Chapter 11
Unexpected ally.
The young pilot of dart entered the bridge... and stopped right on your doorstep, see with whom is talking to his Commander.
Sunblaze remained in the shadows, waiting.
The Wraith Commander stared glumly at his interlocutor, whose face could be seen on the holographic image and even paid any attention to the appearance of his subordinate.
- ...You're saying, therefore, that my informant is lying? - he ended sentence.
- I say that he apparently made a mistake... It happens - Starburst replied calmly. - Besides, why would I tell to attack her. I worry about her as much as you do… Finally, she belongs to the family...
- More than you - Skyfall interrupted coldly.
His caller growled softly under his breath at his words, and then smiled corner of his mouth.
- I thought, that you become weak, after so many years of those... scientists, but I was wrong - he said. - You're still the one which I remember you from before centuries.
- So you always keep that in mind - he warned.
The Wraith smiled slightly.
- I will inform you, if I know anything about Mo... And by the way. Was her grandmother knows that... you lost her? - he sneered.
This time it Skyfall growled a warning.
- No... And let it remain - he reserved. - There is no need to prematurely upset her.
- I agree... She would be ready to turn over this galaxy upside down to find her... And knowing Mo, she's probably sitting somewhere nearby.
- Since you know her so well? - almost snorted Commander.
- You would be surprised how many things I know about her - he said mysteriously.
The Wraith again growled.
- We will be in contact - Starburst finished.
- Indeed - said Skyfall and hung up, clenched the other hand firmly on his chair.
Only then Sunblaze out of the shadows and walked over to him slowly.
- I see that Stardrift told you everything - almost muttered. - I do not understand what happened, that she was running away from his fighters.
The Commander looked at him, now calmer.
- I do not know, but it's disturbing... Or he crazy, risking a confrontation with Nightstorm, when she finds out... Or he doing it, having a strong supporter... And the second option is much harder worries me - he said grimly.
- Why?
- This would mean, that the position Nightstorm in the Council is heavily compromised... or the Council itself has a serious enemy.
- You mean the Technician?
- Only they have sufficient opportunities - he said.
- But why? They have always kept out of the way - was surprised. - In addition, we have a truce.
Since he joined the crew of this hive, he learned more about the history of the Wraith, than he ever imagined. He often heard from his father about mention the various "sects" Wraith, which were created and fallen, at the turn of the millennium. About the mysteries. But here he learned the full version of each of these stories... And it was here he first heard about the Technicians, caste Wraith, who had faithfully served as hiveships Keepers of the Grey Council - Hivehealers, but that after the war with New Lanteans, separated from the rest, creating a own closed group.
- The truce, you can always break... And they have their own prophecy about the return of the Avatars, and it starts from the date of the fall of the Grey Council... It's a good time to attack. Theoretically Wraith regain strength, connecting to the new alliances... But really everything is still in disarray. There is a lack of new feeding grounds, and the old are running out, and only the Council continues to hold it all in full… For the first time since the outbreak of the Civil War.
- But what Mo they need? As a bargaining chip with her grandmother? - he asked.
Skyfall smiled mysteriously and picked up from his chair.
- Come with me. Let me show you something - he said, moving toward the exit.
The young Wraith was a little confused, but followed him without a word. They went out into the corridor.
- You've been here long enough and you have proved your loyalty, so I think it's time you learned one more thing - went mysteriously Commander. - Anyway, if you still want to join the intelligence of the Council, so you would have to find out.
- Found out about what?
The officer did not answer him. He stopped just in front of the projection room door and opened it, invited for a gesture of his subordinate.
- You'll see.
Still confused by the sudden mystery of his Commander, Sunblaze entered mired in the dark room. The door closed behind them, and Skyfall went to the control panel of the projector. After a moment, in the middle of the room there was a holographic map of the galaxy.
- Wraith story begins exactly on this planet - began Commander.
Around one of the stars in the outskirts of galaxies, appeared red frame and the picture changed. It saw only one of the many planetary systems.
Indicated planet had the ring and two moons.
- Argelum… Iratus world - threw Sunblaze.
- Yes... As most of Wraith you know the basics history... But only few knows the details... These archival records drawn up on the basis of one person who survived...
- Someone survive? - he asked.
- One of the scientists. He was terminally ill and in secret from the rest he injected himself Iratus DNA fragment, responsible for the regenerative abilities... It saved him from attack. Bugs treated him like one of them - he said. - Currently, the gates are located on the orbit of the planet that no one had passed by. But then they stood on the planet's surface. Lanteans had established a scientific base and human settlement - has enabled these recordings. - They studied, among other, amazing regenerative abilities of these creatures. They also found how Iratus to communicate. It was like a kind of telepathy. So, they began to carry out genetic experiments, increasing the intelligence captured specimens in order to better be able to assess their abilities...
