Retaliation of the Wraith

Author: Lorrie Ellis

Email: lorrieannhotmail

Summary : This story takes place after the team returns from Jordonia and a confrontation with the Wraith. (Sequel to The Jordonian Ritual)

Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Stargate: Atlantis". The characters belong to MGM, The Sci-Fi channel, etc. but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)

Dr. Beckett checked Yana and her brother Milos for a final time before they were to board the Jumper to be taken to the mainland to live with the Athosians. "Well, ya both seem to be fit." He then produced a chocolate bar for each of them. "Here's a treat for each of you." He said, lifting them from the examination table.

"Thank you Dr. Beckett." Yana said politely.

"You're quite welcome, lass." Carson said, taking both children by the hand and leading them out of the infirmary.

Major Shepherd had been leaning against the infirmary door, waiting for the two youngsters. He almost hated to take them to the mainland. After two days, he was just getting used to them being in Atlantis.

Dr. Weir approached him from behind and then as if reading his mind, laid her hand lightly on his shoulder. "They'll just be on the mainland."

John turned and faced her, a crooked little smile gracing his face. "I know." He paused. "Are you sure that they can't stay here just a little while longer?"

Elizabeth almost laughed. "If they stayed any longer, I don't think you or Ford would ever let them leave." She paused and lightly touched his cheek, immediately drawing her hand back when he winced. "Still hurts?"

"A little." John replied. He saw Dr. Beckett approaching the door with the two little ones.

"Here we are." Carson let go of their hands and Milos immediately grabbed Elizabeth's hand.

"What's this?" She asked as she knelt to his level to see what the small child wanted.

"Moncha." He replied. Elizabeth looked at Yana, confused.

"I think your word for it is . . . mother." She replied, enunciating the word carefully. "Milos likes you." She said to Elizabeth and then looked up at John. "And you too Major Shepherd."

Elizabeth blushed slightly as Yana placed John's hand over Milos', which was still holding Elizabeth's hand firmly. "You will be wed someday."

John's eyes locked with Elizabeth's and a smile came to both of their faces as they mentally contemplated the idea of marriage. A smile crept across his face. "Yeah, right."

Elizabeth did not comment as she took Milos in her arms. Yana reached for John's hand and the four of them headed towards the Jumper bay. Once they were there, Elizabeth stepped inside and made sure that the children were buckled in. "Why don't you come with us?" John asked.

She shook her head. "I couldn't. I have too much to do and . . ."

"Please." Yana asked softly.

"Yeah, please." John echoed.

The current leader of Atlantis knew that she couldn't win in this situation. "OK, but we're not going to be gone for long, right?" She looked at John and he smiled.

"Right." He replied and took the controls. "Jumper One to Gate Room, we're preparing for departure, oh, and Peter, Dr. Weir is with us."

"Dr. Weir is going to the mainland?" Peter asked.

"Yep, looks that way." John replied. "We should be back before nightfall." The pilot placed his hands on the console and looked upward as the roof began to open. He then looked over to Elizabeth who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat. "Ready?" She nodded.

Elizabeth was amazed as the Jumper exited the city of Atlantis. She also marveled at how smoothly John flew the aircraft with so little effort. "There it is." John pointed towards the mainland, smiling. "That's going to be your new home." He looked back at Yana and Milos.

"It's so big." Yana said in awe.

"It sure is." Elizabeth said quietly.

John smiled. "What do you think about it Milos?"

"Pretty." The little boy smiled.

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Koneesh was still very unsettled, even though the Wraith had left the village shortly after John and his team had left through the Stargate. He knew that they would return. "John Shepherd and the others will pay for what they have done to Jordonia." Koneesh vowed.

As if his statement had been heard, a Wraith Dart zipped across the horizon and hovered above Koneesh's tent. Seconds later, he felt himself being transported aboard the Dart and then directly to the Mother Ship.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by Wraith. He immediately bowed to the floor and began to beg for his life.

"If it were you that we wished to feed upon, we would have already done so." A female Wraith spoke. "I am in search of my sister." She hissed. "She came to your planet two days ago and has not returned."

Without lifting from his bowed position, Koneesh reported to the female Wraith. "I fear that your sister has been killed."

