Chapter 23
The paths, which we follow...
Moonlight hurriedly searched the books and tablets arranged on the shelves.
Most of them were short stories, poems or just technical and scientific essays from various fields. But two books and one tablet contain what was most needed her now: Wraith Clan genealogies. Even Clans of Technicians.
She had to very carefully examine the ancestry Steelflower, you do not make some stupid mistake that could betray them. She had long ago not used this knowledge, so she has a lot to remember. A discrediting in the eyes of Nightstorm or even the whole of the Council, was the last thing she wanted. In theory, after all, she had plenty of time to see the full name Steelflower and teach it to her. The error may therefore be suspect. Suggest that the name was learned at the last minute... and therefore it would prompted the question: why?
People probably did not pay any attention to that Steelflower made even a small mistake, introducing herself. They would consider this a result of nervousness. But not Wraith… Wraith, introducing himself telepathically, even with full name, must do this without hesitation. Without the slightest stutter, not to mention the smallest error. Wraith has to do it automatically. Like a conditioned reflex: question and answer. Any error can be recognized by other side for the suspect.
Pulling last book, Mo feel that something is just the leather cover. She opened it. Was there the small, slightly patinated already, silver medallion. She took it in her hand and smiled. She's already forgotten that she still has it... medallion, which she got from Michael on a day when she saw him for the last time... In the day that he flew on Atlantis... and died...
She searched for him for days, but to no avail.
Michael exposed himself not only New Lanteans but also the Wraith, so contact with him, let alone find him bordered with a miracle. She had to renew many of his contacts among humans and let go of a lot of rumors to finally find him... and more specifically to get a call from him…
.
"…She asked just another antiques dealer, when a man pulled up next to, reviewing stuff.
- Do you think this will appeal to the woman of your age? - he asked suddenly.
Moonlight looked at him, at first surprised, then smiled faintly amused.
- I am afraid that every human female in my age did not care to have the jewelry - she said calmly and looked at him, repealing little hood surrounding her head.
But the man did not seem to be surprised by what he saw.
- My friend believes otherwise - he said. - So, maybe you should have it - he said and handed her a small silver medallion, and then calmly walked away.
She looked at him, then at the medallion. Was covered with some engravings, seemingly meaningless, but when she looked at them closer, she saw a pattern: it was the coordinates of one of planets from this galaxy.
Once again, she looked quickly in the direction in which the man walked away, but she did not see him again, among the crowds visiting the marketplace.
She looked so the trader.
- How much you want for it?
- It's not me - he said, slightly nervous and returned to clean his stuff.
Without thinking, Mo left quickly, returning to her fighter hiding in the nearby forest. And then she returned to the hive.
Decryption coordinate it took her half a day. Engravings was random, so the combination of hundreds of addresses. Besides, not all was correct, some too populated to Michael risked his emergence of there, others were not fit to live. Finally, however, she has selected five of the most likely addresses.
But on the right she went just the fourth time.
Gates were on orbit a sandy planet's, which is surrounded by three narrow rings. Not have any moon, and to a large part of planet surface of the raged storm visible even from this height.
As soon as the gates went down, and Mo flew fighter in the direction of planet, suddenly appeared in front of her vehicle with Atlantis.
Jumper deactivate his shield, revealing in front of her. She missed him at the last minute, cursing the pilot.
The machine calmly leveled flight with her, and after a while led the way. Moonlight understood that she had to go after them.
Jumper turned to the calmer to areas that planet. As soon as they pierced through the thick, white clouds, they were greeted by two suns glare: yellow star and its accompanying red dwarf. And at the bottom was visible only light rust sand, which grew in the distance the mountains.
Female was surprised, that their peaks covered snow. They had to be really high, that in such a climate, the water was maintained in a frozen state, she thought.
It is in their direction they're guided, gliding over the high dunes.
