Wraiths
The Smallest Hive
Pt 10.
The Newest Captain of Erishkigal's Mothership looked out the Command Bridge View Port at the Massive Alien Ship and the diminutive by comparison Goa'uld Ha'taks floating next to it. He breathed in equal amounts of Pride and Fear. Pride at being the one put in charge of one of the most massive and powerful Fleets of the System Lords. The Fear was him wondering how long he would survive to hold on to it. The way things were going in this new galaxy he wasn't willing to place a bet on it, and he knew for a fact the lower ranks were placing bets on it. It was a bit of a tradition really.
He looked over at the Monster Ship again. Ever since they had brought the trio of creatures over, they hadn't had any more of their forces on it. Those that were there they had lost contact with and it was a safe bet on their status. The door that they had gained access thru had also revealed itself and they had not been ordered to try and break thru again. Now that he took a few seconds to think about it, there had been no word from their goddess in quite some time now, not that it was a horrible inconvenience to her absence. He shuddered to think what Horrors she was inflicting on the alien creature in her private chamber, but if it kept his goddess happy, long may she stay there and indulge herself.
The Mothership suddenly jolted like an earthquake rolled across it! Gravity fluxes hit and the Jaffa found themselves floating a few inches above the floor before gravity kicked back in and they fell. The lights started blinking and the controls started going wild. Reports from the other parts of the ship started coming in, albeit slightly scrambled and filled with static! Whatever chaos was going on was seemingly affecting the entire Mothership!
The Captain picked himself up off the floor and once again looked out at the Alien Vessel. He had a feeling in his stomach that a new set of betting would be taking place soon. Once again, he didn't want to know what his chances on holding to his command, much less his life, he felt better not knowing.
Down in the lower corridors of the Mothership, Chaos was breaking out! Jaffa Warriors, and All Levels of the Slave Classes were running up and down the halls in all directions. Running to try and stop, fix, and figure out what was going on and causing the damage breaking out all over the ship! Fires were being created by equipment exploding and energy shooting out from devices adding to the disaster!
Lights all over the ship were going on and off, or staying off, or burning with near blinding brightness, and exploding! Gravity Control was also being affected! Sections of the ship either had No Gravity or literal Bone Crushing Gravity, it could go from one to the other in seconds! Doors on rooms and lifts were also acting erratically! Open and Closing at random, in some cases with Lethal Force! Worst of all were the Ring Transporters! Using them was a Nightmare in the Making! Personnel using them could find themselves in parts of the ship they did not intend to go to, which was the best-case scenario. The other scenarios were everything from those that stepped into the rings never rematerializing, or in the Worst-Case rematerializing in not the same form you started in. Some were reappearing missing limbs, and heads. Reports of Entire Squads of Jaffa being merged into large single organisms. Fortunately, they were Short Lived Organisms!
So great was the confusion that 4 figures were able to move completely unnoticed by the near panicking servants of Erishkigal. The 3 Wraith and the Unas Child, wearing some of the flimsiest of disguises. The Warrior still in the ill-fitting and damaged Jaffa Armor. The Male, still technically naked except for his goggles, earpiece, and mechanical attachments on his hands and other parts of his body was still wrapped in the metallic blanket like a cloak. His bare feet slapped upon the metal floor as they ran but was very unnoticeable in all the chaos going on around them. The Female simply had a torn off piece of the blanket rapped around her head covering her face. The Unas Child simply ran next to the Warrior he was still manacled to. No one was paying any of them any attention at all! Everyone had far bigger problems to worry about.
They ran into one of the avoided Ring Chambers. The Warrior stopped and closed the door by physically pulling them closed with his huge hands! The Male ran over to the pedestal and knelt to the small control panel in the base and began interfacing with the controls.
The Warrior took up a guarding position next to the door, the Unas Child looked up at him and mimicked his stance next to him. The Female angrily ripped the blanket from around her face and began to pace around the room like a caged animal. *What are we doing here, what are you doing, hurry up! * She growled impatiently. The Male ignored her and kept doing what he was doing. The Unas looked up at the Warrior who simply shook his head in a manner that suggested he don't think about it too deeply.
She stomped over behind the Male and slapped him across the back of his head knocking him flat across the control panel. *Don't You Ignore Me! * She snapped! *What are you doing? * She asked him. Pushing himself back up and rubbing the back of his head He went back to the panel. *Uh, ow, I, I am trying to get us off this ship. * He said quickly before she could hit him again. *Oh, really? * She said quizzically *Well hurry up and get on with it then! * She said and went back to pacing. No longer concerned with the matter.
