Chapter 8
She could not mistake the imperious stalking as anything, but Wraith warriors. They had no need for stealth. They came; they ravaged; and they lay waste. This was no different. They thought they could enter the room and easily take the three targets within it. They knew not with whom they dealt.
The maniacal glee on Orodi's face made her almost feel sorry for the first three Wraith who dared to step foot onto the bridge. Oh yes, this former passive explorer wanted to feel their bones crush in his hands. No more battling from afar, or allowing lesser children do it for him. It was his turn.
With a shrill, glass shattering cry, he twisted the first one's body until it formed two halves. The next one's head caved in from his blows. He crushed wind pipes, broke backs, and his cries echoed throughout the small room as the bodies dropped around him.
But, just like the ships, they kept coming.
As the Wraith focused on Orodi, she clumsily reached for Sheppard's hands and frantically tried to pull him out of the chair. They needed to escape this room. Then, in a horrific, double punch of a moment; the pulse did not beat beneath the skin on the still warm wrist. It was followed by a thick hand wrapped around her neck; it forcibly ripped her away from Sheppard. She was held high enough that her boots dangled freely in the air.
"It's dead?" The Wraith holding her asked a drone standing over Sheppard's body. "It's the one we've heard so much about, the killer of the Caretaker. Too bad, it's considered a delicacy." Then the Wraith male grinned wantonly at her, "And, this little thing has been the cause of so much chaos. Two problems removed. If nothing else, these two are enough that our Queen will breath easier."
Whispers in her mind taunted her. Images of what they were going to do with his body assailed every sensibility. She peered down at him. John Sheppard had brought hope to her people. The children's games had turned from fleeing the Wraith to fighting them. He had done something no one else in recent memory had: entered a Hive ship and rescued the taken.
Children wanted to be Major Sheppard and Lt. Ford storming the Hive ship. They pretended to destroy many a dart using whatever they could find. The third most popular person was Col. Sumner because he had withstood the mental onslaught of a Wraith Queen. He kept his people safe by offering nothing to lead them to Earth. He had even offered his life to save one of her people. By the time he got to the chamber, Sheppard had had no choice but to shoot the other officer, no question about it.
In their first days of living together on Atlantis, the rumors and stories spread about the incident. She could see his guilt build with each comment. To hear him speak of it now was unusual. He could not understand that his actions, that woke the Wraith, were not viewed the same way by her people. Awakening was inevitable, but members of the expedition had the good fight within them. His actions stepped up the time table, but their arrival in this galaxy also altered the balance of power.
Her people were in awe of the city, but were skeptical of these visitors who had taken up residence- at first. Their alien ways were strange to the Athosians. Familiarity led to understanding on both sides. Even though they butted heads over matters, even though they outright disagreed, they made good allies. His people provided a feeling of safety.
She looked back at the thing holding her by the throat with all the hatred she could muster. They were to blame, no one else. These loathsome beings were going to desecrate someone who represented autonomy to her people and someone who was a friend. She would not allow that.
Behind her newest captor, Orodi continued to kill each Wraith as it tried to attack him. Their blood glistened in his coal black hair and he seemed to drink it all in. The Wraith found his movements unpredictable. She could feel their surprise at his ease in thwarting their attacks. This ship, however, was too great a prize to let go, so they kept coming.
To her short lived relief, he spied the drone over Sheppard. A hand reached around the mask and ripped it off revealing nothing, but tissue and blood vessels underneath. The huge drone dropped to his knees and hit the floor. Then Orodi was off to the next victim like a child playing a game of tag. As quickly as he dispatched a warrior, more flooded in three by three to take its place.
Her relief vanished when another drone pulled Sheppard roughly out of the chair by his leg. The sound of his head cracking on the floor infuriated her. She did not know how, but she would not let them take the frustrating, imperfect, bullheaded and arrogant man with them. Not on this day.
We will use his bones as decoration. His hair shall be woven into talismans. No one can defy us forever, no one.
No more time, Rodney and Ronon were too late. If she could just get Orodi's attention, he could keep them from taking him. If she could get into their minds, do something, anything.
The Wraith holding her reared his hand back and he sneered, "Human, you should have known better."
She defied him even if was only with her thoughts. She watched with two open eyes as his hand readied to steal her life. His hand moved forward and she waited. Then, his head completely disappeared from his shoulders.
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The trip from the medical bay to the hall outside of the bridge was like speed walking with hummingbirds. They had gone from safety to frontline in a matter of milliseconds. Rodney raised the P90s immediately and Ronon began Ginsu-ing and blasting anything that remotely looked nonhuman. Smiley stopped smiling as Mayor remained behind all of them.