Finally they got there, fly into the interior of the largest cave lit only suns rays. But it was enough to see everything. Jumper stopped abruptly and fell gently to the ground. Mo set her machine behind him and jumped out of the cockpit. After a while, from corridor has emerged a figure. It was Michael, wearing a brown leather knee-length tunic, belted waist.
Moonlight looked at him. He looked different than the last time she saw him. His hair was almost completely brown, facial features, nose and skin more human, and cheek pits was practically only one. Even his eyes were human, but still yellow.
He smiled slightly. Her view has improved his mood. Of all the Wraith, which he remembered only she not turned away from him. In truth, he thought the reason for her visit, but it still meant, that in her own way she is worried about him. It was a very heartening thought. Now, when everyone is trying to kill him.
- Apparently you looking for me - he said.
- That's right... Unfortunately it turned out to be harder than I thought.
- If it were that easy, I would have been dead a long time ago... It's nice to see you again, Mo - he said, stopping in front of her.
- You too - she said with a slight smile. - You look good... although different, than the last time, when we see each other a hive of my mother.
- The effect of another gene therapy... But not because this you have so much trouble to find me?
- No... I wanted to talk about your... a new job.
Michael smiled a little, maybe even with a hint of protectionism.
- Come on, this is not the place to talk - he said calmly and led the way down the corridor, where he came. Mo follow him.
Several meters long corridor lit pale-yellow light from a makeshift lamp, which hung between organic conductors. She knew this stuff. It can be quickly installed and removed just as quickly. At the same once such as temporary bases like this, she thought.
The next space was a huge cave, whose roof was riddled with small holes to let in air and light streaks. The female was not sure whether created naturally or did it hybrid Michael. It was here spread out all the equipment and weapons.
Standing in the cave men looked curiously at the newcomers. But Michael even did not pay attention to them, turning aside to go to a small cavity, where he kept his things. There were not much: the makeshift bed and few Wraith tablets.
Here also lighting was a hole in the roof.
However, Michael did not stop there, going beyond a narrow passage to go out after a while on shelf of rock, which had a view of the countryside.
- You have your own terrace - Mo joked.
He smiled slightly as he sat down on a boulder.
- I Like sit here. This view calms me down - he said with a hint of nostalgia in his voice, looking at the horizon, and then he turned to her. - So, what exactly brought you to me?
Moonlight sat down next to him.
- Proposal... that you stopped it ... madness. I do not know how else to call it... Come back with me, on my hive - she said calmly. - You remember, I offered you this before... Abandon what you're doing, before it's too late. I know you want revenge on the New Lanteans for what they did to you, but it will destroy you, Michael - she said with concern.
But he just smiled.
- Strangely, of all persons only you one still care about my fate... Though you barely know me.
- Maybe it's because I can understand how you feel. Betrayed... and rejected just because they're different.
- Yes - he said slowly. - You are able to understand - he said.
- So, you back with me...
- It's too late, Mo. I went too far.
- But it will destroy you - she said, putting her hand over his. - I found out who you were. You do have a name Hightower. You've always been ambitious and have great achievements. You are a brilliant scientist, one of the best among the Wraith. On our hive you could easily continue your research...
She stopped when Michael took his hand and stood up, walking over to the edge of the rock shelf. For a moment he was silent again, gazing into the distance, then he turned his head into her.
- Do you not want revenge on them, Mo? For what they did your mother and others? - Michael asked.
The female for a moment looked straight in his eyes. They were cool, full of contempt... and anger. He was no longer the same Wraith, whom she met in the hive of her mother, she thought sadly.
- Revenge will not return life to them, Michael - she said calmly. - It's good for a while... But it does not fill the emptiness in my heart.
- I do not understand you. You are the Wraith, but you doing like... not even like humans - he said. - Revenge would be in this situation is normal.
She smiled a little.
- I always tried to think as logically. That's why I do not support your actions. This is not the way, Michael - she said and walked over to him by putting a hand on his shoulder. - Revenge is never a good way. It leads only to destruction... Come back with me, to our hive. They will accept you there, you'll see.