*Also, what is going on out there, what is making their hive go insane? * She asked, not really caring why but she did not loke feeling like she was the only one that didn't know. * It is a computer virus. * The Male said without looking up from his task. The Female almost appeared to accept this answer as good enough before she let the thought roll around her head for a few minutes. * How did you make a virus that could do all this that fast? * She asked as the thought came to her.
*I didn't make it. It was made by that alien that was cutting me up. Like I said before, he didn't guard his thoughts very well, and when I accessed his computer, I found it in a file called Fool Proof Escape Plan. * He informed her. She made a face that thought that that sounded kind of stupid. *Apparently, it was his plan if things ever went foul with the head alien, the virus was his key to getting away. It had a path of preprogramed safety that lead thru the chaos. I just followed it here. * He kept saying... * It's not a particularly good virus either, it is full of holes…* He went on distractedly, getting more absorbed in his task again.
The Male worked a few more seconds before standing up and running up onto the pedestal. He turned and looked at them. The Warrior and the child ran past the Female and joined him. The Female looked up at them with a confused look. * Its Ready HURRY! * The Male exclaimed. She literally leaped from where she was standing up next to them. Barley a second passed before the Rings shot up from the pedestal around them. The Room filled with the sounds of the machines activating and they were engulfed by the light, then the Rings fell back down into the now empty room.
Down in the large hangar bay of the Mothership, abord the same Tel'Tak that had brought them aboard, the Rings activated and delivered the Wraith onboard once more. The Warrior, Male and Unas quickly ran off the Ring pedestal and thru the doors that led to the Flight Cockpit. The Female once again the last to realize what was happening quickly chased after them. The Warrior sat in the Pilots Chair which groaned under his large frame, and He turned and looked at the Male. The Male's hand went to his own devices and he appeared to be looking off into space when he was reading the information scrolling across his goggle lenses. A few seconds later, the Warrior in turn looked off into space for a few seconds before he looked down at the ship's control panels and he slowly moved his hands across them.
Up at the top of the Mothership's Pyramid on the bridge. A flurry of lights ran across one of the ship's computer terminals. The computer sent command signals out to the other Ships in the fleet and to the Mothership's own hanger. The Captains of the Ha'taks were puzzled by what was going on with the Goddess's own ship but none were brave enough to question orders of any kind that came from it. So, when the shields around the Mothership snapped off and a single Tel'Tak shot away and towards the Wraith Hive Ship, none of them did anything to stop it. Being left in the dark was not new occurrence to anyone no matter the Rank of any Jaffa.
Back on the Hive, the Wraith raced thru the tunnels to get to the Control Deck. As they ran, they barely noticed that even more of the Hive was looking more and more like it should, and less and less like a decrepitated dead husk. The floor was covered in the cold mist and the walls were regaining their slimy countenance. It was starting to feel more like home.
They ran into the room which was still in darkness. No power seemed to be connected to anything. The Male, now with the blanket tied more securely around his waist ran over and plunged his head into one of the conduits on a wall. The Warrior ran to the center of the room and stood behind a dais. He sunk his hands into two sockets on it. He let out a garbled roar. *I am working on it! * He said slightly muffled from inside the wall.
*What is it, what is going on!? * The Female asked while stamping her foot on the floor. The Male popped out of the wall and ran to a console, and quickly started pushing buttons. All the panels dimly lit up, which was normal in the darkness the Wraith preferred to work in. *Power is restored! * The Male reported. The Hive rumbled and a loud groan echoed thru it. The lights shimmered. * I think, I hope. * He whispered. The Warrior twisted the controls sending the orders to activate the Hives engines and weapons. He also hoped as well.
Down in the Dark Depths of the Hive, the Thing stirred. Long Black Legs twisted around it. Multiple eyes like crystals glowed colors of crimson and violet. Large Wing like shields shuttered. The Thing resettled itself into a large hole in the floor. Connections long severed reformed. The Crystal Eyes of the Thing Burned Brighter! The Thing could do what it was Created to do again! It happily gave into the primal like urges built into it. Create Power! More Power! Always More! Pull it in from unfathomable Depts! More! Always More! Never Enough! MORE! The Chamber became alive with Dancing Hellish Shadows as dark lights burned around the thing like Unholy Fire! MORE! The Hive moaned once more.
Aboard the Mothership, the chaos still reigned supreme. They at least figured out that it was a computer virus that was doing all of this, but so far, they hadn't figured out how to do anything about it. That whole not sharing knowledge thing sometimes really turned around and bit the Goa'uld in the tails but that is something they would not admit to.
