Chapter 3
Misfits.
Moonlight emerged from the water and slowly wiped her face with her hands, brushing wet hair back.
She was very relaxed. Almost forgot where she is... and that's why enough to lounge around. The bath was very relaxing, but place not very safe for her.
She stepped out of the bathtub and reached for the towel, wrap her hair in one and the other wiping up.
When she finally came out of the bathroom, wiping her still wet hair, from the main room she heard male voices. She stopped, thinking at first, that Beckett has patients. But the conversations quickly realize her, that the male came for another purpose: they demanded the drugs and equipment.
- You do not escape from this far away - said militantly Lineth. - The people will not let you do it.
- Are you sure? - asked mockingly the highest of them and pointed at to her with his gun.
A woman took a step back, but then mastered his fear.
He had to be the leader of the gang, thought Moonlight, and eliminate leaders usually weakens the enemy - as said the old military rule.
She glanced quickly around, but she has not found anything useful, apart from an open suitcase with the tools of the doctor. She pulled form her three scalpels. The two she hid in their high, leather boots, and the last in sleeve of jacket. Strangely skewer ended handle she spiel her hair.
And then she calmly walked into the room.
At the sight of her assailants reached for his gun, pointing at her.
Beckett and Lineth looked at her with mixed feelings of fear and relief, but Moonlight only slightly cocked head and smiled slightly to males.
- You should find a decent job... instead of the attack on the defenseless humans - she said calmly.
- Wraith queen, here? - snorted their leader. - You lost your hive, honey?
The others laughed, but she ignored them.
- I'm on vacation - she talk back.
The man smiled, though her presence seriously stress about him.
- Alone? It may be dangerous.
- I can take care of myself - she responded, still very calm voice, as if they carried on a conversation about the very loose topic.
- Boss, let's get out - threw the back another man. - This is Queen. She certainly is not alone.
- I do not see others - said his boss and smiled a little more confident. - You know, you're charming as the Wraith - he said, loosening up.
- Pretense are often deceptive... Mr. Donnelly - she said and smiled mockingly at the last words, revealing her sharp, white teeth.
The man's eyes widened and he again wanted to aim to her, but it was too late. The female in the blink of an eye, jumped to him, grabbed his arm and yanked him to the gun, twisting his wrist and at the same time turning him back to back. Then she pushed him for his companion.
The third pulled the trigger. Energy bolt flew right next to her head, when she dodged it at the last moment. She reached into the sleeve of the scalpel. This thrust into the soft tissue below the clavicle. The man groaned in pain, barely keeping a gun in his hand.
Moonlight did not wait. She pulled the other two scalpels of her shoes and threw them in the direction of the leaders, who had just re-turned to face to her. Blade dug into his chest. He opened his mouth and bit down on his knees.
The Wraith female jumped forward and then she up, bouncing off the back of a man. In flight she reached into her hair. The long, delicate curls scattered on.
A third man stepped back, open his eyes wide. He did not shoot on time. Skewer stuck to the side of his neck, and Moonlight fell quietly behind him on a slightly bent legs.
- What a waste of food - she muttered to herself.
Then she turned to the doctor and his assistant, giving them calm smile.
- It was... - Beckett began, pointing to the corpses. - Wow… I did not know that the Wraith females can fight like this.
- You do not know about us a lot of things - she said. - From child care for our comprehensive education.
- I can see that - he said with a slight smile, still unable to recover.
Proud attitude of women still conscious of him that he has to deal with the Wraith.
Moments earlier, the man who ran out of the doctor's house, holding his hand on his wound, past beyond four branch in the black uniforms.
Colonel Sheppard's team looked at him with mild surprise.
- And what happened to him? - McKay snorted.
- Did he just...? - Ronon began, jerking a thumb at the house Beckett.
- I guess he does not like doctors - said with a sarcastic smile colonel and walked calmly on.
- He ran up, that behind him was smoking - McKay snorted again.
They walked to the open door, through which they saw someone talking to the doctor.
- If you will be so scared patients, it in a moment you will not have who to heal, doc - the threshold Sheppard joked.
Beckett looked at him, surprised. The man took a step forward and suddenly the corner of his eye he saw the left side of the woman. She just jumped up, to grab the gun lying on the ground. She aimed him at the same time in the newcomers, as they their guns at her.
- Do not shoot! - Carson exclaimed, jumping forward with outstretched arms in the both sides. - She is my patient!
- This is Wraith - Ronon hissed. - Female.
- She will not do anything to you, I assure you - he tried to reassure his colleagues, stepping closer. Then he looked at Moonlight. - Mo, please put it away.
She did not respond and did not answer anything, still pointing to the people of her gun with a very unpleasant look.
And then she relaxed a bit and picked up the gun, then give it to the doctor slowly. He took from her weapon and looked at the branch of Atlantis.
- Now, you - he said quietly. - Leaves the gun.