"Impossible. We are the living dead and there is very little in this world that can change that."

"Still, I fear that your sister has met her end at the hand of one called John Shepherd of Earth."

The Wraith's eyes grew wide and she hissed loudly. "What do you know of this John Shepherd and where will I find him?"

"He and the others were brought to Jordonia to trade. They never divulged where they were from."

The female Wraith lifted Koneesh's chin, forcing his eyes to look upon her. "Did my sister stand face to face with this John Shepherd of Earth?" She hissed.

Koneesh trembled. "Yes, yes she did."

"Why did she not feast upon him?"

"I do not know. She did strike him with her hand and left four cuts on his cheek."

The Wraith roared with laughter. "She was very wise, my sister."

Before Koneesh could respond, he was beamed back to the surface of the planet and the Wraith Mother Ship left.

"Why do you laugh?" A male Wraith questioned the female.

"Do you not understand it? My sister, in laying her claws upon this John Shepherd of Earth left a tracking marker within his skin. Not only will we be able to locate him and the others from Earth, but soon, the wounds my sister inflicted will become nearly unbearable for him." She laughed heartily again.

"Do you not wish to feast upon this human who has now taken the lives of two of your sisters?" The male Wraith questioned.

The female Wraith's eyes glared at him like two swords. "I would much rather see him tortured for what he has done to our race. Feasting upon him first would be much too lenient. That will be saved for when he is very near his death."

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John shivered slightly as he started to land the Jumper. The sudden movement didn't go unnoticed by Elizabeth. "Are you alright?"

The pilot shrugged it off. "Yeah, fine." He landed the Jumper and the control console shut down. "Come on you." He picked up Milos as Yana took Elizabeth's hand and they headed out to meet the Athosians.

Halling was the first to greet them. "Welcome!" He shouted and quickly took Elizabeth's free hand. "I am honored that you have come to visit, Dr. Weir."

"I'm sorry that it's taken me so long. I should have been to visit much sooner than this."

"Please, let me show you our new crops." He quickly guided her towards their gardening area. She looked over her shoulder to see where John was and saw that the children were already gathering around him, probably for another story, she thought.

As the evening wore on, John began to feel tired. He yawned and excused himself from the children to find Elizabeth. Halling was showing her the storage area for the upcoming harvest. John interrupted. "Dr. Weir, it's getting late and we did tell Peter that you would be back before nightfall."

She couldn't hide her concern for the Major when she saw his face. "Are you feeling OK?"

"I'm just tired." He replied.

Her brow furrowed and she lightly bit her lip, a bad habit she had picked up recently. It wasn't like John to admit to being tired, plus he had been resting since the team had returned from Jordonia two days prior. What was going on? She made a mental note to consult Carson when they got back to Atlantis.

John said his goodbyes to Yana, Milos and the other children and then shook Halling's hand before boarding the Jumper. Elizabeth found him already seated at the controls after she too said her goodbyes.

After she was seated, John brought the console to life and set course for Atlantis. "Did you have a nice visit with Halling?" He asked.

"Very nice." She replied as she looked out over the landscape. "It's amazing what they've been able to grow in such a short time. Have you had a chance to look at the fields?" She turned her head towards him only to find that he had slumped against the control panel, his eyes closed tightly, as if in pain.

"John!" She cried out as she reached around him, lifting his upper body back into the seat. His head rolled from side to side. She lightly tapped his uninjured cheek. "John, wake up! Come on Major, I can't fly this thing!" Her focus turned to the front and her eyes grew wide as she saw Atlantis coming into view. "John, please!"

The Major struggled to open his eyes. Seeing that they were approaching Atlantis quickly, he summoned up all of his strength. "Hold my hand over the console." He mumbled.

Elizabeth took his right hand and held it steadily over the console and marveled again as the Jumper returned to the bay with little to no effort on John's part. The ship really did seem to fly itself when he was at the controls.

As the Jumper landed with a slight 'thump', John allowed his arm to go limp along with the rest of his body. Dr. Weir hit the intercom button. "This is Dr. Weir, I need a Medical Team to the Jumper Bay, now!"

To be continued . . .