As the Command Crew ran around the bridge doing an admirable job of making it look like they were doing something they all failed to notice someone walk calmy in and sit upon the Throne. The Captain was on the verge of a panic attack when he turned and spotted the newcomer.
"Nef-er'et what in the name of the god are you doing?" The Captain yelled. "How dare you sit upon the Throne of Erishkigal, and you dare profane by wearing her Crown!?" He nearly choked as he looked up at the Jaffa Prime. This was a level of blasphemy undreamed of!
Nef-er'et merely tilted her head to one side and her eyes glowed white. The eyes of the Crown glowed red. All the color drained out of his face. Lasers shot out of the crown, missing the captain by the thinnest of widths and right into an interface on the command console.
Suddenly the lights stopped flickering and all the ships systems went back to normal. All the Jaffa and Slaves on the Mothership dropped to their knees. Erishkigal glared down at her minions from her new host. "Status Report NOW!" Erishkigal bellowed using the full effect of the Voice Control Technique. The Captain crawled forward on all fours and quickly ran thru the events of the last hour or so. He finished and looked up at her. She looked down at him with eyes still aglow. "Where are the Creatures?" She asked. He just looked blankly back at her. What color in his face once again draining away? "I said where are the..." Erishkigal started to say but something on the view globe caught her attention. The Globe was still focused on the Hive which was now covered in lights and could be seen to literally shake. "Never mind." She growled.
Aboard the Hive the Warrior shoved forward on the control modules. The Hive's engines quaked and lite up one at a time. The Hive shot forward clipping the edge of one of the nearby Ha'taks spinning it around like a toy. It was already a dot before anyone could blink.
"After them you idiots!" Erishkigal barked. The Jaffa picked themselves up off the floor and ran to their posts. The Mothership's engines activated their sub-light systems and took off with the Ha'taks falling in behind. The Al'Kesh and Death Gliders did their best to keep up. Hoping they could dock before getting left behind.
*What are we doing? * The Female gasped. *Are we running? Why are we running? * She growled. *To get away? * The Male replied weakly. Her jaw dropped at this. * We don't want to get away? * He questioned. *We are WRAITH, WRAITH DO NOT RUN AWAY! * She screamed telepathically almost making him lose his grip on the blanket. He needed to find some pants. *You, big one, turn us around and go back and destroy our enemies…NOW! * She commanded the Warrior.
The Warrior replied with a long row of growls, and grunts. The Female turned and looked at the Male for a translation. The Male started to reply when the Female cut him off. *I swear that if you tell me he just said "No" …* She snarled at him. The Male thought very carefully on how to word his reply.
*He said we can't go back to destroy them because the weapons are not online yet because the systems are not healed yet. * He thought quickly. * He also says that the hyperspace functions are also not online yet so we can't run..I mean esca..I mean uh. He says there is a power problem as well. * He finished with. He really hoped it would appease her. She stared at him for a few seconds then simply thought. *What kind of Power Problem? * She asked wanting to know. *There is Too Much Of iT! * He told her. That didn't help her mood any.
The Goa'uld Fleet was pushing itself to their limits in pursuit of the Wraith Hive Ship. The Hive was acting very oddly. It would be moving at speeds that would leave them in the cosmic dust only to then slow to an almost perceptible crawl. Their instrumentation was also showing massive bursts of power radiating from it as well. To the sensors it was like huge explosions were going off inside the craft but the fact that it hadn't turned into an expanding ball of fire told them this was not the case. These sudden jumps in speed and the evasive maneuvers were the only thing keeping it out of acceptable firing range lock on.
Erishkigal was barely paying any attention to this. Practically none other than to yell out the occasional Faster You, Idiots, Morons, or Imbeciles. Which ever came to mind first. She was too busy in settling into her current host body. The Body of Her Jaffa Prime. Nef-er'et. Her body was not to the liking of Erishkigal at all. It was far to hard and practical. Not to say that Nef-er'et was not an attractive human female, it was just not the type of beauty She preferred. She much preferred the more soft and sensual kind of host. It was much more impressive when she snapped someone's neck with her bare hands. Nef-er'et already looked capable of doing that. She did love her theatrics.