- Are you sure, doc? - said Sheppard. - I have a clear shot.
- Yes, I'm sure, colonel - assured him firmly.
With a significant hesitation, and even more reluctantly, who clearly etched on his face, John Sheppard slowly lowered his rifle. The others did the same... except for Dex.
- Ronon? - Carson calmly admonished him. - Please, put the gun down. She did not threaten anyone.
- Say it to them - a gesture of the head he was indicated to two bodies on the ground.
- They attacked us - explained doctor. - They wanted to take the medicine and equipment. Mo defended us.
Satedan corner of his eye looked at the doctor and finally lowered the gun.
Moonlight gave him a haughty look, the same that always threw another of her mother.
- That's better - pleased Beckett said.
- How did she get here? - Teyla said.
- Her fighter crashed in the settlement two days ago. She was hurt, so I took care of her.
The others looked at him with concern.
- None of these things - he assured right away, realizing what they had feared, and stepped forward to the women and grab her hand. - She can't feed on... Look - he raised her hand.
The others look in disbelief in the place, where normally be nutritional gap.
- Teenager? - asked Emmagan.
- No. She has two hundred years.
- So, retrovirus? - McKay said.
- That's what I thought at first - he said, and let go of her hand to stop behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. - But it turns out, that Mo had never undergone changes in known to us Wraith form. Someone fragment her DNA resulted blockade of this process, and that we are going to find out to how and why.
They did not answer, still in disbelief, looking at the doctor... and Wraith female.
- You want to take her on Atlantis? - asked finally Sheppard.
- Here I do not have the right equipment... You imagine how great it would be a breakthrough in our research on the retrovirus. Her DNA may be the answer to all the obstacles, that we encountered until now by REV.
- At the moment I imagine what she's plotting - colonel muttered, still carefully watching Moonlight.
She does not owe him remained, though her eyes were calm... but with a hint of malice.
- You remind me someone - he said.
- This is daughter of the Queen, which we called Mina - Beckett said.
- I was thinking of someone else... but it's also an interesting message. At least we now know what to expect from her.
- I disappoint you, colonel Sheppard, but I do not have anything to do with the specific actions of my mother - she said.
- Not only you look more like human, but even you have a different voice, than the rest of the Wraith - he said.
- It has a meaning?
He shrugged his shoulders.
- This is only my remark - he said, and looked at the doctor. - Woolsey get a heart attack, when we bring her - he snorted. - You will be responsible for her, doc - he reserved.
- Of course. But I do not think there was any problem with her. She was looking for us. She wants to get an answer with us why she did not pass conversion. She led her own research, but other Wraith destroyed it every time.
- I wonder why they did not take her as food - McKay said. - Do you remember how her mother treated Michael? They despised him, because of the transformation in the human... In truth she was not affected, but she is also not fully Wraith.
- It must have been hard for you... to live with this burden - Teyla noticed.
- Up to everything you can to get used to - Moonlight said. - I had a little more luck than… Michael. I was her daughter, not a stranger found in the woods. It's easier to despise strangers than someone close... By the way, you pretty annoyed him with the second transformation into a human - she snorted.
- You knew him? - asked Athozian woman.
- I met him a few times... First, on the hive of my mother, and then after you submit him again retrovirus.
Yes. She remembered very well the first meeting with Michael.
It was only a few days before the death of her mother. When she arrived at her hive, she did not know of his existence. It was only Sharpeye mentioned about him as a curiosity, that should be interesting to her.
And he interested her. Very much. Immediately she decided to speak to him.
He just sat in his quarters…
.
"…She touched the panel by the door, waiting for her to open it. After a moment in the doorway stood a little lower than she Wraith, with short cut hair and brown uniform. Retrovirus activity was still visible. His ears remain human, and his hair were a mix of gray and black.
He looked at her in surprise. She smiled slightly, holding hands behind back.
- I am Moonlight - she introduced herself.
- Yes, I know - he said with a slight consternation. - I mean, I've heard about you.
- Can I come in?
- Yes, please - he stepped back, inviting her into the hand gesture.
Entering, she looked intently at the room plunged into darkness.
- I hope that it does not disturb you in any way.
- Oh, no... I was thinking - he said, walking over to her. - Please, sit down.
She looked at the bench under the window and sat on it. Michael stood in front of her.
- Forgive me my confusion, but I do not really know how to treat you - he explained to. - My memory is still flawed after...
- After a retrovirus - she finished for him calmly.
- You hear that?
- That's why I came to you... In a way we are alike. You been turned into human, what the effect is still visible... I was never attained the full development phase... Both of us they consider to be misfits.
The Wraith smiled.
- Yes, I noticed, that they treat me… differently - he said.
- They are careful. Like me, you can be useful for hive, but they will always treat you any differently.
- How do you deal with that?
She shrugged her shoulders slightly.
