Chapter 31
Calm before the storm.
Meeting Teyla with Tracker have elapsed quickly and painlessly - in the words of Sheppard.
According of Moonlight the young Queen has played her role well, and the old Wraith should not take any suspicions...
He should not have, because with such as he this never can be entirely sure, she explained.
Starburst also seemed to be pleased from the course of meeting. But he calmed down only when Tracker finally said goodbye to him, satisfied with the information what he received...
He reassured, that his meticulously arranged plan worked.
Colonel thought, that he and Mo however are probably related... considering all these they… scams. Or is it just a feature of the entire species? If so, the Wraith began to scare him more than ever. He knew, that these green cockroaches, as called them Harrigan, are cunning and sneaky... but what he had witnessed... like a soap opera, he snorted to himself. Conspiracies and intrigues as bread.
His "disguise" also seemed to pass the exam.
No one, on the Starburst hive, become suspicious.
Also not revealed to anyone who is in the truth Blade of young Queen.
Mo decided to check in this way, how reliable is what she put together quickly for the scraps of information. In truth, she did not take her eyes from the colonel, but as a result she seemed to be pleased with the whole, stated at the end John.
A little different thing to have, when they went on board her hive. Skyfall quickly became suspicious of a young Wraith, therefore Moonlight resigned from pulling ahead of him this charade.
As might be surmise, officer was not happy with the idea of pulling it all the next human, but he understood the reasons, why Sheppard wanted to accompany Teyla. She was a member of his team, and he felt responsible for her. So now, when he had the opportunity, he wanted to protect her personally. Wraith did this some over the last two hundred years in relation to Mo.
To the surprise of the young female, Skyfall proposed some solution to the lack of telepathic abilities colonel: he ordered him held all the time close to him on hive the Grey Council. Commander will present him as his disciple. And others Wraith prefer to avoid the Intelligence Officers, whose job it is, after all, gathering information and observing... and then to report their Commander and the Council.
Therefore, even a loose conversation with a scout, can be risky. You always can inadvertently say something too much, and in these troubled times, it can be considered a threat to the Wraith.
Sheppard again regretted, that he wanted to delve into the world of the Wraith. Next intrigue and more lies. Apparently ignorance is sometimes a blessing, he thought then... in the case of Wraith it examined perfectly. But he asked for it, he insisted, that he wants to play this role, so now he could not give up… So, left him just bite the bolt and get used to it.
And like says earthly proverb: "When you are among the crows, you caw as they caw"...
Since their return to Atlantis, Moonlight taught Teyla all day: her behavior, movement, present yourself to others, and even to block or influence on the thinking of others. All this in order to accurately prepare her for a meeting with the Grey Council. With nine the oldest and strongest mind Queens.
Kanaan watched all on this with considerable distance. He did not like, what Teyla wants to do. He considered is too dangerous, what he clearly said Mo, when she asked him why he is angry.
- She should start thinking about our son - he pointed out the female Wraith. - And do not pretend to be one of you.
Athozian women looked at him sternly.
- That's what I'm doing... paving the way for us to places, that were unavailable to us over the last ten thousand years... to the heart of the Wraith: Grey Council, from which may depend the fate of us all.
- It is a pity, that the cost of Torren - he said, and went along with his son out of the room in which they practiced.
A young female was silent, looking just as Emmagan all shivering with anger.
- You want to do a break? - she finally asked calmly.
- No - she said and looked at her... proudly, like a true Queen of the Wraith. - Let's we continue.
Moonlight just smiled slightly and nodded gesture of the head. They came back to lessons... for the meeting remains only one day.
.
.
"…High, golden fields of grain waving in the wind.
The air was soft, sweet smell... and thousands of tiny, fluffy seeds.
The sky was blue and cloudless, and the sun warmed nicely with its rays.
Teyla stood in the middle of it all, looking at the distant, rust-colored mountains, whose peaks covered with snow sheets.
It was all so real, palpable... even though she knew very well, that it was only a dream.
Dream, in which introduced her to a young Wraith female.
- This is Patria - Moonlight said, standing next to her - our home planet, which was destroyed at the beginning of the Great War... We stayed here for three generations.
- How do you know what it looked like? - asked Athozian. - From the story of your grandmother?
- Also... but not quite - she said. - You see, the Wraith are equipped with some sort of genetic memory. Mainly in terms of knowledge, but someone... more talented, through meditation, can reach the memories of their ancestors... And my grandmother was born on Patria... I think she liked this place, because she told me about it often, when I was little... I think that's why I was easiest to get to that particular memories.