"Faster You Cretins, Faster!" She yelled. "Yes, My Goddess!" The Captain replied. Yes, this body is not to her liking, but beggars can't be choosers as the saying goes. After her brush with death when that She-Beast broke free and, did what ever it did to her previous host she had barely separated herself in time. She could feel the very life being ripped away from the host and its claws reaching for her before she broke free and slithered away. It was an unsettling shock for a Goa'uld when they left a host that fast. To go from having a Sentient Mind with Feelings, Emotions, and Intelligence to the cold reptilian mind of their real self's. A very odd feeling to have all that knowledge and Sensation but be trapped in the primitive instinctive mindset of a mud crawling thing! Being only capable of the thought of basic Survival! Evade the Enemy or Snare a new victim. That was all. Plus, there was the transitional period of the Goa'uld repressing and learning to operate its now self. A short time where the emotions and personalities of the two beings all but merged or fought for control of the body. Before the inevitable happened and the Reptile pushed the Primate down into the waking dreamlike death of the host. It had been a long, long time since Erishkigal had had as strong a mind to contend with as her Jaffa Prime. For all intents and purposes, it is exactly like trying to break in an unruly riding beast. Nef-er'et is a Strong Beast indeed!
"Steady yourself my Prime. Steady." Erishkigal said as she leaned back on her throne and closed her eyes. Concentrating on taking control. "I promise you, I will return your body to you, once this task is done, you have the Word of Erishkigal on that." She smiled at that one. Even She had trouble believing that. "Oh, steady my Prime, but not calm." She purred. "Do not tame that Hate I feel with in you, it is intoxicating!" She sighed. "Your hate I can use, yes, your hate is My Hate!" Erishkigal let the burning emotion fill her. "Yes, My Prime, your hate is my hate, we shall get our revenge TOGETHER!" Her eyes glowed.
The Hive shook with bone jarring intensity at both the sharp turns the Warrior was steering it thru, and the power surges ripping thru its ancient frame. It was hard to guess which would tear it apart first! The Warrior Drone could feel the energy like fingers of the enemy craft trying to get a target lock on them thru the Hive's sensitive hull. It felt like a cold knife being softly drawn down his back. It tickled. The Unas Child sitting on his wide shoulder stared in awe at the Warrior and his new surroundings. He liked this place Much better then his last home.
*What do you mean too much power, I seen no problems, everything looks like it is working now. * The Female sent to the Male. * I am starting to think the problem is that you don't really know what you are doing. * She sent to him with a nasty smirk on her cruel face. The Male swallowed dryly and did his best not to look at her directly and kept his attention squarely on the control panels he kept running back and forth between. That and he wished the knot on his blanket would stay tied. This was all way out of his level rank.
*It really all should be working! * He replied to her weakly. * It, it is as if there is a new power source connected to everything, and it is far more powerful then our normal power plants. * He said in a mental mumble. * It is also extremely unstable, and it keeps making more, and more * He said in a near state of panic while running to another panel. The Hive quacked again. So hard this time it knocked the Female and Male off their feet, the Male sent flying to land on the Female and they both rolled across the floor wrapped up in the blanket.
The Warrior managed to stay on his feet duly owed to his hold on the Hive's interface helm. The Unas Child had a death grip on the Warrior's shoulder armor. He was having a fun time! The Warrior let out a long row of growls and snarls. From within the blanket The Female asked what he said while trying to detach herself from the blanket and the Male.
*He said the propulsion and maneuvering systems just went offline again! * He said as he managed to get a foot free. The Warrior let out a Wall Shaking Roar! The Unas Child near fell off! * And the Weapons just came ONLINE! * He added.
"My Goddess!" The Jaffa Captain shouted out. "The Alien Vessel's engines just cut out, they are now drifting, we are now with in Positive Firing Range!" He told her happily! "Target the Engines Only! "She ordered harshly. "I only want it disabled as little as possible and I want those Creatures Taken ALIVE or I Swear I will make you all Beg Me to cast you into the Unholiest of Fires for the Mercy it will bring you!" She finished in her most Unhappy God Voice. The Jaffa Captain saluted her, and the Jaffa Gunners gave each other extremely nervous looks before giving all their attention to the targeting systems. This order was sent to all the Fleet and the ships took up positions to begin firing and prevent the Hive from Escaping again.
Without any warning massive orbs of burning energy shot out from the Hive appearing to be almost fired at random and blindly. The Mothership and 2 of the Ha'taks took direct or glancing blows! The Bright Orbs, instead of dissipating seemed to cling to their shields and BURN like a star! The Ha'taks shields flared like lightning storms but the shields held, for now! On board the Goa'uld ships all those not seated or with a firm grip on something were tossed around like grains of sand in a fierce wind! Erishkigal was only saved from being thrown from her throne by the added strength of Nef-er'et's well-muscled body.