"Ronon, kill any who are near your friends first." She looked at Rodney as her complexion shifted from a kaleidoscope of colors to a stark, bed sheet white. "Remain here and fire on all those that come down the corridor. When I call, come to the bridge as fast as you can."
Rodney nodded, threw Ronon one of the P90s and handed Mayor his 9 mil. "Safety's off. Just squeeze this and aim at anything with white hair and fangs."
Mayor accepted the weapon with shaking hands. They positioned themselves next to a wall. They both opened up when the first boot came around the corner.
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A doorway formed for Ronon to enter the bridge and he saw Teyla immediately. He was going to enjoy this. He did not get many opportunities to unleash his pent up fury. The opportunity was now here.
With swift, deafening silence, he took his blade and removed the overconfident bastard's head. He fought the urge to stand over it and gloat. Instead, he looked up to see Teyla drop to the floor with little or no grace that usually defined her. She removed the hand from her neck with a show of disgust and looked wildly around the room. The feral scream, that came out of her mouth as Ronon handed her the P90, shocked him. He was not the only one releasing a little fury.
She opened fire on a drone dragging Sheppard by the leg towards the opening in the damaged wall. When he fell, she leapt over bodies, slipped in the blood on the floor and grabbed Sheppard by the collar. Another drone grabbed his leg. With a fierceness Ronon had not seen in her yet; she unloaded a clip into it. The drone let go as he dropped dead to the deck. Ronon was quickly by her side to pull their leader back to the chair.
Teyla fell against the chair's wall clutching Sheppard to her chest. Her fingers dug into the exposed shirt. Ronon handed her another clip and he began blasting Wraith again. She reloaded her gun with practiced ease, as she cradled Sheppard's head on her arm. She held the P90 ready to fire on anything that would try to take him from her.
"Not on this day," she grunted between her teeth. She fired on anything getting close.
A voice rang out over the din of battle, "Orodi! Long since our last meeting!"
Ronon spun to see the being that…killed him. He missed him when he entered the room, because Orodi was covered by attacking Wraith. They lay at his feet now, save one. He fought the urge to use his blade on the man. Lucky for this Orodi, it sang for Wraith blood. He did not want to disappoint it. The conversation drifted his way as he continued to reduce the number of living Wraith in the room.
Orodi stopped mid-twisting of the neck, "Moab." He regarded her frigidly. "I will not go back."
"Ah little brother, you are not welcome." She looked around. "This is inexcusable."
"Then leave, it's not your business. I won't tell you again." He finished the twist and dropped the body.
"Not without the Solar Tempest. She is very upset. Moreover, Dorare would not have condoned this, but I believe someone else has already told you that." She looked at Sheppard clutched tight to Teyla's breast. Her P90 cut down the Wraith as they entered from the damaged wall. "Dr. McKay and Mayor of the Thack'eeryn, come in quickly!"
The P90 fire from the hall ceased immediately. Rodney scurried in pulling the little guy behind him. He ran over to Teyla and gave a brief nod. Ronon felled his last drone and joined the rest of his team. He knelt down beside them and examined Sheppard. He let his chin drop to his chest before he said anything.
"Teyla, he's…"
"I know Ronon. I could not let them take him. They were going to…" She stopped in an uncharacteristic moment of emotional turmoil. Her eyes flicked to McKay who scowled back at her.
Ronon nodded in understanding. He had heard of taking trophies from particular kills, especially by those Wraith that chased runners. So much of Sheppard's story from the last year he had not heard. Whatever he did to deserve such interest, would be a good tale.
The doorway disappeared and the damaged wall closed. Moab continued to look fiercely at her brother.
"Don't you dare!" He shouted at her. "They're mine to destroy! This ship's mine to command!"
"Solar Tempest, daughter of Nocturnal Song; the Old Ones- upon my recommendation- relieve your captain," she passed her hand over a section of the console, "The link between you is severed; you now can allow a new captain. I humbly request the honor of servitude to you."
Orodi went nearly transparent white.
"Guess that's a yes then," whispered Rodney.
Orodi glared at the small group of humans clustered near the Control Chair. "They're ill equipped for this insatiable and gluttonous race. They're what the greedy crave. It would be as if their vegetables revolted to gain their freedom." He waved a hand at them. "I should just end their suffering as well."
Without a word, Moab struck her brother solidly against the chest. He flew through the previously damaged wall without so much as leaving a mark. She returned her attention to the main console. "Solar, can you maneuver yet? I will take care of all unwanted guests," Then Moab gave an exasperated snort, "No…Of course, they cannot have you…No, I will not leave you…Yes, and we will go home."
Ronon bit back a smile. The ship sounded like McKay.
A voice boomed out of the wall behind them, "She's mine! You can't have her!"
"Oh dear God, it's Trelane," said Rodney as they turned to face the wall.
