control Room and went up the stairs to Elizabeth's office. Once Elizabeth asked what was going on, and Raine told her, Elizabeth questioned, "I don't understand."
Raine sighed and repeated herself, "Every five or so years, Atlantis itself takes over and released a mist of gas throughout the city. This gas is poisonous to anything, that is living, that doesn't have the ancient gene connected to its DNA. This gas is like a replenishing energy source for the ancient gene."
"I see, what does it do exactly to those without the gene?" Elizabeth asked.
"It'll thicken the blood until it can't get to the body's organs. The body will stop whatever it does and the person will die," Raine smiled, trying to sound a bit grim.
Elizabeth got up from her desk chair and went over to Raine. "Then this leaves me choice. I have to evacuate the city of everyone who doesn't have the gene, including myself and Major Sheppard."
"Amber has to stay," Raine stated.
"Why? She doesn't have the gene anymore," Elizabeth protested.
Raine shook her head, "She may not have the gene, but there are still reminisces of it in her DNA."
"Fine, Amber will stay," Elizabeth scowled and left her office while giving an announcement that all staff that didn't have to the gene to report to the Gate Room. Like a swarm of bees, the Gate Room filled up with staff members without the gene, each had puzzled looks and asking each other questions as to what was going on.
Elizabeth walked down the stairs from the Control Room, telling everyone to calm down so she could explain. "There is a poisonous gas going through Atlantis, our sources have confirmed that this gas only effects those without the ancient gene. That is why I have gathered you all here…" she paused scanning the concerned faces of the Atlantis staff. "You all and myself will be immediately evacuated from Atlantis, with no questions asked. When we return to Earth, we will await a message from the remaining Atlantians as to when it is safe to return to this city."
When Elizabeth finished, the whole room erupted with protests and questions. Elizabeth nodded for the Gate to dial and the staff shut their mouths; they had no choice but to leave the city.
Raine looked away from the gathered staff and to Alek. "I want you to go with them," she said.
"No, I'm not leaving you alone on Atlantis, especially with your plan to…" Raine cut him off.
"Alek, please!" she argued. "If you really want to protect me, you'll go to Earth with them."
Alek shook his head. "I'm not going," he growled.
Raine frowned and turned away with her arms crossed. "You stubborn…" she stopped when the Gate deactivated with the Atlantis staff safely on Earth. Sighing, she looked back at Alek and then left the Control Room; Alek followed her.
She paid no attention to Alek's attempts to argue with her more. Raine entered Amber's quarters without even a knock or any warning. There was no shock that Amber was still dead in bed and bundled up in so many blankets that you could barley notice that she was there. When Raine walked in, she nearly had a shit fit that there was someone else in the room with her and Alek. "Jeremy, what the hell are you doing here?" Raine hissed, looking at him as he sat in one of Amber's Lazy Boy® chairs.
"Because I wanted to, and besides, I know what your plan is," Jeremy replied.
"You'll die if you stay here, the same goes for you Alek," Raine argued.
"What's your point? I figured that I couldn't keep me mouth shut," Jeremy stated." You wouldn't want me telling Elizabeth now would you?"
Raine sighed and nudged Amber's side while saying, "It's like the two of you know how to persuade us to do anything."
Moaning, Amber rolled onto her opposite side facing the others. "Is there a party or are all of you just arguing here for a reason?"
"No, you slept through the party part," Jeremy laughed, ducking as Amber threw a pillow at him; she missed terribly, he didn't really have to duck.
Later
That night, Amber and Raine crept through Atlantis trying not to make a sound as they came up to the door to Jeremy's quarters. "If this doesn't work, I'll knock his ass out," Amber smirked and then silently coughed into her sleeve.
"I'll meet you at the Gate either way," Raine nodded and then ran off to the Gate room with an evil smile. Amber watched her go and then turned to the door to Jeremy's quarters. The only reason she and him didn't share one was because John would kill them and Elizabeth won't allow it. Sighing, she walked into the room and the door shut behind her.
Throughout the hall, the shouts from the two fighting could be heard. And then there was utter silence. Amber exited her fiancé's quarters with a guilty look on her face. She dragged the unconscious Jeremy out of his quarters by his arm and headed for the Gate Room. Raine looked at Amber as she came in dragging him. "Didn't work out?" she asked, stating the obvious.
"Uh… nope," Amber said, dropping Jeremy's arm. "I got in a cheap shot."
"That works," Raine sighed and looked at Alek, who was standing beside her. "Alek, drag him through."
Alek growled in reply and the Gate activated. He grabbed Jeremy's arm and dragged him through. The Gate deactivated behind them.
"I'm really going to regret this," Amber sighed with a cough.
Raine put her hand on Amber's shoulder. "Well, at least we didn't have John do it," she smiled.
Amber grunted and said, "I'm going back to bed." Raine nodded and Amber left the Gate room. When she was gone, Raine went to the DHD and removed the crystals. She went to Rodney's lab and handed him the crystals.
"What the?" Rodney exclaimed, looking up at Raine.
