Chapter 13
The last reasonable...?
Sheppard went to the dining area and sat in the chair across from McKay, folding his arms across his chest.
- First, your anti-Wraith codes are sucks. Mo just read the file half of our crew... Therefore, this second, I asked her that she wrote the appropriate security program. Maybe Wraith come up with better anti-Wraith code than you - he said.
- Do you want to let her rummage in our systems?...
- I'm not stupid, Rodney - interrupted him calmly. - I said: write... Then you check it... a ten times - he emphasized the words - and if it well be OK, we will install it.
- Great. And if something would be wrong, then you dropping again put the blame on me - he mumbled, finishing his meal.
- For someone we need to.
McKay gave him a grim look.
- And by the way. She also had read your file and knows your womanly name. It amusing her, so... I guess she will make fun of you in the near future.
- Great, you can shoot me now - he growled.
- She has an interesting sense of humor. Very sarcastic... I like it.
- So, just like you.
- That's why I said that I like it - he pointed a finger at him.
- I see that you a lot of talk - Rodney said sarcastically, leaning back.
- That's right. Well in talking to her. There is a lot I found out about her... though she still refuses to tell as is her truth name - he said disappointed.
- Try to charm Lethi, maybe she will betray you her name - he snorted.
- I already tried... No way - said colonel.
- About what you discussing? - Lorne suddenly asked, walking in the table.
- Shep has a new pal: Mo - McKay said mockingly.
- She is surprisingly nice as on Wraith, right - said the lieutenant colonel Lorne.
- You too?
- I just said, that she is nice, as on Wraith - he said, and began to eat his lunch.
- Maybe you should talk with her? - suggested the colonel.
Lorne nodded, chewing his meal.
- As far as I remember, even two hours ago, you would happy to shoot her.
- It was two hours ago... And then I talked with her, and found that she is even OK... How on Wraith.
- You say about Mo? - asked Teyla, also walking in the.
The others looked at her.
- What she captivated you? Because these two nice conversation - Rodney sneered.
- I did not say, that she captivated me something... She's just different than I expected - she said with a slight hesitation. - It's nice, though a surprising variety.
- I understand that from now on we love Wraith - he snorted.
Teyla glanced quickly on the other two men.
- What does he mean?
- I do not know. But pisses him that, we think, that Mo is OK.
- She is Wraith! - he threw up, and all around to look at him. - You already forgotten how much we had always by them trouble? - he lowered his voice. - Just yesterday, you would all like to shoot her, just because she is the Wraith, and suddenly you all like her.
- I said that she is even OK, not that I like her - corrected Sheppard. - And I have not forgotten that she is the Wraith... I just otherwise talking with her than with other Wraith... And I do not have to worry, that she will try to feed off on me - he said with satisfaction. - It's really relaxing mind when talking to her.
- Michael also did not have to feed on humans, and he almost killed us - McKay recalled grimly.
- That was different. He hated us for being him human... A few times.
- And you JUST killed her mother - said the scientist darkly.
- What do you mean? - Lorne said. - You act as if you were her personal grievances.
- I never thought that I would ever say this, but I will quote Ronon: she is a Wraith... You already forgotten her mother futz us?... Usually apple does not fall far from the tree.
- I think you're wrong - he said suddenly Beckett.
The others looked at him, when he and Jennifer rode up to the table.
- She is very different from her mother - he finished. - I do not think she wanted to hurt us.
- Next - Rodney muttered. - Maybe you get a her fan club?
- Or maybe you should first get to know her better before you judge her?
- Carson's right - she said calmly Keller. - In truth, Mo feels herself the Wraith, but her own people treated her always in advance, as someone inferior. He knows how it feels to be despised by others... I think that she is different than the rest of the Wraith... She has a lot of human behavior.
- It does not make her man.
- But much closer to humanity - she said with a pleasant smile. - Besides, she rightly noticed that people are also sometimes monsters for other people... Do you think that these individuals are more human than in her?
- It's an extreme...
- It is quite frequent cases, Rodney... Wraith treat people like animals just because they have to feed them to survive... Would you eat your cat?... We also treat other pets and other farm animals. To the latter we do not pay up, because then it is easier to kill them... From what I learned from Mo, at the Wraith is the same. His worshippers they treated well, as we are their pets... The rest is for them only meal.
- And you, Brutus - he concluded. - You justify them?
- No... I only understand their point of view.
- I wonder if you'll be just as forgiving when one will be trying to feed you.
Jennifer just rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
- Sometimes you're incapable of reform, Rodney McKay - she said, and suddenly raised her eyebrow slightly, folding her arms across her chest. - And a hypocrite... I'm talking about your minors pal... David - she reminded him maliciously.
- It's different - he defended himself. - They locked us together... On month… And he's just a kid.
- A Wraith kid - she pointed out..
McKay wanted to say something, when his attention was distracted by the upcoming Woolsey.
- It is good that you are together - he said gravely. - I just spoke with the command. They will send someone tomorrow on our guest.
