Chapter 7
Various rules.
The insistent door chime snatched her from sleep.
She ignored it.
She had the feeling that she just fell asleep and she did not have slightest desire to get up.
And when the sound does not fall silent, she gripped the pillow over her head, growling under breath.
On the corridor colonel Sheppard has also started to irritate.
- Maybe she still sleeping? - Beckett calmly suggested.
- This bell would wake the dead - he said.
- She Surely escaped - Ronon growled and reached for his gun.
- Easy, big guy... first, we try the old way - said John and pulled the cover panel to look at the crystals hidden under control.
The Wraith female in the room looked finally after the next ringing tone. She wanted to open them telepathically... but she forgot, that she is no longer on hive.
- Damn - she said, and dragged herself out of bed to scamper to the door.
She touched hand the control panel at the same time, when the other side of the door Sheppard was switched crystals in the right combination.
-... We can not just go in there - Carson ended his speech, pointing to the door. - And what if she's... - he paused, realizing that Moonlight stand stands on the threshold.- ...unclothed - he finished, looking at her with wide eyes.
She wore a white, large T-shirt, which he gave her yesterday, and her long, slightly curly hair was now slightly disheveled.
All three intently to eye her up and down. She stood in front of them, supported by the waist with one hand and looked very sleepy eyes... and not very pleasant expression on her face.
- Are you crazy or what? - she snapped, irritably. - You have someone military maneuvers in the morning?
- It's ten o'clock in the morning, my dear - said Carson.
- Really? - She was surprised. - It seemed to me, that I just fell asleep... I always have trouble sleeping in a new place - she said.
- Ronon has alleged, that you ran away - Beckett said, and snorted. She again looked at him grimly. - I'm sorry, but you look so funny.
- I told you she's weird - Sheppard said, also could not help but laugh.
Even Dex screwed up his face in a slight smile.
- I'm sorry, but I do not sleep in uniform, standing up, and in full accoutrements and make-up - she snapped and went back on bed, lying down and sliding on herself blanket. - And that would be enough when it comes to holidays - she muttered under her breath.
Colonel went inside first.
- I'm sorry, but that's not holiday resort... You are here for a specific purpose.
- Thanks for reminding me - she said.
The man folded his arms across his chest and cocked his head slightly.
- Are you sure you're Wraith? - he asked ironically.
She looked at him grimly.
- If I will break you now every bone, it will be sufficient proof? - she drawled mockingly through her teeth.
He smiled slightly.
- You have ten minutes... Doc will wait for you at the door. You have a lot of work in the lab today.
- Maybe we let her sleep if... - Beckett began.
- It's no need. I'll be ready - she cut him off calmly and stood up, moved to the bathroom.
They led her they look, and as soon as the door slid shut of her, the doctor looked pointedly at the colonel.
- What? - he asked.
- Full warm hospitality - summed up doctor and went out into the corridor.
- She's not here on vacation - said officer, leaving behind him and closed the door.
- This does not mean that we can not be at least a little hospitality.
- This is not a holiday resort - he repeat. - She is here to do one thing, and then she is let to hell.
- It's like we'll treat her?
Sheppard raised his eyebrow slightly.
- Normally this Wraith treated us, so why would we be indebted to them?
- You wanted to say, that Todd us so usually treat - he corrected him sharply.
- It's the same thing.
Beckett shook his head, grimacing mouth to express disapproval.
- I never thought I'd see such a view - Ronon suddenly snorted.
The two men looked at him. Sheppard grinned.
- Next time I will take photo camera - he said. - It will be a hit in this galaxy. A title this photo: Wraith Queen in the morning - he depicted this a flourish hand, when suddenly the door opened again. He looked surprised at the Mo. - You're fast.
- I do not makeup, like you, colonel, so it not takes me a hours - she talk back, stringing just her hair large buckle on the back of the head. - Shall we?
- This way - he his hand gestured way.
She moved ahead.
Colonel looked at her intently.
She wore a dress that emphasized all her shapes. Graphite pants are made of a thick material resembling him a suede and decorated on the sides of the black leather with straps interlaced by small metal clasps. Whereas leather jacket had inserts of the same material as the pants. She was still unbuttoned, revealing what she was underneath - good sticking to her body black shirt. Whole complemented high leather boots adorned the front of the straps and buckles on the outside.
He did not think, that he ever it will say, but she was the sexiest female Wraith what he saw, he thought.
Moonlight smiled wickedly to himself, stopping in front of the transporter and looked him straight in the eye.
- My tattoos you also want the watch up close, colonel? - she scoffed.
He stopped, but he tried to get out of this with his face, pretending to be laid-back.
- I do not need to… I saw enough already - he talk back.
She smiled corner of her mouth and walked into the small room.
Beam transport moved their in the clinic area.
Bustling there already people, watched with interest the new arrivals, and more specifically on escort through them young woman.