- Somehow I never pay much more attention to this - she said. - My closest treat me well, and the opinion of the rest of the little I care... Besides, truth be told, I always preferred to deal with other things than being a Queen. So, my little... defect - she raised her right hand - suits me very well... I suggest you do same. It's easier... And if you do not acclimate here, I invite you to our hive. There are the same strange personality - she joked. - No offense - she just added.
He smiled slightly and nodded.
- I will remember... And you do not offend me - he said. - Truth be told, your kindness is a nice change.
Moonlight smiled and she patted the bench with her hand.
- Please, tell me about Atlantis. I am very curious of this place.
Michael nodded his head slightly and sat down at the other end of the bench. He was still cautious with her behavior, but much less tense…"
.
…Then he looked at her with the same interest, which now was outlined in the eyes of colonel.
- All right. We take her from here - he said finally and went to Beckett's calmer now, but still glancing angle of the eye on a young female. - It really can be a one-time opportunity.
- Thank you, colonel - glad said Carson.
- Do not thank me, doc. I understand this opportunity... But I'd be more worried about the reaction Woolsey... and Command.
- I know, but I think that I can convince them to this collaboration. The benefits are far greater than any risk.
- With her mother we thought the same - he recalled a grim tone of voice. - But in the worst case, she will end in the same way - he sneered, throwing Moonlight mocking smile.
She raised little her lip, looking at him uncomfortably. She clenched her hands into fists.
The colonel smiled condescendingly.
- It will not be necessary - assured the doctor and he looked at the woman. - Right, Mo?
She calmed down a bit.
- Of course - she said calmly, although the words of colonel still raise her level of adrenaline.
- So... Let's get, before the local people discover who she is - said Sheppard.
Beckett and Lineth nodded and started packing things the doctor.
Moonlight came to a dead body lying closer to her and pulled out his neck a strange medical device, although its shape after she guessed what it could serve.
Ronon reached for his weapon, pointing at her. She looked at him ironically.
- Enough disinfect this and still well be useful - she explained, crouched over the body.
- She's right - Teyla admitted and left her gun. - We will not waste the tools Doctor Beckett - she added and turned a second striker on his back, to put out from him two scalpels.
- And what about them? - Dex said.
- Leave them - said Lineth. - I'll order to bury them when you leave. I'll tell the truth, that they attacked us and Mo killed them... Without going into the details.
- And what if they want details?
- I'll figure something... Maybe I'll even say, that she is one of the Michael hybrid, is why she recovered so quickly.
- How on modest woman, you have a quite good talent for making up stories - joked the doctor.
She smiled at him.
- You say, that the need is the mother of the invention.
- Well, yes - he admitted and he looked at Moonlight. - Mo, go get your stuff. Everything is in the box, which stands in front of your room.
She nodded her head and went upstairs. Colonel watched her closely.
- Quite well... for a Wraith female - he said, when she disappeared upstairs.
- No one you will not spare, what colonel? - Beckett snorted.
- I just conclude the facts - he said casually, pointing to the stairs. - If not these... holes - he said, move fingers on his nose - and forehead, she would look just like a human.
- Yes, it's true - said Carson. - Apparently, absence transformation has meant that she has retained a more gentle facial features. Which meant that, in her case of a higher number of active human genes than other Wraith.
- Is that good? - Teyla said.
- For my research, yes. Perhaps we will even create a retrovirus based on her DNA... But for her - he looked sad note to Athozian woman. - Knowing, how Wraith treated Michael, I suppose, that her life was not pleasant.
- I'm afraid you're right - she admitted reluctantly.
- But it's still Wraith - Ronon said. - I will not regret her.
They looked at him, but said nothing.
- Or maybe you should - said gravely Lineth. - You wished her if she were human, even a hybrid, but you do not feel sorry for her just because she was born Wraith... People are not better than them... A good example is on the floor - she added a little nonchalance and sentenced to two bodies.
He wanted to say something, but on the stairs just show up a Moonlight, putting on her coat. She stopped at the bottom, waiting calmly until Beckett shut down all of his suitcase.
Then each took one and went home.
The Doctor said goodbye to Lineth and also left.
A Wraith female went to the young woman and held out to her hand.
She looked at her a little surprised.
- Thank you for your hospitality, Lineth Sunnes - she said with a pleasant smile. - It was nice to meet you... You're a very resourceful woman. Do not change yourself.
Lineth shook her hand and smiled too.
- I did not think that I'll ever say this about the Wraith... but it also was nice to meet you, Mo.
- Moonlight - she almost whispered. - My full name is Moonlight.
The woman's eyes opened wide. She could not believe that she revealed her name.
Still speechless, she looked behind her, how she leaves the house, accusing the hood on her head.
It was a sunny, warm day. Moving the streets of the country town people was already too accustomed to the presence of residents of Atlantis to pay them more attention.
Therefore, the whole group calmly moved in the direction of stargate, standing nearly a mile away.
Ronon walked to the end, still carefully watching their new addition... the Wraith misfit.