He looked into her green eyes. They were so gentle and calm. For a moment he thought he could really go with her.
But then he went back and looked at the horizon again.
- Humans on Earth have a saying: everyone is the architect of his own destiny - he said. - Betrayed me both Wraith and humans, so I chose my own path. My fate...
- But this path will destroy you - she repeated. - I inquired about you even Vocator. I thought that he might be able to... He told me why you gave this name. I thought it was because of your talent, ambition, but he acknowledged that the one thing he saw at you was high tower. Tower from Atlantis... from which you fall... If you fly there, you die, Michael.
He looked at her and after a while he smiled.
- If I already know it, I can avoid it...
- You do not ignore this - she interrupted him calmly but firmly. - Vocator is from Destiny Hive, one of the First Mother - she said gravely. - My grandmother says, that she had a great gift... and she's never wrong.
- And if this gift saved her from death? - he asked sarcastically. - Where is she now?
- Ambition is a good thing, but everything has its limits reasonable. Do not let your ambition and desire for revenge led to your death... It's good that you want to be the architect of your own destiny. I always thought, that the Wraith for a long time to not develop themself. We fall into more and more stagnant as sometime Lanteans. But you at least choose wisely paths which you follow... Hightower - she said with a slight smile.
Again he looked at her for a long moment. He liked to talk to her. He did not know why, but her face, her eyes operated on him soothing effect.
- You are an extraordinary person, Moonlight - he finally said calmly. - You understand the world better than most of us. You can look at it from different perspectives. This is an extraordinary ability... You're right. Our race from a fall into stagnation. Therefore, the time to change this... But first I have to settle from my past - he smiled and walked to the rock passage. - We'll set off, but you can stay here until we return. We'll continue our conversation - he said, and left her alone.
She looked at him sadly, as he disappears into a narrow rocky passage, and then she looked out into the desert.
She stood there for a long time after the jumper has left the cave and headed for the gates to orbit the planet. She felt like her heart is filled with excruciating pain and sadness. She knew that he would not return. She wanted to believe, but... deep down she felt that it was their last conversation.
She did not wait for their return. She went back to their hive and took up small repairs to just take something her mind. But that day she could not concentrate. She still had the sight picture that showed her Vocator. Image of Michael falling from the tower of Atlantis..."
.
...She sighed sadly at the memory of that day and put the medallion back on the shelf, and then came out of her quarter, moving straight to the transporter.
When the door opened to a small room, stood in front of her Skyfall. As usual, he looked down at her stern gaze. Sometimes she tried to remember the last time she saw him smiling, just like that, but every time she had with it problem.
- What you're making again? - he asked suspiciously.
- Nothing - she said with a slight hesitation, and she smiled.
He looked down.
- So, what do you need all these things?
- It's just... I decided to remember myself some things.
- Queens genealogies? - he said, glancing at the titles of books.
- Well…yes... because I have a meeting with my grandmother, and she likes sometime to question me... so I decided to refresh my information.
She tried to be as natural and relaxed... but Skyfall looks always made, that lie to him came to her with great difficulty. He almost always knew when she lied to him. And she every time felt like a little kid at the hearing - helpless and vulnerable.
He looked back into her eyes, pulling up his face to hers.
- I repeat the question: what are you're making again? - he said, drawling every word. - Starburst again urges you to do something? - he growled.
- No...
- Mo? - he hissed firmly.
She tried to take the most innocent expression on her face... but it did not work. He just stood grimly, leaning slightly over her, waiting for an answer. The true answer.
She felt herself begin to blush. She was weak, she thought. She could not resist the Wraith Commander... She would be a bad Queen, she thought, resignedly and sighed heavily.
- I take it because of the humans... They want to meet with the Grey Council, so, they asked me something about them I told them. In order to know what to expect... And I do not remember everything. So much of this was...