- Mo? For what? - asked Sheppard.
- Her case very interested them, and like Dr. Beckett, they apparently associated with her extraordinary mutation a high hopes.
- They said whom they send - Jennifer said.
- No... I think they are not agree on this point.
- We'd better warn the her what she can expect - said the colonel.
- I have just talked to her. She already knows everything.
- Great, yet what we need.
- I do not want to jinx, but recently we had probably too much quiet - said Beckett. - Then always have something happen.
- Do not caw, Doc - colonel pointed a finger at him.
- What do you think about her? - McKay said. - Everyone here seems to start to like her... for various reasons.
- Rodney - Jennifer resigned admonished.
- I want to know his opinion. Apparently, only I do not like her.
- And Ronon - Lorne said with amusement.
- He hates every Wraith and never change his mind... It does not matter - said the scientist.
- I have not yet made ready for her particular sentence - said Woolsey. - She's here just the second day. But I agree with the rest that she is... intriguing representative of his species... She just asked me about my classical music recordings... Surprisingly, apparently her mother treasured art.
- Yes, I remember the Queen's chamber. There were a few paintings and carvings - Lorne said. - It was kind of weird. I do not suspect Wraith of this tastes.
- This means that you attach of the rest? - Rodney said.
- As I said, I agree with the opinion of the rest: she is intriguing individual... The rest time will show.
- May you be by this intrigued do not regret then - McKay said, and stood up from the chair, take his tray. - Because apparently only me here still reasonable to think - he said and walked away.
The others looked at him.
- What's bit of him? - Lorne said.
- I do not know - he said Sheppard.
Scientist put the dirty tray table set and left the mess.
He was still a lot of work, so he was not going to waste any more time on enchanted by this female Wraith. They have yet to convince, that she may cheat them like her mother, and then it turns out, that he was right, he thought, stepping into the transporter.
Technician laboratory was almost empty.
He found then just Zelenka... and her - wince under his breath at the sight of Mo.
She stood by one of the laptops by reviewing their files on Wraith technology.
- What are you doing here? - he muttered.
She looked at him, a little surprised, and smiled slightly.
- Radek asked me for advice...
- That you are already on per YOU? - he sneered. - And we do not need any consultation - he interrupted her coldly and shut the laptop. - And certainly not to you... And you do not give her access to our files - turned to his friend.
- This laptop is not connected to the...
- Carson thought, so what? she broke into our files.
Moonlight tilted his head slightly.
- That's why you're angry at me, Dr. McKay? That I broke your code?
- You are Wraith... It's good enough for me - he grunted and walked toward his desk.
- Rodney - Radek admonished him, but that nothing unsaid. - I'm sorry for him. I do not know what got into him.
- It does not matter. I understand... He has a reason to not trust Wraith...
- And that's a whole bunch of reasons - said the man.
- Maybe you'd better take care of your work and we'll finish our - commented Radek and re-opened the laptop. - Do not pay attention to him... Apparently he got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning..
- What's that got to do with anything? - she was surprised.
- It's an expression... I mean that in the morning he is in a bad mood.
- Oh, I get it - she said with slight amusement and returned to the analysis of the data.
McKay looked at her grimly. He was angry that he has to stay with her in the same room. But he had a job, which, as if to spite, he had to do here, so he had no choice - so, he gritted his teeth and decided not to precipitate out of balance...
He did not understand why everyone likes her. Because she not feeding of on humans? What's the difference? Wraith is Wraith and does not change the lack of... slits on hand.
He looked sullenly at her and Zelenka. They behaved as if they had known each other for years. They discussed... and even joking... He could not by them concentrate on his work.
Finally, irritated, he pointedly slammed his laptop, slipped it under his arm and walked out of the lab.
Mo and Radek looked for it.. and giggled.
- I do not know what happened to him - he said Zelenka. - He never before did not act like this.
- Do not worry. I'm used to this type of behavior in my presence - she assured him calmly. - Coming back to the beam de-materializer. We use it for different purposes... Not only to capture humans... I mean, people... It allows us to gather different things and move in a buffer.
- How handy carrying case - he joked.
-...I think so... as far as I understood the comparison - she admitted.
.
.
Kiryk entered the med-lab.
Amazingly, in room was not the Wraith, which expected to find there.
Usually Doc sat at the table, stirring something in a tube or something just examined under a microscope.
This time, he found only a young woman cleanup carefully numerous shelves. She looked at him, a little surprised.
- The Doc is not there? - he asked.
- He'll come... Worshippers must not be here without the permission...
- I am not a worshipper - he snapped. - And I can be here - he added more calmly.
She did not answer. Only muttered something under her breath and went back to her job.
Kiryk looked around. Used he often stayed here. Remove his transmitter turned out to be complicated and
require several operations.
He stopped in front of the screen, which could be seen on human figure. But he could not read the inscription. After almost two years still it difficult to learn him the Wraith language.
When he came here the first time, the old Wraith was sitting at the microscope, examining some samples…
.