He paused projection, and his story. The projection room door was open and went inside one of the lower rank officers.
- I'm sorry, Commander, but came Kiryk - he said.
- I'm coming.
The Wraith nodded his head and left. Skyfall left his position.
- Why you sent after him? - asked Sunblaze.
- As a human, he will be attracted less attention and he can learn more than you - he said calmly, and both came out into the corridor, back to the bridge.
A man was waiting for them at the door. He nodded his head formally. He did not think of this, as a kind of respect, but rather as a form of greeting. Anyway, just to those Wraith he had nothing. On the contrary. They helped him, so if needs, he to repay the same. In fact, he did it only because of the Mo - he owed her his life.
He smirked at the sight of the Commander.
- So, you've lost your ward - he sneered.
The officer stopped in front of him and growled a warning.
- Watch out for words. She's not here, so you will not have anyone to protect you, human.
- You do not do anything to me. She would be furious - he said certain.
- I'll take my chances... Anyway, with time her will go - now he sneered, showing his sharp teeth.
For a moment, they both looked at each other hard.
- How long you will be so stare at each other? - Sunblaze finally muttered.
They both looked at him: Commander sternly and Kiryk with amusement.
- I'm starting to like the youngest generation of the Wraith - said ex-runner. - In contrast to the rest of you, they have a sense of humor.
- May rather big mouth - snapped Skyfall.
The young Wraith grinned at him. This hissed at him.
- You tell him where you were and what you know - he said. - Then go back to the projection room.
- Yes, Commander.
The officer threw the man to the last, a stern look and walked to the bridge.
- I see that he is angry as hell - Kiryk snorted.
- You know him. He likes to have everything under control.
- What can not be applied in the case of Mo... What happened?
- In fact, I do not know exactly. They quarreled about something...
- It's just not news - said, still amused.
- But this time, I think, it was serious, because a few hours later, she sneaked out of the hive and disappeared without a trace... Even me she did not say anything - he said at the end.
- It really does not like to her... I think that something serious... I wonder what they go?
- From Skall we certainly do not know this - said Sunblaze.
- That is why we need to find Mo - he said cheerfully. - All right, tell me what you have and I see what I can do - he said, and suddenly looked at him questioningly. - Tell me Blazy, Nestor still cook among you? No one eat him?
The young Wraith smile widened.
- You are hungry - he said.
- You know, no one is prepared meat naklanu like he.
- No one would dare to touch only the cook, to which Mo allows cook meat naklanu according to the recipe her keeper - Sunblaze said, amused and moved ahead.
They entered the transporter room and beam moved them to the level of worshippers.
Kiryk no longer accustomed from this type of transport. It reminded him of his beginnings on the board of this hive. It all began on that planet. And he would never have even thought that he could work for the Wraith...
.
"…Moonlight was sitting between woody ferns, near the stargate, of the old stump knocked down, finishing her meal, when the symbols on a metal circle slowly began to activate.
First four, after a short break two more, and finally last, the seventh symbol. Gates spit in front of them agitated stream of energy.
She became interested in it. No one chose to address such gaps... unless he was in trouble, she thought.
Her suspicions proved, when of the event horizon jumped out some man, falling heavily to the ground. So, she packed quickly her meal to her back-pack.
When Kiryk jumped into gate subspace tunnel, he had no great illusions, that he would survive. His teleportation device still does not work, so he only had to pick up quickly and run into the woods. Moments later he looked behind him just to see four Wraith hunters and two fighters. He walked away, darting between the big ferns. He remembered this world. There was no human settlement here, so he will not harm anyone. There was only forest, he and Wraith.
He jumped the stream, and looked at his bracelet. The light was still red. He crouched and looked back, when one of hunters bolts hit the trunk right next to him... and then he realized, that there were only three hunters. But he had no time for wondering about the cause. He ran away.
Somewhere behind him came a groan of one of the hunters, and then two shots. He stopped and turned around. All three were lying on the ground, and towards him slowly walked a figure, hidden under coat and wide hood… still holding two guns in hands, pointing directly at him.
- Are you a runner?! - asked the young, woman's voice.
- Yes - he said.
She left the gun and put to the holster attached around the thigh, but still went in his direction. He glanced at the bracelet. Precisely turn on green, so if necessary, he could at any time move.
- I guess you have a bad day today - she said with irony and stopped a few meters in front of him.
But still he could not see her face, hidden in the shadow of the hood.
- This is just a temporary problem... Who are you?
Woman glanced quickly over his shoulder.
- I guess, someone who just made you free from those... temporary problems - she said, and turned back.
- Where are you going?! - he called after her.
- To the gates!
- There are still fighters?!
- They flew away! - she said mysteriously.