- Stop lie - he cut her off.
- Why do you think I lying? - she asked, slightly indignant.
- I've known you since childhood. I know exactly when you're lying to me - he said with a note of satisfaction that he has an advantage over her. - You could lie to your father, but with me this you will not go.
- Unfortunately - she muttered under her breath.
- So, if you are aware of this, start telling the truth.
Moonlight looked him straight in the eye.
- I can't - she said quickly with a look of apology on her face and she wanted as soon enter the transporter room, but Skyfall stopped her, covering hand at her waist.
- I promised your father that I would dissuade you from your stupid ideas and I'm going to keep my word - he said with seriousness. - So, either you immediately tell me what you all these things, or you do not leave this hive.
Again, she looked at him for a moment, still with the same apologetic expression on his face.
- I can't - she said. - It's complicated... You do not understand...
- You think I'm too stupid to understand your ideas? - he asked with a hint of irony.
- No - she protested. - That's not what I mean... I just... It's complicated. You would be mad - she said, begging him her eyes to let her go.
- Nothing news at your ideas - he snorted.
She smiled slightly, amused by his words.
- But this time...
She did not finish. From the bottom side corridor she heard a joyful call Blaze.
- I got it! We can begin! It will be a scam of all time...! - he paused, seeing a strange look Mo. - What? - he asked, surprised, releasing and then he saw emerging from the transporter figure Commander. He stood in the place on his view. - Oh, shit - he said.
- I understand that he was initiated into the plan? - asked calmly Skyfall.
- He is a part of it - she admitted.
- But to me you do not want to betray it? Because: I will not understand - he emphasized the word.
- Blaze... he has a different view of the world...
- Yes, I know. Just like you - he said. - This is why your common ideas and trips always end in trouble - he noted, throwing the young Wraith meaningful glance. - Maybe I should interrogate him? He has less skilled at lie to me than you - he said teasingly.
Sunblaze smiled broadly... and nervous. The confrontation with the Commander was the last thing what he now needed.
- So... or finally I find out what you two are planning again... or both you I command shut down in the cell... Best separate... Far away from each other - he stressed, looking firmly to the Mo to the Blaze. -... I'm waiting.
Both exchanged quick glances.
- Believe me, this time you do not want to know - said finally Mo. - This idea you will not survive - she was trying to make a joke, but the Wraith again pulled his face to her.
- Try me.
She smiled broadly and looked at her friend. But she knew, that he is as helpless as she.
- Well... As if to gently tell you... It's complicated...
- It's you mentioned... But perhaps more details? - he drawled the word, not moving away from it.
She smiled broadly again... and nervous. And then she took a deep breath, resigned, and let it out a loud.
- It is about New Primary... Starburst Queen - she began carefully.
- What about her?
- Well... she... - she glanced sideways at Blaze.
The young Wraith he was to withdraw carefully.
- Stay!... where you are - Commander threw, pointing a finger at him.
The pilot froze, upset that his little ruse failed.
- Go on - added Skyfall, again looking at the Mo.
- So... New Primary... this is... Teyla Emmagan...
She looked at him uncertainly, contorted her face in a grimace and waiting for the explosion of fury Commander. But he just stared at her as if he analyzing her words, and then his face began to appear slowly growing smile. Finally he laughed out loud, guttural voice.
Moonlight looked completely confused on Sunblaze... and he's at her.
- I'm serious, Skall - she said finally. - The real Queen of Starburst...
- Tell me, Moonlight, what I did to you, that you so much wish me dead? - he interrupted her, but his voice was calm. - I offended you something? ... Or maybe you blame me for the death of your father?
- Oh, no, you know...
- Then why are you doing everything to send me in the afterlife! - he snapped, interrupting her, and again pulling up his face to hers.
She could see the fury in his eyes, in expression on his face, clenched lips, and even in the vein throbbing harder and harder on his forehead.
- That's why I told you that this time you do not want to know - she moaned.