Here's today's chapter. I hope you like it. Only a few more chapters left, or so Elphie Muse tells me.
Elphie Muse:I promise, only a few chapters left this time.
Good. Now on with the story.
I own nothing.
"Report!" Elizabeth yelled.
"The Wraith ships have taken up a stationary position several hundred kilometers from the planet," a technician said.
"The Daedalus has engaged several of the hive ships," another said.
"The Ragnarok has also engaged the Wraith," a third said.
"Have you found Dante and Doctor Fraiser yet?" Elizabeth demanded.
"No ma'am," a military officer said.
"See? What did I tell you? Not trustworthy!" Rodney exclaimed.
"Do me a favor McKay. Shut your damn mouth!" a voice snapped through the radio. Something flew past the large windows in the Gate Room, sending reverberations throughout the area.
"Dante?" Elizabeth asked.
"You got me."
"What are you flying?" she asked.
"A ship," he answered. "I'd talk more, but I got some Wraith to kill. And McKay, the next time you say something biased against me, think back to this moment when I had to save your ass."
Elizabeth turned to the scientist. "Go make sure the ZPMs are working properly." Rodney nodded and left the room. "Dante, good luck."
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"Dante, good luck," Elizabeth said.
Dante switched off the radio and hit several buttons as they blasted into the darkness of space. "Well this is strange," he murmured.
"What is?" Janet asked.
"The hive ships are staying far enough away that the defenses from Atlantis won't pick them up. And of the few scout ships that have ventured too close, one of the hive ships keeps blasting them out of the sky."
"What does that mean?"
Dante dodged an attack from a Wraith dart. "It means that someone on that hive ship knows where the traps are."
"How is that possible?" she asked.
"I don't know. And that's what worries me." He put the ship in a right roll to dodge several blasts from a dart. "No Wraith should have that knowledge. The ones that do are all dead."
"Apparently not," Janet said. Dante nodded. He continued dodging the blasts and guided the ship closer to the Wraith hive ships. "Dante, what are you doing?"
"Getting closer," he replied.
"Why?" she asked.
"So I can beam aboard the ship," he answered.
"Ah. And why would you want to do that?"
"To find out who's leading them," he said. "The ship's cloaked, and I don't think the Wraith will be able to pick it up." He rose to his feet and headed for the cargo area. Janet followed, worry on her face.
"You know, you don't have to do this to prove yourself," she said.
Dante checked a lone gun before replacing it in his holster. He pulled her into a hug, his head resting on hers. "I have to do this," he said. "Something's not right on that lead Wraith ship. I need to find out why."
Janet slowly nodded. "All right. Just don't get yourself killed."
"Think you can fly this thing?" he asked.
She nodded. "I am an Air Force officer you know," she said in a mock serious voice. She kissed him gently on the cheek. "Good luck." He nodded and stood in the center of the room. He hit a button on his bracer and vanished from sight.
"Dante, Janet, you guys there?" Elizabeth's voice asked.
Janet ran up to the cockpit and sat in the pilot's seat. "I'm here. Dante's…Dante is being Dante."
"Why do I get the feeling he's on one of the hive ships?"
"Because he is," Janet answered. "Look, there's something not right going on up here. The Wraith seem to know about the defense line the Ancients set up years ago. That shouldn't be possible. Just…just trust him."
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Dante materialized in a large room, Wraith darts flying in and out. He quickly ran into a hallway and hid as a patrol went by. "Into the hornet's nest we go," he murmured. He crept through the halls, barely making any sound. He soon came upon a cell and peeked inside. Three people, a woman, a man, and a small child, were huddled together in the far corner. The child saw him and whimpered causing her parents to look up at Dante. The hybrid noticed the controls for the door and opened it.
"Who…who are you?" the man asked.
"A friend," Dante answered. "Are there anymore prisoners on this ship?"
"We don't know," the woman said. "But there is no way off of this ship," she told him. "We will die here."
Dante shook his head. "Not if I have anything to say about it." He turned his head as faint footsteps neared. "Huddle together, now!" he hissed. The family did so and Dante hit a button on his bracer. The trio vanished in a flash of light.
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Elizabeth frowned when three people suddenly materialized in the Gate Room. She hurried down to them. "Are you three all right?"
"That…that man…he…he saved us…" the woman stammered.
"What man?" Rodney asked.
"We did not know him. He wore a long coat and had dark red hair. He pressed something on his arm and we were engulfed in a white light. Then we came here," the man answered.
"What's going on?" Beckett said, slowly making his way into the room. He was still recovering from the after-effects of the cure, but was otherwise completely normal and healthy.
"Former prisoners of the Wraith," Elizabeth said. "Can you make sure they're okay?" she asked.
He nodded. "Come with me. You're safe now," the Scotsman said.
"If you see that man, give him our thanks," the woman said.
Elizabeth nodded. "I'll do that. Once Doctor Beckett has made sure you're all healthy, we'll take you to a safer location than this." The man nodded and they followed Beckett and several security guards out of the room.