"…He was of medium height, rather slim. His reaching down to mid-back hair was pinned partly on the sides with two thin braids. Similar two expert on back of the head. All were tied with silver rings. His right eye crossed the tattoo in the shape of a double lightning.
- Hey, Doc - said cheerfully Mo and sat on a chair across from him.
He looked curiously at his guests and smiled ironically corner of his mouth.
- Again you brought wounded animal to the house? - he joked.
Mo smiled at him.
- You should have seen Skall face - she snorted.
- I guess - he said, still amused and looked at the man. - What's that one?
- The Runner - she said, glancing over his shoulder. - Kiryk.
- Hmm - just grunted under his breath and stood up, starting to look for something on the shelves.
Finally, he grabbed a device. It was flat, completed the one hand, crystal. On the other end hung a kind of cable. He plugged it into another device - to the monitor built into the wall of the laboratory.
- Come here - ordered calmly.
Kiryk came to him without a word, and turned his back. He guessed, that the Wraith also want to perform a scan of the tracking devices, as previously doctor of Atlantis.
Mo walked up to them, looking at the screen.
- This cling to the core - she said. - Let's take them out?
- It will be difficult... but I think it is feasible - Wraith said, and put his medical scanner. - It will require several operations... The question is, whether he is willing to take the risk. The unit will not interfere with that in any way.
- I do not want it to myself - Kiryk growled, turning to face them.
Wraith doctor snorted slightly under his breath.
- I also would not want a lot of things - he said. - But I have to live with them... more than ten thousand years - he said at the end mysteriously. - We can not always have what we want, Mr. Kiryk.
The man looked at him, frowning a little face.
He had no idea what he's talking about.
- You pull the damn thing or not?
He sighed and returned to his place.
- As I said, I think it is feasible - said on the way.
- Great. So cut it.
- Not today... I'm busy - he said calmly, looking back through the microscope.
- How to... - he said, but Mo quickly turned around him to face to the door.
- Thanks, Doc - she just blew.
He did not answer. He did not even look at them.
The door slid open and a Wraith female pushed runner into the corridor.
- He said, not today, so you do not argue with him - she said as the door closed behind them.
- And he has something better to do? - he sneered.
- First, such an operation is a serious matter. You need to prepare to her neatly. One false move and - she fillip her fingers - and to the rest of your life you'll be lying limp.
- And the second?
- And secondly, Doc is a rather specific and sometimes he has his... quirks - she said and walked down the corridor.
- Quirks?
- He repeated.
- You know... sometimes I have the impression that he lives in a different world - she almost whispered. - Although, for a total not blame him.
- What's that?
- It's a long story... Maybe someday I'll tell you - she said, and opened the door to the transporter.
- I'm not going to sit here for so long - he said.
Moonlight grinned with a hint of irony.
- How many times have I heard that before - she snapped and went into a small room... "
.
…Door to the laboratory opened and stepped inside Doc - everyone called him that, although Kiryk know his name: Clearcut. And even the story of his life.
He specialized in neurosurgery, although sometimes conducted his research in the field of molecular medicine.
He smiled at the man.
- Kiryk... I hear what you decided to visit us - he said and walked over to him to shake his hand.
Ex-runner took it, though he still could not get used to the gesture performed by the Wraith.
- And I, as you Mo have lost - he snorted.
- Rest thinks so - he said mysteriously and suddenly he remembered about the girl cleaners his laboratory. - Leave us alone - ordered calmly.
Kiryk not remember the Doc ever spoke arrogantly to the worshipper. Another this happened quite often, but not him.
She just nodded her head and walked obediently.
- Do you know where she might be? - only when the man asked.
Old Wraith smiled corner of his mouth and walked over to the monitor.
- I know about what she quarreled with the Commander, so I guess where she might be - he said mysteriously.
- Then why did you not say?
- Because if she indeed is there, it is better to leave her alone... And Skall would have chosen straight course on this planet.
- But me you can tell?
Wraith looked at him with a slight smile.
- You looked maybe last time on Atlantis? - he asked.
Kiryk frowned his brow.
- She's there?... For what? - he was surprised.
Doc pointed at the screen.
- Ever since I found out, that Mo is Protheu, I examined in detail her DNA... At its base could become a retrovirus, which finally would end this madness... This is not my field, but I think I'm close to this purpose.
- And Atlantis also working on it.
- Yes... but they want to use for this Iratus gene... It's a bad idea... Mo want to learn from them as much as possible. This can be very helpful in my research.
- About this she quarreled with the Skall? About the retrovirus? - he asked.
- Rather, the possibility of its application to this crew, which would free us from the hassle of... food deficit.
Kiryk smiled.
- I guess, that he was not delighted about the idea... Unlike to you.
Wraith also smiled slightly.
- Otherwise I will not be working on this retrovirus from two hundred years.
- Last, reasonable Wraith... It's a miracle, that the other has not slit your throat yet for your views - he snorted.
- You would be surprised, but not only I have a such - he said mysteriously.