Suddenly the Hive stopped firing, and its engines suddenly fired up. The Hive twisted sharply! It was now pointed directly at the Ha'tak it had sideswiped on its first escape run. A few of its engines sputtered out and it fired its forward guns again. The Hive unleased a barrage of burning energy at the ship. Its shields flared and the ship visibly quacked before it Exploded in a ball of orange fire! It was like a massive animal turned on its smaller hunters and took out the weakest among them! The Hive shot forward and away!
"AFTER THEM YOU FOOLS!" Erishkigal screamed at the Jaffa. They all made to obey her even as the debris from the destroyed Ha'tak slammed into their shields.
Her greed grew at the thought of making that ship hers and the horrible things she would do to the creatures.
*What just happened? * The Female asked out loud as she finally managed to free herself from the blanket and the Male, who she turned and gave a swift kick to before she ran over to stand by the Warrior. He bellowed and roared. The Female snarled and gave the Hive's ceiling a dirty look before she turned and glared at the still blanket entangled Male. * He says we just destroyed one of the enemy vessels! * He said also replying out loud. * Good, now Destroy them ALL! * She yelled while literally jumping up and down with venomous glee! The Utas Child jumped up and down on the Warriors shoulder. He agreed with this idea! The Male used his claws to rip a hole in the blanket to pop his head thru and stood up, now wearing the blanket like a dilapidated toga. * No, DON'T! * He shouted. *I COMMAND YOU TO DESTROY THEM! * The Female screamed and shot her clawed hand out and pointed at the Warrior! She hit him with all the power she could put into the psychic attack. The Warrior just turned his massive, masked head and gave her a blank stare. She nearly lost her footing as she put her hands on her knees to steady herself. The Hive suddenly started to shake again, but this time it was almost unnoticeable compared to the early shaking. The Warrior roared and growled again. Cutting off The Female's question The Male told. * They are firing at us and targeting our engines! * He said and the Female started to open her mouth when he cut her off again. * He also says the Hive's engines and weapons keep going on and offline, which is making it exceedingly difficult to fire and maneuver! * He told her. The Female let out a long string of very nasty Wraith Curses. The Male walked over and stuck his fingers in the Unas Childs ears.
"Keep Firing You Fools; I want that Ship NOW!" Erishkigal bellowed at her crew. The Goa'uld vessels fired away at the rear of the monstrous Hive but its attack looked comically unimpressive when compared to the Hive's attack on them. During the Turmoil, the Techno-Vizier slid into the room like a shadow to stand behind the Throne. "You had better have something useful to tell me." Erishkigal said with out turning to look at him. The Implied Threat in her voice was most noticeable. The Techno-Vizier took a deep breath and used his most Toady of voices. "Oh, but I do my most beneficial of benefactors, I indeed do." He said smarmily. She turned and glared at him. He hoped she didn't notice his knees shaking, but he doubted it. "I have learned a few things. "He said slowly. "The First is that I have been informed that your original host body has just been removed from the Sarcophagus, but sadly, whatever the Alien did to it, it is beyond its recuperative abilities." He said. Erishkigal grind her teeth together at this. That was her favorite host body! Damn those creatures! "I have also learned thru my examination of the beast you so graciously gave to me that, if these beasts can be made into viable hosts, we would all but never have need of a Sarcophagus again." He said with a vile smile.
She turned and looked at him. "Is that so?" She asked. He simply smiled back and nodded. She turned back and looked at the Hive still being fired upon. The Smile that crossed the Face of Nef-er'et mixed with the Aura of Erishkigal held horrible thoughts indeed. She smiled. "Oh, and my Dear Techno-Vizier. "She said. "Yes, Your Maleficent Majesty?" He asked. "Your Computer Virus needs work." She said. He gave a polite laugh and quickly bowed while backing out of the room.
Warning Howls echoed thru the Hive. It was now shaking due to the Goa'uld Bombardment and the unstable power fluxes had started up again! The Hives systems were raging almost out of control! The Hive was healing and tearing itself apart at the same time! *SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING! * The Female yelled as she danced around trying to remain on her feet. The Male had grabbed one of the legs of the Warrior Drone like it was a tree and he was caught in a hurricane. *I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! * The Male yelled back totally helpless. The Warrior fought like mad with the Control Helm, trying to get it to do anything! The Unas Child held on tight and thought the bouncing around was still some of the most fun he had ever had.