He hesitated. He looked up at the sky. Indeed, the fighter was no longer even hear... So, he looked by leaving a woman. She walked calmly, as if she went for a walk in the woods. It was strange, he thought, and after a moment's thought he decided to catch up with her. It seemed like she did not even pay attention to the fact, that he is behind her.
She was slim, of medium height - only this he could infer after the silhouette hidden under coat. It was made of a decent material, well-kept, sleeveless. Underneath she wore equally well-groomed, a leather jacket.
So she could not be a runner, he thought. But more probably someone well-off.
- So, do not tell me who you are? - he asked finally, when they jumped the stream.
- Do you need this knowledge to be happy? - she snorted.
- I do not... but I would like to know to whom I owe help.
- Sometimes unawareness is a blessing.
- It can you at least tell me what are you doing here? This uninhabited planet, full of dangerous animals.
- I know. I gather there often a plant for trade.
- Are you a trader?
- Sometimes, when I have to.
He wanted to say something, when she suddenly stopped and looked back over her shoulder. But beneath her voluminous hood he could only see her chin and mouth.
- They regain consciousness - she hissed and jumped up, start running.
He walked behind her.
- How do you know?
She did not answer, running away. So he quickened and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. He turned her face to him and with the other hand pulled the hood. His eyes widened at the sight of her face - the face of the Wraith.
He stepped back and pointed to her with his gun.
- You are Wraith - he hissed.
Her amazing green eyes looked at him ironically.
- Do you want to now consider issues of belonging species, or would you rather get away from here before they catch us? - she said mockingly. - Because they are just beginning to gather from the ground, which means that they calling back the fighters, which I sent her away - she said.
He hesitated, not understanding anything in this situation.
- Why are you helping me?
She growled under her breath and shook her head annoyed.
- Right now took you on such philosophical questions - she murmured. - I'm out of here. You do what you want - she said and went running away.
Still holding up a gun, Kiryk watched as she flits nimbly through the trees. This time he growled under his breath and ran after her.
She first came to the stargate, starting hastily selected address.
- Where does it lead? - he asked when she hit the center button.
Again she did not answer. Gate activating in, so she ran into them. He hesitated, but he knew that there was no other choice. He swear under his breath and ran into the tunnel gate.
On the other side he heard end of her series of swear words ... it even amused him.
A planet was full of sand dunes, covered with clumps of grass here and there, in the distance could be heard sound of the ocean.
- Move away from the gate - she said finally, coming to the DHD. - We need to select a different address. There's no where to hide. They will be footprints on the sand.
- Then why did you choose this planet?
- Because the last time when I was here, the dunes are still far away from the gate - she snapped, angry.
- So it must have been a long time ago - he sneered.
Again she looked at him ironically.
- We will now discuss my age? - she talk back.
He did not answer. He came only to her.
- What did you plan? - he asked calmly, though he did not know why he decided to cooperate.
She was the Wraith. In addition, female. But there was something strange in her... Something that nonetheless provoked some confidence in him... and he did not just mean her behavior.
- Hunters will read from that DHD last selected address. So, I wanted here choose another to mislead and hide out - she explained and looked at the sand dunes. - Once there was a forest here until the sea itself - she said. - I had hope that they again check the time select the last address and go there... Unfortunately for fifty years the dunes shifted until into gateway.
- Select the address that you wanted - he said.
Now she looked at him in surprise.
- What is gives? - she snorted. - We can not hide...
- This device will take us through the next dune - he showed bracelet. - We will not leave traces, so your plan will work.
She did not answer. For a moment she looked at him, then quickly began to select the address. Gates activating again. She walked over to them, leaving traces of the return. Kiryk did the same, and when the gates went out, he grabbed her by the arm and turned on his device.
A second later they were behind the nearby sand dunes.
- Teleportation device - she said and smiled. - Clever - added and she placed quickly in the sand, watching the stargate. - What's the range? - she asked, reaching for something to his backpack.
- No more than three hundred meters - he said, laying down next to her. - Why do you ask?
- Remember about fighters. They can see us in advance if my camouflage fails.
- What camouflage? - he asked.
She did not answer. She handed him only one of the four sticks and pressed her thumb on the upper part. The stepped down suddenly spike. Metal housing protected crystals in color dense fog.
- You stick this in the sand with your hand - she instructed, do the same with his side. - We need to create a square - she said, thrusting another two in a straight line behind them.
Then she reached into her bag after the a small, flat device and included it. Crystals sparkled, and above them there was energy shield.
- Not only do you have cool gadgets - she said with a grin. - This camouflage based on the hologram. From the outside it looks as if there was only sand.
- Clever - he admitted.