- Were you able to see something more? - interested in Emmagan.
- Yes, but these are mostly short images... as if blurred memories... Some of them are nice... and some more like a nightmare than a memory - she almost muttered.
- From the war?
- I think so... And from the first feeding of a human - she said with solemnity and sadness. - It may sound strange, but I saw that someone had forced her to do this. She did not have the courage to do it... And then she threw up.
- I know something about it - said Teyla. - During my first attempts to "connect" to the minds of the Wraith, the one with whom I made connectivity, also began to feed on man... So, I am able to imagine that some of you, after sudden change... the diet, may have the beginning of the resistance.
Moonlight smiled.
- My father used to say, that it's like killing someone: for the first time you have a guilty conscience, the second you're sorry... but the third is just routine... especially when depend on this your own life - she added, looking at her that the typical Wraith eyes. - And survival instinct is very strong at the Wraith.
- Yes, I noticed - she said, and again looked at the distant mountains. - Why are you showing me this place? - she changed the subject.
- I thought, that you should learn more about us... about our past... Besides, I like this place. There is a calm and soothing... I feel at home here - she said wistfully.
- It's true. Here is very beautiful - Teyla admitted, looking at the growing on the edge of the tree.
Some of them even drowning in white and pink, small flowers.
- You try. Maybe you also manage to reach the memories of your ancestors... since you have Wraith genes - Mo said, and smiled brightly. - Females be more easily. Their minds are stronger - she said and began to spread in the air... and with her the landscape…"
.
…Teyla suddenly opened her eyes. It was night, and she lay in her bed.
Look in the memories of ancestors, she thought. But whose? Human... or Wraith?
She sighed heavily and looked toward the baby-bed, where her son slept peacefully.
She stood up and walked over to him, smiling gently. Through the events of the past months she was increasingly feeling, that only he left her.
Kanaan did not sleep in their room for two nights. He was still angry, that she agreed to play the role of the Queen of the Wraith... But she felt she should do it. Especially now, when she met Mo.
Knowing this young Wraith female made her realize, that maybe is a way out of this whole situation, good for both sides, human and Wraith. That maybe, however, both races will once able to live next to each other... without killing each other.
Three generations of the Wraith living on the Patria, she remembered the words Mo.
So, maybe sometime tried to peaceful coexistence, but for some reason abandoned this idea.
But with what?
And for after how long time?
Three generations - how much it can mean in the eyes of the immortal Wraith? Years? Centuries?
Moonlight mother gave birth to her first daughter until two thousand years ago... and she lived for ten thousand years.
In contrast, Mo half-sister has a four-year daughter.
So, how much for the Wraith means one generation?...
This thought began to swirl in her head, when bent over her son, she watched him as sleeping.
.
.
Moonlight stopped in front of the door Teyla room and touched the control panel.
Sound signal should tell a woman, that someone was standing behind the door.
In Wraith was easier, she thought. Just make sends telepathically information to the person, that you're about with her, and this opened the door telepathically.
The exception was the situation when someone was blocking the door from the inside. Then have to wait... like now.
Metal plate jumped to the side and Mo smiled broadly to women.
- Brought your outfit - she said cheerfully and held up a long, flexible package.
- But I already have...
- This is your OFFICIAL outfit - she said calmly. - For special occasions... such as meeting with the Grey Council... Are not you curious? - she asked, still cheerful and seemed even a little excited, noted Teyla.
Emmagan hand gesture invited her inside.
Little Torren was playing on the floor of his earthly toys.
Mo smiled at him... and then frowned.
- What happened? - asked Teyla.
- I do not know why, but your son, every time he sees me, sends me these strange sounds - she replied, slightly confused. - And picture of hiveship.
- Oh. That's it - she said, somewhat amused. - Kate taught him that... It's their play... Besides, she said, that such sounds seem your ships. She called them Leviathans. This is supposedly some big, mythical sea monsters on Earth... And because you are very similar to her, it can be that Torren thinks you are her - she said, and suddenly looked at her with interest. - You know, that Rodney drew even hypothesized, that if Kate comes with a dimension in which is no Wraith, you can be your counterparts in both worlds... Besides, with the character you are also similar, so who know, maybe Rodney has right - she giggled.
- Really I so much remind her? - she asked. - Blaze in truth mentioned that she looks like me after using a retrovirus - now she giggled - but I thought that he exaggerates.