She watched intently while the rooms - these much more interested her than people.
- We can start from a full scan? - Beckett suggested. - And we retrieve some blood samples for preliminary analysis. What do you think? - he asked.
Mo shrugged her shoulders, looking around.
- Can be to me.
- OK - he said slowly, folding his hands as if to clap. - Then let's get started... Luke, please prepare the scanner - turned to his assistant.
He nodded and walked over to the machine. Beckett looked at the men.
- You do not have to be here, colonel - he assured.
- I will prefer safe than sorry - he said. - At the moment we are free, so we'll have an eye on her... just in case.
- And what would happen? - almost snorted doctor.
- Wraith is a Wraith... No matter how is behaves - summed Ronon, standing broad cross-arms on his chest.
- Well, yes - said doctor and went to the medical scanners. - We once met a young female Wraith. Her ship crashed when she was little and raised her human. Her name was Elia... You said that Mia is the name of your babysitter. I did not think that the Wraith using people as such.
- From that we have, among other things, worshippers - she said calmly.
Suddenly growled in her stomach. The doctor looked at her.
- I'm sorry, I did not think that you'll be hungry - he said. - I'll ask someone to bring you something to eat...
- I already did - said the unexpectedly familiar female voice. Moonlight looked at her. Lineth smiled. - Hello again - she said and nodded her head slightly, putting a tray of food at a nearby table.
- Greetings - Wraith female said with the same gesture.
- Lineth brought you some clothes - said Carson.
- I thought it might be useful if you have to spend some time here - she said the woman.
- You did not have to...
- It's my sister. You are of similar build, so it should suit you. For me they are a little... too narrow - she
chuckled lightly. - They are almost new.
- And what about this your sister?
- These will not need her anymore... She died of Hoffan plague - Lineth explained.
Moonlight looked at her.
To the surprise of a woman on her face appeared compassion... And then she walked over to her.
- Your sadness is my sadness - she said gravely, bowing head slightly and placing right hand on her own heart, and the left pulling towards women.
She looked at her surprised... And then she smiled gently.
- Thank you - she almost whispered. - It's kind of you... I did not think you have some mourning rituals.
- This is a very old custom. Even before the war with Lanteans - she said. -... Just like revealing his own name to the person who was the Wraith exceptional kindness - she said with a slight smile.
- She told you her name? - interjected surprised Sheppard, pointing to the Wraith his finger.
But the woman only looked at him angle an eye.
- Since yesterday, I was wondering why you did it - she went on calmly talking.
- Why you do not tell us? - colonel turned to Mo, but she also ignored him.
- I know. This thought constantly bothering your mind so much, that it is involuntary for me... heard - she explained. - And as I said, is a very old custom. I did it, because you did not have to take me under your roof. You could tell another who I am and it would be completely understandable... But you did not do this, offering me your help and hospitality... Although I am the Wraith.
- I want to be a doctor, like Carson, and earthly doctors have a lovely habit take an oath, that they would be help anyone in need. No matter human either Wraith... It was my first test in this direction.
- But you have not yet made this oath - Moonlight noted.
- I do not.
Wraith female nodded her head slightly, with smiling.
- That's why I said you my name.
- I also did not file such oath - again John interjected.
Mo looked at him quizzically.
- I have tell you my name, although yesterday you was aiming to me from your weapons, colonel Sheppard? - she scoffed.
- Such a small military instinct... Besides, you did the same thing - he said.
- Such a small Wraith instinct - she talk back.
- Your names are a big secret or something? You are ashamed of them? - he snorted, folding his arms across his chest, pleased with himself.
- As it happens, colonel, that she has a very beautiful name - Lineth interjected calmly.
The man did not answer. He did not know what.
He was upset that he missed this message.
Since they are here, he wondered about the reason for the Wraith hide from people their names. After six years in the Pegasus galaxy, he did not know even one. Even Todd did not tell him anything. And after such a long collaboration he could finally do it, he thought irritably.
Moonlight smiled corner of her mouth, amused.
Only then did colonel realized that she probably receives his thoughts.
- You not dig in my head - he warned her.
- I do not dig... You think too loud - she talk back and went to bed medical scanners.
- How can a thinking too loud? - he said.
- Too intense - she explained. - And I will answer on your question: with regard to the way in which my race treats people, it is believed that you do not deserve on this, to get to know our names. If any Wraith betray you his name, it means, that he has ceased to be regarded you as a meal, and began to taken you seriously... as a friend.
- I guessed it - he said. - Aside from the issue of friendship - he said, gesturing.
- It was just such a comparison - she said and looked at Beckett. - What do I do?
- Luke take your blood, and I'll finish setting bio-scanners - Carson said.
A young man walked up to her with an air syringe.
She clearly sensed his nervousness. He had never met the Wraith, and what he heard caused in him stress.
- Take your clothes off - he said.
She looked at him.
