Deri walked along the narrow mountain path followed by two superior officers. They had ordered him to lead, and he had obeyed without question, but he knew that they only did it because they were afraid. If the Wraith showed up, he'd be the first to go.

But his family saw that the Wraith were an underestimated enemy, and since he was a child, his brother and father had taught him about the wraith. He had been trained by them to sense them, and to fight them. He had a better chance against a Wraith then anyone on Atlantis. He'd be fine.

The rounded a corner and saw an outcropping of rock, and deep within the growth was a tiny cabin. He saw a shadow flicker out of the corner of his eye, and he held out a hand to stop the other men. "Wraith." He said.

"How many?" Said the older man. The fear was evident in his voice.

"Just one." Deri replied darkly, "A big one, and he knows we're here."

The door to the cabin opened and the largest Wraith Deri had ever seen stepped out. His blue skin stood out against the greenery.

"Move," Deri whispered harshly, "Now!"

They moved past him and into the small clearing. Deri crouched and fumbled with his bulky shoulder holster. The other officers already had theirs out and drawn. The one closest to the Wraith aimed, and his weapon made a soft whirring sound.

The massive beast turned, terrifying ice-blue eyes zeroing on him. Before anyone could react, the Wraith was upon him, and the man was dead. Then he turned to the other man, and when their eyes met, he froze.

"Fire!" Deri shouted, "Shoot him!"

The man fired into the Wraiths gut, but it kept coming. "Again!" Deri shouted.

The Wraith swung a strange weapon that looked like a crossbow up over his shoulder. It landed in his hands and a slender, deadly arrow rose from the middle section. The tip glowed a terrible, brilliant blue for an instant before he fired it.

In a moment, it was over. The arrow hit the other man's heart, and he fell backwards, dead.

Deri had a heartbeat to decide whether to run, or fight; but he had never been one to run from anything. The Wraith charged at him with terrifying speed. He picked Deri up by the throat so they were eye level. A tense moment passed before Deri spoke. "Well, aren't you going to eat me?" he said, his voice strained.

The beast growled and glanced towards the house. "No, I've had my fill." He squeezed Deri harder. "I think I'll enjoy crushing your throat instead."

Suddenly Deri smirked. He was keeping another secret, and another weapon. He always kept a small dagger tucked in his boot. It was against regulation, but apparently, it shouldn't have been. "Well," he said, "Think again."

In one quick movement, he pulled his leg up, and grabbed the dagger. As hard as he could, he pulled it upwards, towards the heart. The Wraith growled and his grip slackened, but he did not let go. Deri pulled out the blade and drove it into the Wraith's shoulder. He dragged it along the flesh, cutting deep. He hit the strap of the weapon, and knocked it off his shoulder. Finally, the Wraith released him. He scrambled along the ground and found the weapon. He pulled it into his hands and pointed it up at the towering creature. "Step back." Was all he could think to say.

"Fool." He said, "None of your kind can use this weapon."

He realized that he had no idea how to use the thing, but he focused on it all the same. The dart flew upward and glowed. "Looks like I'm full of surprises."

He fired one shot upward at his gut, hoping that it would pass the ribcage and hit some vital organs. He fired another as soon as he could, this time at a knee. The wraith fell down on the other knee. Deri hit him as hard as he could with the butt of the gun, and amazingly, the thing fell backwards. He clamored over the wraith, and pointed the weapon squarely between the eyes. He stared him down, and the wraith just laughed.

He fired.

Short chapter this time, but pretty intense, and in case you are sloooowww...it was a flashback (that's why the italics).

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Eveie