Chapter 15
Spirits of the past.
Richard Woolsey stood at the bottom of the stairs, nervously waiting for the stargate activation.
Since the return Atlantis from Earth, neither the SGC neither the IOA had no objection to his orders, even controversial. However, the granting of refuge female Wraith surely caused a brainstorming on the Earth... and all the more information about her unusual mutation.
He did not understand only, why it was decided to send xenobiologist, when doctor Beckett's team is doing well. More could use someone with a good knowledge of genetic engineering, he thought, as soon as possible to fine-tune a retrovirus.
But it was not his case challenging the decisions of the SGC and IOA - so long as envoy as soon as he left this base... without problematic. And this can be difficult with this in some unforeseen circumstances.
When hour ago, he learned what had happened, he felt like his blood pressure rising rapidly. He should already be used to this, that in the galaxy, there is always happened something in the least expected... or rather in the least appropriate circumstances. However, he had secretly hoped that this time everything went smoothly... Yes, he hoped so...
According to doctor Keller, the level of hormones in the Wraith body was almost dangerously high, well above all known for her standards. This dangerously speeded up her heart rate, which in turn could end up with a heart attack. And the only thing which they could do, was to look at the situation from a distance.
Any attempt to enter to cell could end up taking over Mo control of man... they could not knock out her because of the force field. And they did not know, from what distance a female would be able to influence them. That is why they decided to send a MALP - especially to know what happens witch the Wraith, and if necessary, let to the room soporific gas, and turn off the force field with a mechanical arm machine. But this is only a last resort. Nobody knew, what quantity of gas work on Mo, ... and that as a result its excess will not hurt her.
Besides, only in this way they could contact her with currently... unfortunately now she was not very talkative, demanding her release from the cell.
Woolsey had never even imagined that the Wraith know so much swearword... and it in several languages.
The man looked at Beckett, who has just stood next to him.
- It happened in the meantime something I should know? - he said.
- No.. She still flounces around the cell... We are still trying to exactly identify the substance detected in her blood, but I'm afraid that it too much has already spread.
- Let us hope that this will pass quickly.
- Unfortunately, I have some bad news here - said the doctor. - We compared yesterday and today her blood sample. Since yesterday the level of hormones in her body increased significantly. I am afraid that this could be just the beginning.
Woolsey twisted his mouth, and he wanted to say something, when the first of the chevrons on the gate is activated, followed by another. He looked at the metal circle that after a while blurted energy flux at the moment, and then created it a slightly undulating silvery-blue pane.
- We have contact with SGC - said one of the controllers.
Woolsey nodded his head, and to stargate energy shield has been turned off. He looked at the machine, in the tense waiting for the person who had come to them.
What was his surprise, when by the, water surface resembling the event horizon, emerged of three people in black uniforms, and a moment after them another three. Was announced to him arrival of just one person.
However, it this not really surprised him, but those who arrived on Atlantis.
- Colonel Carter? - he said.
- Hello, Mr. Woolsey - said to him short bevel blonde and looked at the others. - The rest of the group I do not need to present, I thing... And this is Dr. Alaya Hovich. Xenobiologist of which was mentioned command.
She pointed to a young, green-eyed blonde, whose long hair tied were a bit clumsy on the back of the head. She was of medium height, even slim, with a slightly protruding cheekbones. She smiled delightfully full lips and she held out hand towards the man.
- Hello. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Woolsey... I've heard a lot about you.
- It depends on what you heard - he joked lightly, a little exhilarated her smile.
- Oh, I can assure you that the same positives.
- Glad to hear it - he said, and looked at his team to present each in turn, starting with Carson as the chief of the medical institution.
A woman greeted each warmly and at the end she looked back at Woolsey.
- And where is your unique guest? - she asked with intrigued.
The others looked at each other in confusion, not knowing how to begin.
- Yes, Mo - almost mumbled Beckett. - She is the moment... how do you say?
- Indisposed - Sheppard said.
- What do you mean? - Carter interjected.
- We had to closed her in cell - he explained a little apprehension.
- But why? - the doctor was surprised.
- There has been some unexpected complication - began Woolsey. - As a result of what we have to isolate her... temporarily.