Down in the Special Chamber the shaking increased. The Thing still created power as fast as it could. It was Glowing like an Out-of-Control Furnace! Still, it craved More! Suddenly it was shaken loose from its socket. Its large Black Legs scrambled to find purchase and replant itself. It clawed like a mad beast to get back in its place!
The Warrior let out a Mighty Roar as the Hive suddenly came under control! He shoved the Control Helm forward! The Hive activated all its engines and weapons! It had to get rid of the excess energy! Its weapons fired in all directions as it shot forward like a freed animal escaping its cage! A score of circling Death Gliders were Vaporized and a few Al'Kesh went up in fire balls. The 2 remaining Ha'taks shields flared, as did the Mothership. This deterred them only for a few seconds before they once more took chase.
Suddenly two of the Hives starboard engines and all its rear facing weapons exploded! The uneven thrust cause the Hive to lilt to one side like a Wraith who had over fed. Taking full advantage of this The Goa'uld flew into a tighter group directly behind the Hive and continued to attack!
*I think it would be prudent if we tired to ESCAPE NOW! * The Male said still holding onto the Warriors Leg. The Female said nothing but did reluctantly shake her head in agreement. The Hive was shaking so bad now she had fallen to the floor and dug her claws in to keep from sliding around. The Warrior was silent also. He was too busy fighting to get the Hive under any semblance of control. Suddenly his whole body went rigid. His arms and legs Bulged with the strain he put into fighting the Hive. It shook even more. The Female, Male, and Child took a stronger grip on whatever they could.
The Hive had visibly slowed. "We have them NOW!" Erishkigal roared triumphantly! The Mothership and Ha'taks closed in and kept firing. Suddenly the Hive spun around on its axis and was now pointing directly at the Goa'uld ships! The Hive opened fire as the enemy's own weapons impacted against the face of the Hive. The Goa'uld ships took a dozen hits before they all shot off in different directions to avoid the attack.
The Hive fired its remaining engines to full and raced forward thru the scattered Goa'uld like a drunken mountain! The Warrior looked down at the helm's panel. Like everything else on the hive, the Hyperdrive Systems were also not working,
or he would have jumped from here the instant he got his claws on the controls, but the little blinking green light on the panel continued to blink unready, but it was slowing down, he just needed a few more minutes, or a big distraction. He read the information scrolling down the main screen. He just found one. A big one!
"What are those fools doing!?" Erishkigal screamed. Although it was obvious what the fools were doing, she just couldn't believe they were That Big a pack of Fools. They were diving towards a Massive Gas Giant Planet! "They are div.." The Captain began to tell her. "SHUT UP YOU FOOL AND AFTER THEM!" She screamed back at him. The Goa'uld ships continued the chase.
The Giant Gas Planet that hung in space was a massive swirling gray and blue collection of storms that were the size of a dozen planets. Lightening danced across the seas of volatile gas and substances erupting into continent sized fire storms of brief flashes of indiscernible colors and light! The Hive dived straight into this cosmic tempest. It looked like a minnow falling into an ocean.
Passing down thru the clouds, horrendous flares of static electricity danced and burned across its already battle-scarred hide. Deeper it dived.
Inside the Hive' everything was shaking and every alarm and warning howl was screaming out! *What are you doing? * The Female yelled from her precarious position on the floor at the Warrior. He ignored her and concentrated fully on what he was doing. *What is he doing?! * She yelled at the Male. The Male just hung on to the Warrior's leg with all his might and did his best to ignore her too.
*What are those Fools Doing!?" Erishkigal screamed. The Exact same damn fool thing we are doing the Captain almost answered but wisely kept that to himself as
"What are those Fools Doing?!" Erishkigal screamed again. The Same Damn Fool thing we are doing the Captain thought but wisely kept it to himself. They followed the Hive into the Storm Planet. The Mothership and Ha'taks shields glowed and flared as they were pummeled under the increasing pressure of the atmosphere and energy discharges, but still they followed.
The Hull of the Hive was being burned, crushed all the while it was healing its surface due to the massive power flowing thru it. The Pressure was doubling and tripling every few seconds but still The Warrior dove the Hive deeper. He looked at the Display Screen and noticed that the Goa'uld Ships were riding in their wake which was making it slightly easier for them. He would have to do something about that.
The Mothership and 3 remaining Ha'taks kept firing at the Hive but less then have of their salvos were hitting it. Most were impacting on dense gas and matter in the clouds or the electrical discharges. All 4 were taking serious damage but Erishkigal refused to give up now. She was too close to be getting both her prize and her revenge! She would not give up now!