"I'm entrusting you with these. No one is going o dial in, or out, the next couple days. The only way to get here is by space," Raine replied.
"Why?" Rodney asked stupidly.
Raine rolled her eyes. "Because we don't want the SGC knowing about our plan."
"And your plan is?" Rodney asked.
Raine shrugged, "Guess you didn't get the memo. We're bringing the queen bitch wraith to Atlantis." The look of complete horror appeared on Rodney's face, isn't that hilarious? Raine left Rodney's lab and headed to her quarters.
ON her way back to her quarters, John came up to her. Raine sighed; she knew that Rodney must have told him. "What are you thinking!" John exclaimed.
"Either way, the queen is going to be here," Raine muttered.
"The two of you are pure trouble, you know that? You didn't even tell Elizabeth!" John replied.
"Wait, you think I'm lying about the gas, aren't you? These things just happened to be happening at the same time. Amber and I made this plan not too long after she woke up," Raine protested.
John sighed and looked up at the ceiling," We all are going to get deep shit because of this. But I guess we might as well complete what's already started."
Raine smiled and left John to bang his head on the wall out of frustration. She entered her quarters and collapsed onto the bed. Damn, well at least we get it done, Raine thought.
The Next Day…
Amber walked dazed into the infirmary. She found Dr. Becket and went up to him. Extending her hand, she said, "Meds, now!"
Carson laughed. "Still not feeling better?" he said, feeling her forehead to see if she had a temperature.
"Nope," Amber coughed. "I can barely breathe."
"I think the gas is beginning to take effect," Carson said, rummaging through the medicine cabinets.
Amber frowned, "I don't care what's causing it, I just want it gone!"
Carson sighed and handed her a medicine lollipop. "There isn't much I can do, Major. Try sucking on this for a while. I should help with your throat and lungs."
Amber unraveled the wrapper and stuck the lollipop into her mouth. At first it had a bitter and horrible taste, but as the medicine part dissolved off the pop, it started to taste like watermelon.
"This is good," Amber mumbled as she sucked on her lollipop.
"It'll last a while, don't choke," Carson laughed and went back to what he was doing before Amber came in.
Amber smiled and pocketed a few more lollipops before leaving the infirmary. She walked down the corridor, heading back toward her quarters. When she turned the next corner, Rodney ran up to her. "The hive's jumping out of hyperspace within the hour, Raine wants you in the Control Room," he panted for he actually ran. (has heart attack)
"Ugh," Amber moaned and followed him to the Control Room. Raine greeted them when they arrived.
"There you are!" Raine smiled. "Hope you're ready for this."
Amber nodded slightly. "So do I."
John was behind them, talking to the staff member by the shield controls. "Now, only raise the shield when the transport is out of the range."
Amber sat in a chair, a chair that she pulled out from under Rodney's ass. Her head went back as she moaned in agony, she felt like she was dying or was going to be dying.
Raine looked at the radar screen, only a few minutes remained; the hive had pushed their engines to go faster. "We need to get suited up," she said, turning to the dying Amber and John.
Amber moaned and stood back up and gave Rodney's ass its seat back. She coughed and then stumbled after Raine and John to the Weaponry room. She was beginning to have second thoughts about the plan. How the hell is she supposed to kill the queen with no help when the queen has ALL of her powers? The Undertaker might as well start digging a grave now, to save time later.
They didn't take long getting suited up and they had received word that the shields were up, meaning the bitch was on the city. Raine, John, and Amber stalked down the hallway. They were nearing where the queen was hiding out. Amber was in the back, looking nervously from side to side with her gun doing to the same.
"You alright?" John whispered, falling back enough for her to hear him.
"Just a little scared is all," Amber muttered, jumping slightly when he spoke.
John nodded, he could understand that. "Don't worry, I will make sure that you won't die… not before your wedding."
Amber smiled, if only she had a dollar for every time he said that, she'd be very poor. Raine stopped and turned to them, "Amber go on ahead. John and I shouldn't go any further."
Hesitantly, Amber nodded and went ahead, even though she didn't want to . It wasn't long until her father and Raine were out of sight. Now it was just her, the bitch and the ominous silence of the corridors. Amber turned a corner and looked directly into the eyes of the queen wraith who stood inches away from her.
"I've been expecting you," the wraith hissed. "I could sense you humans from far away."
"And I've been looking for you," Amber sneered.
"Who are you, you pathetic excuse for a human," the wraith questioned, a light green fire snaked its way up her arms.
Amber smirked, watching the fire with envy. "The name's Sheppard, Amber Sheppard."
The eyes of the queen widened, hadn't she killed that girl a month ago? "You lie, that Sheppard is dead," she hissed, circling Amber and glaring at her.
Amber tossed her gun to the ground and removed her vest. "I don't die easily," she smirked, and coughed into her sleeve.
The queen shrugged, obvious this human had no brain. "Then, you will die this time," she hissed, lunging in.
Amber side-stepped and shouted, "Bring it bitch!"