- What did she do? - almost snapped Samantha.
- Actually, it's not her fault - Keller interjected. - Only Todd... He injected her with a certain substance a few days ago and she did a bit... hyperactive.
- To put it mildly - Rodney mumbled.
- What do you mean by: hyperactive? - Jackson said.
- You ask Sheppard, he will explain to you this the best.
- Rodney - Jennifer admonished him.
- What? I'm telling the truth... He very thoroughly... EXAMINED... this case... Personally - McKay could not refrain from malice.
Newcomers looked at him, still not knowing what they meant.
- Maybe you'd better see for yourself - suggested Carson and pointed the way to the infirmary, and he led the way.
The others followed him.
Going into hospital rooms, Carson immediately made his way to monitor on which Lineth still watched with concern locked in his cell a female Wraith.
The doctor introduced her guests and looked at the screen on which was displayed image transmitted from MALP.
- What's new?
- No... But I think that she calmed down slightly - said the woman. - Although she still can not sit in one place.
- No wonder - he said. - With this level of adrenaline spreads her... As I explained to you along the way, we can not approach her. That is why we observe her only by MALP.
Beckett looked at the monitor, as a female Wraith tosses in cell, screaming and hit fists in a force field.
He was a doctor... and he could not help her. He could only monitor her status from a distance and wait... wait until the substance has ceased to operate.
If he got there, she immediately take over control of him and she would be released from the cell.
- You know what she is saying? - he asked finally.
- Much I understand - said Jackson.
- And?
- It is not to be repeated - he said. - You already know what kind of substance her injected?
- At the moment we only know it was a derivative of estrogen.
Jackson looked at him in surprise, raising some eyebrows.
- We are still we study the sample, which was able to get Jennifer and earlier, but the substance almost completely unfolded in her body - he added. - We believe that it was only meant to stimulate action appropriate glands and parts of the brain. The rest is a natural process.
- So, you have here cursing like hell, mega-horny female Wraith - Mitchell snorted.
- In a nutshell?... Yes - Sheppard said.
- Riding on the whole - he commented, amused.
- Certainly not for her - said exasperated by his behavior Hovich, pointing to the monitor.
Moonlight has once again struck with fists furiously in a force field and snarled, but and this time her efforts were of no avail.
- You stop rampage like this, and calm down - said a male voice from MALP radio. - Pounding fists do not cancel out the field.
She looked toward the bench on sitting comfortably on it Wraith.
At first she could not believe her eyes, that she sees him. But he was there, smiling at her gently… He was dead, but she could see him.
- Easy for you to say. It's not you stuffed with hormones - said suddenly another familiar voice, when Queen reproved her Commander and walked over to her daughter. For a moment she toyed with a lock of her hair and suddenly gripped them tightly. - And you have a lesson. There was no need to leave the hive - she snapped.
- Stop it, it hurts - called Mo and after a while she grabbed hair with her hand. - You well know why I did it.
- Yes. You have as some stupid ideas as this old fool, who's arranged you like this - she pointed out to her.
- Because he thinks differently than the rest of the Wraith?
- Like most of the old school Wraith - snorted Nightwind.
- So including me? - Icestorm snorted. - Somehow it never bothered you.
The Queen looked at him cloudy.
- And what led you to it? Most of you is dead - he said mockingly. - And your dream of the old days died with you... To remain only a few, such as Stardrift or Clearcut...
- And your mother - he snapped it.
She growled at him slightly.
- Also, from what I noticed, the younger generation does not do better. New Lanteans well enough to deal with you... How do they say?... You die like flies - he snorted again.
The Queen snapped once again at him in warning and took a step forward, when suddenly Mo stood in her way.
- If you have the intention of arguing whose generation is better, it is better to go!... Your argument does not help me - she said, looking once at father, once a mother.
There was silence.
Each of them was on their side the cell, and Mo collapsed to the ground, crossing legs and wrapped around her knees the arms to hide face in them.
- Everything goes wrong - she whispered.
Icestorm rose from his seat and sat down next to her.
- I know. We all had other plans... but it ended up differently - he said gently, tenderly stroking her hair. - That's why you have to be strong... You've always been strong... How's your mother - he said and looked at the Queen.