He opened his eyes wide. He realized, that probably was obvious blunder.
- I mean, just a jacket - he added quickly, even more starting to get nervous.
Still looking at him, she took it slowly.
The man pulled a syringe into her arm, but his hands were shaking too much, to he was able to take a blood sample.
- Give it to me - said suddenly doctor Keller and received from him device. She looked up with a little amusement on the female Wraith. - You're stressing our personnel - she joked.
- I had no such intention.
A woman put syringe into her arm. Transparent container quickly filled with blood. Then she looked at Carson.
- You can already lay - he said, pointing to the bed bio-scanner. - It will not take long.
Moonlight performed his command. The doctor started the machine. The radius of the energy began to move slowly along her body, while creating the virtual image.
- The patient is a Wraith female... Height: 70 inches... Weight: 121 pounds... Age:...
Beckett paused and looked at the Mo.
- 236 years - she finished.
.
.
Sunblaze took a piece of metal in his hand, crouching at the wreckage of a fighter.
The machine almost completely burned down, but he did not believe in providing the local people that the pilot did not survive. He knew too well Mo and her piloting skills, to give out for it. He was sure that she could escape.
Maybe these people just did not know it and found that she died, he thought, and got up, looking in the direction of the little town.
The road to the gate was not long, but enough that she had time set the autopilot and transport the beam before the buildings... or just behind them. It was night, so she could do this unnoticed by the natives.
He threw metal, angry, and moved back to his fighter.
He was so close... and again he lost the trail.
He had no idea where she could go. Her father very well trained her in covering tracks. She was would his worthy successor, he thought, leaping nimbly to the fighter. He closed the cockpit cover and started the machine. This raised a little above the ground and then flew toward the gate, flying over the town.
When they met more than thirteen years ago, he was in trouble…
…He went on lonely patrol on one of their major feeding grounds. The planet's name was Sateda. Its inhabitants are rapidly developed, so every now and then they checked to be sure at what stage of development they are just... then no one would have imagined, that in such a short time, these people can reach such a high level of technological development.
His fighter was hit with a rocket launcher. The engine was burning furiously, and growing up in front of him mountains, quickly approaching…
.
"…"Jump" said suddenly voice in his mind.
At first he thought it was a suicidal idea, but the voice spoke again.
"I say, jump... I got picked you a beam... Unless, that you personally prefer to kiss these mountains."
He hesitated, but when he looked ahead, he realized it was his only way out.
Headset completely refused to obey.
So he opened the cockpit. Strong gust of wind flapped his long hair braided into thin dreadlocks. He glanced down. The fighter was flying really fast. And then in front of him, on rocky slopes... and he jumped.
Wind roared in his ears, but the sound of an explosion and so came to him. He glanced to the side, on a large cloud of fire, and then in down, at the ground approaching...
And suddenly everything was gone...
It seemed to him, that it is only for a moment, but he knew very well, that he could spend eternity in the buffer.
He fell to the ground in a position in which the transport beam swept him from falling.
Here, however, the surface was not rocky. He was on the edge of the forest, in a small clearing.
He got up, happy and brushed off, he looked around, searching for his savior, when he saw her - she was based on her fighter, with arms folded on her chest, and on her lips painted a sneer.
He immediately stood up and nodded his head formally.
- You're a quite good pilot - said. - You maintained your fighter for a large portion of the road.
- Thank you... Milady.
She smiled and pushed her back from the hull fighter, moving in his direction.
He looked at her intently.
She was lower than him, slim atypical like on Wraith skin color. Her long, dark-brown hair was tied in a fancy bun, and green eyes staring at him. Her silhouette emphasized the narrow pants and extending the knee coat.
- I'm not a Queen, you do not have to bow to me... Treat me like any other Wraith - she said.
His darting eyes looked at her uncertainly.
- I do not understand.
She raised her right hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.
- Because of some... defect... I'll never be Queen. So I'm going this same, as any other Wraith - she explained calmly.
He looked at her.
- How... How is that possible?
- Rare genetic mutation... Such as I called Protheu.
- I've never heard of such a thing.
- Because it is not something that the rest of the Wraith want to brag - she said with slight amusement.
- You're like a... human?
She shook her head from side to side, thoughtfully.
- More something in between, simplifying - she said. - I eat like humans, but my regenerative abilities are very similar to your... But I'll live, at most, a few hundred years… Or at least, so far it was… Studies have found that I am more resilient than mine... predecessors. Someone consider it's because I'm female. Our bodies are stronger.
He wanted to say something, when suddenly from behind a opposite line of trees, the bolt came out, hitting her fighter.
He pulled her along the ground just a moment before.
A cloud of fire flashed right over them.
They looked toward the wreck.
- Damn. My favorite fighter - she said.
Through the flames they saw how from behind the trees forward human soldiers.
They quickly got up a out of the ground and moved in toward the woods…"