- Unfortunately is only for a few minutes. Power crystals deplete quickly. If hunters will be procrastinate, fighters can find us - she said. - That's why I asked what's the range - a gesture of the head she sentenced to a bracelet. - By the sea are caves in which we can possibly hide. But to the sea is about half a mile...
She paused. Stargate activating and just as soon stream of energy as calmed down, appeared the first two hunters. At the end of the gates fired two fighters, quickly soar into the sky.
They look how to the Wraith observe traces around the DHD and those leading to the gate. Then, one of which opened the bottom of the housing DHD. For a moment he check something, then closed everything and stood up, select the starting address. The gates activating again.
One of the hunting looking up to heaven, while his companions went ahead. The fighters flew again, flying around the dunes, for which he was hiding a pair of fugitives. Mo prefer not to think what would have happened if the cover now fallen. Fortunately, power crystals longer durable than she expected.
Gates just went out for the last of the machines, and their camouflage is still working.
She turned off it by using the same device that activates a it.
- Well, I think I finally tuned properly crystals - she muttered to herself, stretch of sand the nearest spike.
Then she sat down and gathered up the others, hiding first the blade, then the whole to his backpack. At the end she got up to her feet and brushed the sand.
Kiryk also stood up… and pointed a gun right in her head. She looked at him with slight resignation.
- What is it now?
- Who the hell are you? - he snapped. - You look like the Wraith, but acting like a... man.
She sighed heavily and took off her gloves without fingers from his right hand, lifting it.
- I am Protheu… Misfit... Very rare genetic mutation among the Wraith - she said quietly. - In a well-known to you form we pass, when we reach full maturity. Until then, we feed in the same way as the humans... Wraith like me will never pass this change... You can say, that we remain forever children - she joked a bit.
- I thought it was feeding of on people giving you your immortality.
- After parts… Longest living Protheu died exactly in 604 years old... or more precisely he was killed in combat. Unfortunately, none of them died of old age, so we do not really know how long they would live. Our regenerative abilities are only slightly weaker than the other Wraith. However, due to the lack of flow of life force our wounds are healing for longer, which exposes us to various complications and infections... Protheu are regarded by most of the Wraith only thing better than a human, but much worse than them
- That's because you act like a man? Because others do not consider you as a Wraith?
She smiled a little.
- No. I do not have disruptions in the background species identification... It's impact my human keeper and my character. I've never perceived humans as worse than the Wraith, so I did not have resistance to behave in their presence as they… What obviously upset all around - she snorted.
- Why are you helping me?
- I do not like the whole fun of hunting for people. Truth be told, only a small percentage of the Wraith deals this... Besides, I know how it is... Believe me, if they catch us, we both would become their prey - she said and went calmly towards the gate.
- You are female. Wraith worship their Queens - he said, following her.
- I'm not a Queen, and I never will. I doing the same as the males... That's why no one has resistance to treat me like a potential victim... Of course, if someone does not know me, the fact that I am a female gives me an element of surprise and confusion opponent - she finished with a smile. - Any other questions, Mr. Kiryk? - she asked calmly.
- How do you know?... No... for now - he said, recalling about Wraith telepathic abilities.
She smiled again.
- For now?... So, I understand that you decided to accompany me on? - she scoffed, glancing at him the corner of her eye.
He did not answer, slipping his gun back in the pants.
- May I ask you something now?
- Yes - he muttered.
- How do you cut off the subspace transmitter? - she said, pointing to his neck. He looked at her, surprised. - On receiver of the first of the hunters was not a signal - she added.
- One woman turned off it.
- Hmm, very interesting - she said, and stopped at the DHD. - I going to the Wraith trade planet. I have for sale a rare plant, so if you want to go somewhere else?... - she spread a little hands.
He watched her closely for a long time.
- Can you remove them?... Tracking device... That woman said, that is complicated and attached to the brain stem... Is something like that.
- Personally, I never did... but I know someone who might be able to remove them... Why do you want to get rid of it? Off, you will not interfere in any way.
- I do not want the damn thing in me - he snapped.
- I do not promise that it can be done. Some tracking devices after some time too much bind to the human nervous system, and their removal is impossible.
- I want to try.
- All right - she said with a slight smile and started to pick address the planet. - Trading will not last long... Then I go back to my hive - she added when the gate activating.
- On hive? - he snapped. - You crazy, if you think I'll go there with you?
She smiled, slightly amused.
- Only our doctor can know how to remove your transmitter... And calmly, you're all safe. You are my guest.
- You said that others treat you like a human being - he reminded. - How are you going to provide me safe?
- Other... except this one hive... His crew is a bit... different - she said with a mysterious smile and went to the gate, go through it.
Kiryk hesitated, but then followed her. He was a long time runner and has seen a lot of strange things... but he never supposed that his ally will be the Wraith."