For a long moment they both looked at each other in silence.
- Your father is right - she said at last, and walked over to her daughter, crouching beside her. - You have to be strong... You show the, he's not in vain learned you how to deal with adversity... That's why you survive last two hundred years... That's why you survive and now.
Moonlight raised her head and looked at her.
- But it burns me from inside... Blows me from inside - she said, looking in her solace. - I can not control it. I want to destroy everything, just to get rid of it.
Nightwind smiled.
- Now you know how we feel when comes hunger - she said, stroking her face.
Mo frowned brows, distraught and again she hid her face in arms…
.
.
Doctor Hovich went to the monitor, watching a Wraith female sitting on the floor.
- I think she has calmed down.
- She sits so for some time - Lineth said, looking up from his laptop. - That's good, right?
- Theoretically yes... But it could also mean that she is weakening - she said reluctantly, and turned to the woman to approach her. - You know her well? - she asked.
- Briefly, if you ask me... Her fighter crashed at my town. That's how I met her.
- Yes, I know. I read the report... I mean more about, how well you met her.
A woman gave a little shrug.
- I think it's rather hard to tell in a few days... I can only say that I have often have met the Wraith. I survived even their harvest, which was taken my mother and I know one thing for sure: if it was not her looks, I would not say that she is the Wraith.
- As much she different from the rest?... Incredible… From a psychological point of view, most of our personality shapes the environment in which to bring up. Thus, she should not so much differ a behavior from the rest.
- Carson and Jennifer say the same - she said. - That's why I started to wonder if what we know about the Wraith, it is not only the darker part... Because what do we really know? That they feed on humans, how
we eat a animals, because only human vitality are able to satisfy their hunger. So, they treat us like animals for breeding and we meet them only when they begin to harvest. We do not know anything about their daily lives. What are they doing... how they behave towards each other... Our knowledge of these are
bits of information, lessons usually a long time ago... I do not condone them. The harvest took my whole family - she said with sadness in his eyes and looked at the screen. - But I just started to wonder… what it's like to be the Wraith.
The woman smiled slightly.
- I understand what you mean... You feel could be compared to Stockholm Syndrome - she said, and Lineth looked at her questioningly. - We call such a state of mind that occurs in victims of kidnapping or hostage, expressing a feeling of sympathy and solidarity with those who hold them - she said. - Your meeting with Mo provoked similar feelings: Wraith so far only been for you, oppressors, but now you start to perceive them differently. You start to see in them... a human face.
- I guess you could say that - she said. - Unfortunately from Mo I know, that most of the Wraith does not would have seen in me a human face - she said with a slight smile. - Unless I was be they worshipper. Then they would treat me a little better than the food.
- So, however, she differs significantly from the other Wraith.
- I would said rather, that she does not keep herself out of such a facade, like the others... Apparently her father was similar - she added.
The doctor raised an eyebrow with interest.
- She tells you about her family? - she asked, clearly intrigued.
As xenobiologist she was after that information came to this galaxy.
- A little bit - Lineth said and glancing at the monitor.
On the image from the cell, a female Wraith was still sitting on the floor.
- I miss you - Mo whispered. - Why can not everything be as it once was?
- From what I remember, you then complain that it is boring - a familiar male voice sneered. - And now you complain about the excess attractions.
She raised her head and looked to the left. Her parents were gone. Instead of them, outside the cell next to a MALP, was a tall man with a short cut, black hair and blue eyes, which clearly contrasted with his dark complexion.
She knew him... she knew him very well.
He was wearing the same leather uniform, which had seen him for the last time.
- Maverik - she whispered.
He smiled gently and stepped closer, looking at the force field.
- And apparently I had to end this way - he did not change the tone and looked at her. - As always you point out to me.
She got up and walked to the metal walls of the cell.
- Why are you here? - she asked sadly.
- I do not know. You're the hallucinations, not me. You should know… WHY... Besides, I thought, that you'd be happy to see me.
- Your view saddens me... Because I know, that you're not real.
- I would to be... if you had not left me on that planet, Mo - he growled.