Suddenly half of the Hive's remaining engines suddenly flared and died, and half its forward thrusters on the front roared into life, the Hive started to spin, the friction of hitting the thickening atmosphere helped. A quarter thru the spin all its engines and thrusters fired to slow it down. The Hive let lose with all its forward guns and the Goa'uld Ships faced a new storm! One Ha'tak exploded almost instantly! Another's shields started to fail, and it lost control and spun off into a storm where it burst into flames and disappeared in an Inferno a thousand times it size. The last Ha'tak only managed to survive because it "accidently" fell behind the Mothership! The Mothership itself was barely hanging on to its own shields. The had cut out and the ship had lost a couple of its spider leg like extensions. The Hive spun full around and once again continued its dive into the planet.
The Warrior Let out a Loud Roar of what sounded like pure joy! *What did he say?! * The Female yelled! The Male looked up. He noticed that the little green light that had been blinking was now very solid and bright! The Warrior sent the signal. The light grew even brighter! The Male just whimpered and buried his head as deep as he could into the floor. The Female couldn't be sure but even from behind his goggles she got the distinct impression he just closed his eyes. She followed his example. The Unas Child roared in excitement with the Warrior! FUN!
"My Goddess they are Slowing! "Yelled the Captain. Erishkigal saw this and smiled and clenched the strong fist of Nef-er'et's. They are HERS! She thought triumphantly! That feeling went away as quickly as it came. Suddenly the Hive ship's nose shot upward until the Hive filled almost the entire view globe and it seemed to come to a Dead Stop and they Rushed full speed at it! Erishkigal's face went white. She screamed out orders to turn, to stop, to do ANYTHING! The Bridge Crew scrambled like mad but there was nothing they could do to avoid a collision at this speed! At what seemed the last second the Hive shot forward and out of their way! Erishkigal almost smiled with relief, but then she spotted what the Hive hide from view!
The Wraith had opened a Hyperspace Tunnel! Doing so in a habitable Atmosphere is a risky maneuver at best, but in a Hell Storm as the Gas Giant…Pure Suicide! A Suicide the two Goa'uld Ships could not avoid!
The Hyperspace Tunnel sucked in the gasses and energy of the planet. It all flowed in, erupting the Tunnel into a Swirling Vortex of Fire and Lightening! A Vortex Erishkigal and her Ships flew straight into! The Violence raged around her Mothership! The Smaller Ha'tak stood no chance and was gripped by the rage and flung into the tunnel wall and Exploded! Only adding to the hell of the Vortex! Fire and Lightening Ravaged the Hull of Erishkigal's Mothership! The Hell was reflected from the View Globe on the Her own Face! The Hyperspace Tunnel Collapsed behind her as she continued her way to its end, maybe a true Hell itself?! Either way. The Goddess of Darkness would find out!
Out of the Raging Storms of the Surface of the Gas Giant, The Hive shot out resembling one of its own Plasma Shots! The Fires were soon extinguished by the vacuum of space. The Hive's hull now blackened and charred from its descent and ascent! It was leaving a trail of ash, and smoke in its wake as it flew thru space!
*I did it! I defeated them! * She proclaimed! The Male sat up from the floor and just stared blankly at her from behind his goggles. The Warrior and Child were no where to be seen. *Now we can repair My Hive and go out and Conquer the Galaxy and…* She started to say before the Hive started shaking again. Explosions could be heard from somewhere in the depths of the Hive. Neither they nor the Shaking showed any signs of stopping! The Male jumped up and ran to the nearest panel. Looked at its displays, then He ran to another, then another. He stopped and gave the Female a sick look. Now What She thought with an ill look of her own.
A few minutes later down in one of the Hive's Cavernous Hangar Bays, the Female ran out to a large empty platform. She now had two stunner pistols on each hip, and a bulging backpack on her shoulders. She looked around but was not seeing what she was looking for. A few seconds later the Male ran out to stand next to her. He was now attired in a pair of knee-high boots with pants and long jacket all in the fine leather like material the Wraith preferred. He had a Stunner Rifle and a satchel. It was full of equipment as well as were his coat pockets.
The Female looked him over. * A Bit out of your Rank isn't it? * She asked with a sneering smile on her face. *it was all I could find! * The Male told her sheepishly.
She hissed and looked around her. The Explosions and shaking were still going on and Getting Worse! The Hive was dying!
*Where are all the Ships!? * She asked frantically! *All the hyperspace capable ships are gone, even most of the fighter craft as well! * He said just as frantically!