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Dante continued his way through the hive ship, staying alert for more prisoners. He crept around a bend and saw more people huddled together in a cell. He began making his way towards them when something hit him from behind. He rolled forward and pulled out his gun, firing off numerous shots that all found their targets. He swiftly changed clips as he rose to his feet.
He opened the cell door. "Huddle together. I'm getting you out of here!"
"You cannot stop the Wraith. They are gods," a voice said from behind him.
Dante activated the transporter before turning around. A group of men and women stood in the hall dressed in white clothes. Dante aimed his gun at them. "If you think that then you're dumber than you look."
"The Wraith will protect us," a woman said.
"No they won't. They'll use you to protect themselves first," Dante said. "I've seen it before."
"You are too young to tell us what to know," an older woman snapped.
Dante chuckled and shook his head. "I'm a helluva lot older than all of you put together lady. I've seen kingdoms rise and fall. I've seen the worst of mankind and the best of mankind. The Wraith, they're nothing but a small chapter in history. One that'll end today." He pointed the gun at the ground and fired off a shot. "Besides," he continued, "I'm a lot worse than the Wraith."
He suddenly grunted in pain as several shots struck him in the back. He weakly rolled over. He held the darkness off long enough to see several Wraith standing over him. He closed his eyes passed out as they picked him up.
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Dante shook his head as he came too, clearing out the cobwebs. He blinked, realizing that he was in a different room. He glanced down at his arm and noticed that his coat was still on. He could feel the bracer on his skin and said a silent prayer of thanks. He looked around the large hall as a female Wraith walked in.
"You are a brave one to challenge us alone," she said.
"Good for me," he retorted.
"Brave, but foolish. No one will ever be able to defeat us now," she said, leaning down close to his face.
Dante shut his eyes and coughed. "Is that because your breath smells like the backside of a mule?"
The Wraith struck him across the face but his head barely moved. "You will pay for your insolence."
"Too bad I'm broke," he returned.
"You'll pay with your life," she hissed. "You humans are weak. You are made of nothing," she laughed.
"Let me up and I'll show you want I'm made of Wraith," Dante said as he slowly tensed his muscles.
"I think not," a new voice said.
Dante turned as a new Wraith walked into the room. He was slightly taller and bulkier than the other Wraith. He wore mostly black and his hair was tied back behind his head. He halted in front of Dante and smiled cruelly.
"Lord Ja'aku," the female Wraith greeted with a bow.
Ja'aku ignored her. "You see, I'm a bit hungry. It has been a long time since I fed off of a brave human. Over ten thousand years actually."
"That's impossible," Dante said. "Wraith can't live that long, even if they do hibernate. Unless…" he said softly.
"Before I was imprisoned by the Alterans, I managed to procure and perfect two serums they were working on. I managed to inject myself with them, but then they imprisoned me and burned the work that I did to their serums. But it made no difference. I had finally become a true immortal. I am a god among everything," he said.
"You're a hybrid," Dante realized.
"The oldest and now, thanks to you destroying my laboratory, the only. When my mate Lilith rejoins me on Earth, all will tremble before us," Ja'aku said.
Dante rose to his feet in spite of the two Wraith pushing him down. He backhanded them, sending them flying across the room. He glared at Ja'aku. "Lilith won't be able to join you Ja'aku."
"And why's that boy?" the Wraith hybrid demanded.
Dante smiled without humor. "Because I killed her. Her neck snapped easier than a brittle twig. She died, begging for mercy."
"You lie," Ja'aku said softly.
"Afraid not. So why don't you show me what you're made of? I'll do the same."
"You're a human," the female Wraith said.
Dante laughed. "I've never been human."
"It matters not what you are. I shall crush you for what you have done!" Ja'aku roared. He tore off his jacket and shirt as white fur sprouted from his pale gray skin. His eyes turned completely black and his feet split the boots he wore. Black talons emerged from his fingers and toes. His face lengthened slightly, giving him a slight canine appearance. His frame had enlarged and he had bigger muscles. He roared at Dante.
"Now you will die," the female Wraith cackled.
"We'll see," Dante said. He ripped off his coat and shirt as he transformed as well. Dark red fur grew over a majority of his chest and arms, black lines showing where his tattoos were. His tattoos extended to the back of his neck and part of his face. Silver claws extended from his fingers and toes. His pendants glinted in the light. The bracer on Dante's left arm had expanded to match his bulkier frame.
The two hybrids growled in challenge at each other, daring the other to make the first move. Several of the Wraith guards backed against the wall, not wanting to be in the way of their leader. The female Wraith's eyes darted from one hybrid to the other, unsure of whom would ultimately win.
Dante roared at Ja'aku and Ja'aku returned the challenge. They suddenly ran for each other, claws extended and gleaming in the light.
Only one more chapter left then an epilogue. Stay tuned to see how the fight turns out! But until then, review! Reviews make me happy, and a happy author is a good author.