- Believe me, that's right - said Teyla. - If you change into a man or her in Wraith... you were would like twins - she stated.
- Interesting - she said with interest, and suddenly she remembered what came here. - Your outfit... You put it on, please. I hope it will fit. They were sewn it in a rush, but it looks neatly done - she added.
Emmagan took from her a long, flat bag performed with gray, woven material and put it on the bed. He was tied up in a few places, so she began to unpack. Outfit, which she pulled out, was made of a much softer material than the previous dress. The upper part was stiffer, made of a dark-silver, shiny material adorned here and there with small, white beads. The same as that covered shoulder pads. The lower part and the additional sleeves were almost black, airy and pleated, speckled with glittering like stars in the night sky dots. All complemented narrow, dark gray trousers.
- There are also shoes - Mo added.
The woman looked at the bottom of the bag and held it almost to the knee high silver-black shoes.
- It's beautiful - she said finally.
- Queens like a pretty clothes... As you do not look, they are a woman - she said teasingly. - On the meeting will be ruled... though it said earthlings?... Fashion show - she joked.
- Where'd you get it?
- It was designed a long time ago for Steelflower... In fact, just enough to give the dimensions for the top. The rest can be easily corrected - she explained.
- Who sews clothes to you? People?
- Yes. Our worshipers... Dress up, and I will watch a little - she said and sat down on the ground in front of Torren. - So you say that hiveships sing, right? - she asked him.
The boy grinned widely... and again sent her telepathic images and sounds. And then another one. At first it was like a really fun: little Torren shows the different places that she did not know, and she showed him. But at some point one of the images surprised her. She paused a telepathic bond, looking at the child.
- Teyla!? Your son just showed me Aeraq mountains on Patria! - she shouted in the direction of the bathroom, to which went a woman.
- Maybe Kate showed him - she said calmly. - Remember that her ancestors also lived in those times, so they certainly know your planet.
- Right - she admitted, and smiled at the boy. - In truth, I would gladly met this female. Her ancestors had to be a great race, if they had such technology and ascending before Lanteans.
- Yes, it's true... We tried to find any mention of them in the library Atlantis and on other planets, but we did not find anything... as if they never existed... Mr. Woolsey believes that someone could intentionally erase any data about them from the database of Atlantis.
- But why, if they are of equal Lanteans?
- It surprised us too - she admitted and entered the room. - How do I look? - she asked, presenting his creation.
Moonlight confided in her eyes carefully.
- Great. It is situated on you perfectly - she said, and looked at the boy. - The truth that mom looks pretty?
- Pretty - he said, pointing to a woman finger.
- Thank you... flatterers - she joked and walked over to them. - I think he likes you... And he usually comes up with a large reserve of strangers.
- Maybe it's because I remind him Kate - said Wraith.
- No, I do not think so... I think he however knows that you are entirely someone else - said Teyla and squatted in front of her son. - Honey, who is that? - she asked, pointing to the square on a young female.
- Mo! - he responded with enthusiasm, also pointed a finger at her.
- And who sings with you as hiveships?
- Kasia!
The Wraith female looked surprised for a woman, who smiled amused.
- This is the name of Kate in her native language - she explained.
- Oh, I see... nicely - she admitted.
- I'll show you something else - she said with amusement and again asked the boy. - Torren, with whom Kate comes to us?
- Shita - he said, and women laughed a little.
- Kate has two dogs, such hairy creatures from Earth. They are called: Shinouk and Tasha - she explained. - In short: SHITA... If Torren did not show me, that he meant about them, I never would have guessed what he says.
- Mental shortcuts - snorted Mo, helping the little boy in laying bricks.
- I think you'd be a good mother - said after a moment of silence Teyla.
- I can not have my own offspring - she said calmly, though with perceptible reluctance. - There is too much risk, that I will pass them defective genes... I can create drones, but I can not have children.
- Defective genes? - repeated Emmagan, if with a slight amusement. - Or maybe you're just a response nature to the disturbed balance thousands of years ago? The next step in the evolution of the Wraith. No need to feed on humans does not force you into hibernation, and thus you develop faster than others... what exactly is evolution.
- I never thought of it this way - she admitted, and she wanted to add something when I warned signal at the door. - I'll get it - she said and stood up quickly.
When the metal plate jumped to the side, appeared standing in the hallway Sheppard... dressed as a Wraith officer.
The female looked at him from the foot to the head.
- What? - he almost muttered at her strange smirk.
- Nothing. It fits you - she said calmly and moved away so he could enter.