*RRAAHH, It's Not Fair, Not Fair! * The Female raged while stamping her booted feet on the hangar deck. The Male just clumsily hugged his rifle and satchel but wisely kept his comments to himself. Suddenly a strong wind caught and started pulling at their clothes and hair! Hull integrity was being lost! The Vacuum of Space was going to tear them out! The Female Raged impotently, while the Male just calmy accepted his fate. He at least hoped it would be quiet wherever he wound up, and preferably lonely.
Suddenly a loud drilling noise filled the hangar bay! A Wraith Dart flew over head and caught both the Female and Male up in its matter beam before either could tell what had happened. The Dart then flew out other giant hangar bay and out into Open Space!
Behind them the Hive Ship finally gave in. Massive Canyon sized cracks rippled across its hull! Flames and atmosphere ripped out from them! In the Silence of Space, the Ancient Vessel literally broke up into tower sized chunks! Debris and refuse circled around it like rings! A miniature asteroid field had just been created.
In one of the tower sized shards. The Thing knocked loose from its socket pulled itself into a dark corner and secured itself as best it could. It went back to sleep, its lights and fire dying. The Pitch Black returned to the chamber. It would wait. It would rest. It would wait until it could do what it was made to do, again.
Some where else on the Edge of the Galaxy. Another large fleet of Goa'uld ships drifted in orbit around a dead moon. In the center of it was another Mothership, identical to Erishkigal's. Down on the Moon in a large ring of Pyramid Structures, standing on a balcony looking out over the dead surface under a protective shield dome stood the owner of that Mother ship. Gunn. African God of Iron and War. He stood there. Dressed in simple Leather pants and jacket just as dark as his ebony skin.
Into the room marched two Jaffa Warriors. Their Helmets resembling the head of a Rhinoceros. Gunn turned with arms folded behind his back and faced them. With an almost imperceptible nod of his head, this was all the signal the Jaffa Prime needed to give his report.
"There is still no word from the Goddess Erishkigal My Lord." He informed Gunn. Gunn stood as still as a statue. "We have contacted the rest of Her Fleet and they have also not had any contact from her in some time and they have been instructed to continue the search for one of this galaxies Chappa'ai. "He said. Still no response from Gunn.
"We have sent a small Ha'taks with 3 squadrons of your Imperial Guard to remind them of their Loyalty to our Great Mission." The 2nd Jaffa Warrior Added.
Without a word Gunn simply turned and continued to look out from the balcony. The 2 Jaffa rose, turned, and marched out of the room. Gunn was not the kind of Goa'uld to waste any effort on pleasantries or useless protocol.
He stared down at a large sunken auditorium built into the grounds between the pyramids. In the depression stood row upon row of Armored Kull Warriors. Hundreds if not Thousands stood at attention as still as the rock they stood upon, and all the time more marched into join them.
The Loss of Erishkigal was a mere setback at most. At least as far as Gunn was concerned. It simply meant that this new Galaxy would be divided up only 2 ways now. A small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "We all have our appointed tasks to occupy us." He said in a voice like thunder as he stared down at the Kull Warriors and their ever-growing numbers. His eyes glowed, fueled by the greed that grew inside him.
Alone. Alone and in the Dark it flew. On the Far edge of the Pegasus Galaxy the Wraith Dart Flew back light eerily from the green glow of the vast sea of stars of the galaxy, and on the other the black eternity of the void that separated the galaxies.
Inside the Darts Matter Storage Chamber, in the formless oblivion, the Male and the Female Wraith waited for the time, if ever, they would be freed back into the real world. Inside the Darts Cockpit, the Large Wraith Warrior Drone piloted them towards some unknown location that only He knew. Silently hoping that they could reach it before the Dart exhausted its fuel. His Marked Mask slowly tilted down and looked at the small Unas Child lying in between his feet. It breathed slowly and faintly. He had slipped into a type of hibernation his kind was capable of. The Warrior looked back at the Dart's screen as it feed him all the information it could about the path they were on. He cut off as much of its systems as he could, to preserve as much of its precious power he could. They would need ever iota. The cockpit slowly filled with darkness. The Temperature all so dropped, until only the faint glows from the overhead canopy screen and the faint glowing mark on His Mask were the only sources of light.
Out of that darkness rumpled a sound. One word. Slightly Muffled from behind a mask.
*PRO-TECT. * The Wraith Warrior Drone growled.
On thru the endless star filled eternity of the universe, the smallest Hive flew on its lonely Journey.
The End?