- That's not fair. You know that it was the only way I could protect you from re-runner's fate. They would find you finally on our hive, and demanded the of issue you… And my mother would do it.
- But you could be there with me.
- I wanted to. You do not know how much...
- But? - he demanded answers.
Moonlight looked down, sadly.
- But there was not Wraith who would maintain you alive… And I do not want to look like you...
- How I to grow old? - he finished for her, when she paused.
She looked at him more firmly.
- How you die.
For a moment, a man watching her closely.
- That's why you started to help runners? That's why you helped Kiryk? They become your... redemption?... They mutes your guilt?
She did not answer. Again, she only rained eyes and stepped back, sat again on the floor.
- Go away, Maverik - she said.
- No.. This time you not get rid of me so easily - he said sarcastically, folding his arms across his chest.
She looked at him grimly. His face was outlined amusement.
- I said, go away! - she snapped.
- Come here and force me.
She growled a warning, but he was still smiling mockingly.
- Come on. Show the dormant in you blood Wraith... Apparently you one of them... While you're still acting like a man... Is it still others were right about you? You're just like another worshipper... PROTHEU.
Moonlight jumped up furiously from place and vehemence she hit the whole body in a force field. She felt a piercing her pain, but she did not stop, time after time hitting the side, as if she wanted to knock out the entrance.
But Maverik still just smiled wryly…
In this same time, in medical lab, Lineth again glanced on the screen.
- What is she doing? - she asked with concerned and got up from his chair, walking over to the monitor.
Hovich looked back and also get up.
- She crazy? This field will kill her - a young woman looked in horror on the doctor.
- Bring to colonel Sheppard to the cell - she told, pointing out of the infirmary. - We must to... - she paused.
Wraith female just bounced off the force field cell and fell on the floor.
Lineth looked at the screen and held her breath.
- Quickly. Bring the doctor Beckett - she said, and she ran to the pop-up set for resuscitation. - We'll meet in there - she said, clutching a briefcase.
Sunnes just nodded and ran out into the corridor.
- Have someone bring to the cell stretcher - doctor instructed the medical staff and she also ran out of the infirmary, running to first encountered the transporter.
The door a small room slid open in front of her. She went inside and looked at the screen with a map of the station... as the anger through it all she forgot in which area is cell.
So she came back into the corridor, looking for anyone who could help her. Finally, around the bend, emerged familiar figure.
- Mr. Zelenka! - she called and ran to him. - Where is the prison?
The man looked at her in surprise and adjusted his glasses.
- You should not go there...
- She's unconscious... Where's this damn cell? - she almost snapped irritably.
- All right - he said, and led the way to enter into the same transporter, from whom she had just left. He pointed to the screen placement. - It's this sector. You must...
He once again did not finish. A woman touched the screen and the beam transport moved them to the designated place. Zelenka looked surprised and wanted to say something, but she had already run out into the corridor.
- To the right! - he called when she stopped at a fork in the corridor, and he was return to the transporter, but he hesitated.
He sighed heavily and quickly followed her, starting to mutter under his breath in Czech that he can not leave here alone.
When he got to the room with a cell, the door was already open, and the doctor Hovich just tried to deactivate the force field. He came and helped her. She thanked him and grabbed his suitcase, when the cell door opened up.
She knelt by Moonlight and checked her pulse, and then she leaned forward, listening.
- She lives?
- Yes, but she has a weak pulse and shallow breathing - she said, and hastily opened the suitcase.- Please turn on her back. I'll give her stimulator.
- No better adrenaline? - he asked, doing her command.
- It's because she is in this state. I do not want to risk - she said, preparing the injection.
Zelenka looked at the Wraith. She was staring at something, does not even react to them. He leaned over her.
- Mo? - he said, but she did not react. He turned her head slightly, directing her sight at himself. - Mo? - he repeated.
She blinked, and after a while she smiled at him gently, when Hovich injected into her arm stimulator. Then she attached to her face and breasts round slices with sensors to look at the monitor to work her heart and brain.
- Everything will be alright. Do not worry - Zelenka assured.
Wraith slowly caught him by the hand and smiled once again...
And then her eyes rolled up and she closed her eyes.
The monitoring device issued out a disturbing, long, high-pitched sound.