- Can be... as a human - said suddenly from behind him, throaty voice and the colonel entered the room Sunblaze. - I brought you your stuff - he said, giving Mo her outfit and shoes.
- Thanks - she said, taking it. - I'll change quickly and we can go after the holograms... Teyla, can I use? - she asked, pointing to the bathroom.
- Of course.
Mo nodded her head with a slight smile and stepped into the room.
The colonel looked at Emmagan.
- It's your new outfit? - he nodded toward her.
- Yes - she said, standing up and improving it. - It is surprisingly lightweight.
- It suits you - he noted.
- Thank you.
- And you do not say nothing this time, green malicious? - John looked at the Wraith.
- No - replied calmly Sunblaze. - On her outfit is perfect... But you look funny - he grinned at him sharp teeth in a wide smile.
- Thanks - muttered the officer.
- Blaze! Do not tease him! - shouted from the next room Mo.
- Geez. She is probably radars instead of ears - said John.
- Yeees... Unfortunately I know something about it - said in the same tone Wraith.
The door slid open the side and a female came into the room. She was dressed in a black-green leather outfit. Extended, longer in the back jacket, reached the front before knee, and high boots adorned with the same silver buttons that jacket.
- Fits in your eyes - Teyla said.
- At this angle it was made - said with a smile female and nodded at the boy. - Take a little-boy. Will be better if he not dirty Teyla before the fly.
- But me he can - protested lightly Sunblaze.
- You not will be shining spot before the Grey Council - she scoffed. - Take a young and do not whine.
Wraith growled softly and muttering something under his breath, went to Torren to take him up.
- You pray, young, that the females on your hive were nicer, than this nasty-one, when you grow up - he whispered to him and moving toward the door, threw Mo meaningful glance.
- You probably already forgotten what it means: nasty Wraith female - she pointed out, going out into the corridor.
- And this by the way - he admitted with a grin.
- I can recall you it right away.
- No, thank you for this dubious pleasure - he replied with the same smile and lifted the boy up, plopping him on shoulders.
- You know Torren, now you can guide him - said Mo, and stood behind them, grabbing the dreadlocks blaze. - In the right... or the left - she said, pulling the Wraith's hair in the appropriate directions.
- Hey! - he was indignant. - Do not teach him... Do I look like an pull-ox?
- Not much miss to you - she snickered maliciously.
He gave her a gloomy look, and she giggled.
- You see with who I must work? - he turned to the boy.
But Torren was busier jumping on his shoulders and watching everything from above, using a Wraith hair like reins.
- Hey, hey, but calmer up there - held him tighter. - If you fall, your mother would kill me - he said.
Someone grunted loudly and important for them. They both glanced back.
- Do you two not forgotten something? - asked Sheppard and after a moment he added, seeing their astonishment. - About us - he gestured at Teyla and to each other.
- You are going all the time in the back - Moonlight remarked calmly and opened the door to the transporter.
Blaze bent to go inside with a small Torren on his shoulders.
Teyla smiled, slightly amused, and Sheppard wanted to say something, but the female has started the device and the beam moved them to the other level.
The door slid open again and went out into the wide corridor, this time much more frequented by the inhabitants of Atlantis, than at the level of the living quarters.
- Does it not bother you? - asked the colonel, pointing to two Wraith before them.
- Why? They behave normally.
- "Normal" is not a good term for the Wraith - he said.
- What do you mean? - she asked. - After all, that's what we want: to the people and the Wraith could co-exist together.
- I know, but... It's weird - he said, and pointed at them by hand. - Look at them. They behave like...
- Like people...? - Emmagan finished for him.
- Exactly.
- It's hard to accommodate you, John Sheppard - she sighed. - First, you do not like that they are... surly, and now it bother you that they behave... freely.
- Because it's weird - he said. - This their all hive is strange.
- As said Mo, they are the assemblage of the Wraith, which would be hard to adapt to the typical rules prevailing in hiveships a variety of reasons - she reminded him calmly and walked into the med-lab, were already waiting there for them Jennifer, Carson and Rodney, discussing some things.
But when only two Wraith came, the three people fell silent, staring at them with slight amusement.
- They set you two on the babysitters? - Rodney snorted.
- No. He was not anyone to leave, and better that he not dirtying Teyla dress before meeting with the Council - Mo calmly explained. - That's why I found him a new game - she glanced at Blaze. - It's called: training Wraith to be a steed - she snorted.
Sunblaze gave her a gloomy look, but she just grinned at him. Male wanted to say something, but the boy pulled him by the hair to the right.