Orodi stepped out of the wall and stalked back over to Moab. "They killed Dorare! Why would I even want to return without her? Can the Old Ones bring her back?"
Moab sternly shook her head. "You know there is nothing to bring back. They took her essence into them. When you killed those responsible, you forfeited any chance of recovery."
"Retribution, justice…!"
"Penance?"
"They'll die by my hand, not yours!"
"Brother, you ignore reason." Moab slowly and deliberately blinked, "All the intruders, not lying dead in this room, are now obliterated. I could not take a chance of any surviving. The only ones left are those on their ships. I will not annihilate a race, no matter how detestable, because of Dorare's murder."
Orodi sneered, "Then, I will." He closed his eyes with a self-righteous smile on his lips.
With a lightening fast move, Moab had Orodi by the throat. He appeared to be suspended parallel to the floor for a second before she knocked him on to it. He landed on his back as her hand remained around his neck. Realization of her intent unfolded on his face along with shock. It did not surprise Ronon. That stark white face showed her disappointment, but it also showed her acceptance of what she had to do.
She broke his neck with a flick of her fingers. Moab gently straightened his clothes as he lay lifeless on the deck of his former ship. She placed her forehead on his and whispered, "I was always the stronger one; I am sorry. As an emissary of the Old Ones and your sister, I regret this action and will miss you. Join Dorare as you wished. Your life is now forfeit."
Rodney's mouth hung agape. When it finally shut, he sputtered. Ronon smiled grimly, not often was the man speechless. McKay would not understand. He should not. Sheppard and Teyla would. Ronon did. He felt a kindred spirit with this being.
Ronon refocused on the others. Teyla clutched Sheppard close, while Mayor hid behind the sputtering McKay. They were stunned, but fine.
"You see, Dr. McKay? When my kind makes mistakes, they are usually whoppers. Yes, there's that food thing again." Her sadness shown in her eyes as her face turned a light pink. "We make mistakes. We misplace our ships, our family and friends, and some of our possessions. When that happens, blowing up a solar system is only the start if we do not rectify the situation using time's linear flow. And, only if we are lucky." She gave one last squeeze to Orodi's hand. "Solar, please place him with Dorare."
The body sank through the floor. A few seconds later, the Wraith bodies followed his.
She met Ronon's gaze and nodded. He was right; she was a kindred spirit. Someone who felt betrayed by another she trusted and loved. This had been her mission all along. It was a hell of a thing going to kill a friend or a loved one. He and the team were just beneficiaries of the mission. He also had a feeling that the breaking of his neck was symbolic. These beings were near immortal and such an act- not.
She returned to the problems at hand and began talking to no one in particular, "They will figure out that all the boarding parties are dead and resume firing soon. Solar has begun affecting repairs but…"
"Can you help him?" Ronon asked pointing to Sheppard. "Because, here I stand, when I shouldn't be."
"What is done, Ronon, can be undone." She looked back at the controls. "Solar, try to make for that moon."
McKay swallowed, "I can…"
Teyla's head shot up and she interrupted Rodney, "Another Hive ship has arrived."
"I was afraid of that. Dr. McKay, I have a request," said Moab. "You are not going to like it."
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"Come on you lousy piece of …" the muttering had been nonstop as Rodney reached into the depths of the wiring for the chair. He had offered to take her place before his brain and self-preservation caught on. Moab was right; they needed this chair active. He was the only one left to use it. That left Teyla to help Sheppard. Ronon and Mayor could not due to their recent resurrections. Something about electrical activity in the nerve endings and connections still rewiring, strain on the heart…to be honest, she tuned out the rest of the explanation.
She would catch McKay peeking out as Moab kneeled beside them. "The damage to Solar left her unable to preserve him. I must do this now. You have already done this once before. Are you willing to do this again?"
Teyla studied the black eyes before her. These held a knowledge, an understanding and a kindness Orodi's had forgotten long ago; from a day he could not escape. She was grateful for the question. "Gladly."
"Will it hurt her?" Ronon asked. His protectiveness for his new team flared like his nostrils.
"Hey! You sure didn't show that same kind of concern for me!" Rodney grunted from inside the chair. "Do I hear a, 'Gee, thanks Rodney for saving me.'? Nooo. As soon as it looks like it might cause Teyla a little discomfort, you go all body guardish. But to answer your question, no, it doesn't hurt, per se. It just feels weird. She'll be fine."
Teyla looked from Ronon to the mayor and back to Rodney's feet. She smiled in recognition. "Do it."
Moab's hand clasped hers and the transfer began. This time, however, the transfer was fluid, not forced. It was easier.
She relaxed until the next volley of shots struck the Solar Tempest.
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A/N: Well now, here we are. Please feed the need and hit the button.