- It's all your fault - he growled. - You see, once you showed him, and now he pulls me, when he wants to go somewhere - he added and moved with a little boy into the lab.
Jennifer giggled.
- It seems that Torren having a good fun - she pointed out.
- Let he uses... Rather, he will have few such opportunities - Mo said, amused. - Besides, I do not know why, but the kids like him... Whenever we visit a worshippers village, quickly surrounded him a throng of kids.
- These are the settlements? - interjected surprised colonel.
- Of course. Fully... You do not know? - she asked.
People looked at each other.
- We never find such.
- It amazes me - she said. - Although, you are using the database Lanteans, and many of these settlements was established on previously uninhabited planets, to which brought the gates... Besides I suppose, that Lanteans probably erased information about those they knew.
- Maybe it's those blocked addresses? - McKay noted. - Can you a look at it? Maybe you know some of these worlds?
- No problem.
- Great.
- It may later, but for now we let's get a meeting with the Council - Carson recalled.
- Exactly. Rodney mentioned, that you have something for me, what authenticate my little in the eyes of the Wraith - added Sheppard.
- Yes. This substance, which gave us recently Kate with holograms - the doctor said. - We were hesitant if give you it, but our pre-tests confirmed what she told us.
- This substance is a derivative of the Wraith enzyme, which apply lieutenant Ford - added Keller.
- How does it help? - Mo asked.
- Increase his strength... and also temporarily partially activates parts of the brain, responsible for telepathic abilities.
- There is only 30 hours - said Beckett. - And once you can use it no more than 2-3 times... depends on your body. Then addicted just like Ford enzyme... Kate got it on her Earth together with holograms. Apparently living in her world Nu'Ada created this substance for their human collaborators, that those could better infiltrate the ranks... What was his name? - he looked at Rodney.
- Keymos... Carson and Jennifer are still studying it, but they agreed that it should not hurt you... And Woolsey gave permission for its use - added a happy scientist.
- It should not? - muttered John.
- As far as you do not overdose - Jennifer recalled. - We now inject you one dose, and the second you take with you in case.
- More and more intrigued by this race - said female Wraith.
- Not just you - he said McKay. - Sam and her team are here for this reason. Jackson is looking for any information about them... because unfortunately your grandmother destroy their base.
Moonlight ignored his attention.
- All right - said the colonel and went to Keller, holding pneumo-filled syringe. - You only die once.
The woman smiled slightly and put the device to his neck.
- Should start working for half an hour - she advised and looked at Mo. - Watch him. We do not know how the substance works for him... and how he will react to the new ability.
- Take it easy. I'll help him to delve into the world of Wraith minds - she said with a sarcastic smile.
- Great... I can not wait - he muttered.
- Did I would later view the results of your analysis of this substance? - asked a Wraith female, when Rodney assumed the holograms on the necks of two people. - It is very interesting.
Two doctors looked first at each other.
- Of course - they replied simultaneously.
- We will examine it more, so you can join - added Carson.
- Great - she said, pleased.
- Okay... I turn on - McKay interjected by typing the command on his laptop.
Teyla and John flinched slightly, when the device began their entwine his microscopic mesh.
- Indeed little... itches - admitted the woman.
Their faces looked like covered with spider web, and after a while start to give way to images of the Wraith.
Moonlight raised slightly eyebrows at the sight of Emmagan.
- It's the idea of my uncle, that you look like this? - she almost snorted.
- Yes... Why do you ask? - Teyla asked, slightly throaty voice.
- As for my taste somewhat overdone... But on the other hand, as a human you have enough sharp features - she remarked. - No matter, we will not play now in changes.
- It's not complicated - Rodney told. - I may right away introduce them... What do you suggest?
- It can only reduce the beard. That should soften her image... The Council perfectly knows all the Queens of the Steelflower Clan and none of them had such beard - she said, walking over to him and looking at his amendment on the computer screen. - It's enough... Much better - she said, pleased.
Rodney pushed enter, and the hologram Teyla slightly waved to adapt to the plotted corrections.
- Indeed it looks now... gently - Jennifer admitted.
Athozian woman looked into the mirror.
- Therefore, Mo is better in these scams than... Todd - Blaze snorted away. - She knows genealogy Clans better than anyone else... except the Council - he said at the end, coming to them.
- Scams? - reiterated Sheppard.
- And how would you otherwise called? - pointed to the two of them head gesture.
- ... An advanced infiltration - he said with a happy face.