Chapter 38
The trust.
Blue-red nebula was not large, but its ionizing material very well allow to hide the presence of two hiveships and one human ship from prying eyes.
For the same reason Starflash First Navigator was not able to accurately track the exact whereabouts of ships arrived here in front of them.
- Fly closer - ordered finally Alabaster.
- Then they can detect us...
- It does not matter. And so I want to talk with them - she said.
The officer nodded again and after a while the ship slowly moved forward.
Moonlight and Skyfall entered the throne room on Unbroken board, where they were waiting for them others.
- Bullseye mentioned, that there is a problem - said a young female, coming to the group.
- I would say rather that another mystery - said John.
- What's that?
- Dr. Jackson visited a little town... Vallen... and from its inhabitants he learned, that in the nearby mountains is a bas-relief depicting the arrival of Avatar - Teyla added. - Is surprisingly reminiscent of how Kate appeared there... We have join to them.
- Do you think, that you will find something there? - interested in Skyfall.
- It's hard to say... But Jackson believes, that Mo can be useful, because of the handwriting on the relief similar to yours - added Sheppard.
Female wanted to say something, when on the side screen appears Shadowmist face.
- Commander, we have a problem - he almost snapped, clearly worried. - Your daughter calls us.
- Alabaster? - he said, surprised. - What's she doing here?
- They had to follow us... although, I do not know how - he said, and glanced out the side. - Her freighter just flew into our hangar - he added.
- I'll take care of this - muttered Starburst.
Wraith nodded his head and hung up.
- Now what? - asked Teyla, upset.
- ... She will not betray us - suddenly said calmly Mo. The others looked at her. She looked, as if she listening for something. - She just want to talk.
- I do not like it - Sheppard growled. - Why we should trust her?
- Because I trust her - said firmly Wraith female. - Besides, now and so we have no choice.
- As this goes on, it soon will be know about us a half Wraith - he growled.
- I told you, that you a lot of risk - Mo protested. - With the Wraith is different, than with humans. Most of the familiar each other. It is very difficult to introduce someone new, whom no one would have not met.
- Do you really think, we can trust her? - asked Steelflower.
Moonlight calmed down and looked at her.
- Yes. She has a similar way of looking at the world, like me. Abe is young, but open to different possibilities... This is one of the meanings of her Voca.
- Abe? - repeated amused colonel. - You are seriously, with this diminutives of your names?
- Something you do not like... Shep? - she pointed out.
He was to say something, when door to the chamber slid open, and entered into the young Queen, smiling triumphantly.
- Mother always said, that someday your ideas put you in really big troubles, which you will not able get away... Father - she announced from afar.
- I could say the same about your curiosity - Starburst replied, calmly.
- Apparently I inherited it from you - she snorted and stopped in front of them. - Will you tell me, then, why are you still working with New Lanteans? And you pull in this Mo... Not enough for you, that they were holding you on Atlantis? If not Wildfire, you may still stuck in their hibernation chamber.
- It's not quite what you think - he said. - At least in the case of Mo.
Alabaster raised her eyebrows, surprised by his words, and looked at Moonlight.
- I myself contact with them - a young female replied carelessly. - I wanted from them research results concerning their retrovirus... I thought it might be the only chance of survival for our crew... Our stocks are basically running out, and you know, that we do not have our own feeding grounds... And so I had to last time ask for help Nightstorm .
- You could have come to me. You know, that I will shared with you...
- Your crew same barely give advice, Abe - she interrupted her with a gentle smile.
- And ... they? - said the Queen, pointing to the two person in the guise of the Wraith. - One thing I know for sure. He's not Skywalker... I met him when the last time I saw with your mother, and one I'm sure: this... male in anything does not reminds him... Skywalker was a copy of his great-grandfather, when it comes to the way how he move and speak, and he... Well, definitely him far from to this. I do not know how you did it, to looks like Skywalker, but you forgot about the other issues.
There was silence. The others looked at each other, not knowing what to say... and who should start.
- Father? - said finally Alabaster, demanding an explanation.
- The less you know, the better for you... - he said.
- Do not treat me like a child - she protested.
- This is for your safety...
- I can well take care of myself - she interrupted him again, although with equanimity. - All right, let's do that: information for the information... You tell me all about it… - she shook her finger, pointing to Steelflower and Skywalker - and I'll tell you a curiosity about the Council and Avatars, which I know, that you do not know... Besides, probably it interested you all... Agree?
Starburst looked at her, clearly surprised, just like the others, but she only smiled triumphantly, put her hands at the waist.
- So? What will be?
The Commander looked at the others and sighed heavily.
- You first.
Alabaster smiled broadly, amused.
- You know the prophecy of the Great Awakening, which is to be the rebirth of the Wraith? - It was more a statement than a question. - And so it turned out, that we do not know the whole prophecy... which in addition is not quite prophecy - she almost giggled.
- What's that mean? - Mo said.
- This is not a prophecy, but the words of Avatars... In time, little colored, but the overall sense remains the same. Avatars themselves have announced, that they will return after ten thousand years... A more accurate indicator of this time, when it occurs, would be a Great Awakening.
- Why only after during this time? - asked Sheppard.
- I do not know. I do not know the details.
- And what does this have to do with the Council? - asked Starburst.
Young Queen grinned again.
- It turns out, that Avatars not gone right at the beginning of the outbreak of the Great War, but a few months later... They helped us in the construction of the first hiveships...
- Apparently Avatars do not mix in such conflicts - Mo said. - How Lanteans who become a ascended beings... It's probably against the rules of the ascended.
- Avatars apparently follow by slightly different principles. Nightstorm said, that they did not isolate themselves completely from mortals. They are more like... ascended- explorers. They looking for new, intelligent life forms, and in critical situations they help them even to survive, thus giving the chance for later ascending. That's why they are called Guardians of Life... Apparently Lanteans also had contact with them in their beginnings. According to their legend, Avatars helped their ancestors avoid death... Unfortunately I do not know the details, but there's a question of resettlement to a new planet.
- But construction hiveships is already meddling in mortal affairs... - remarked the colonel.
- They did not mixed in a war... They just built hiveships, called by them: Leviathans... They were not armed. This is our merit. They gave us only ships on which we live after the destruction of the Patria.
- Kate called so hiveships - Teyla interjected.
- The first Leviathan, called also great-mother of all hiveships, is Nebula built before the war. But after the war, Nebula came under the care Stardust as one of The Oldest. Later, he hand over leadership Wildfire, his sister's son, Lifeflame, who died at the Patria... Interestingly, that the Avatars communicated telepathically with hiveships or using these neuro-links about you said - she glanced at her father. - But when they go away, they was blocked access to some party of software... including this option. Since then, we perceive it as "noise" that we ignore... But I know from Nightstorm, that the Oldest are still able to communicate with hiveships...
- How do you know all this? - interested in Starburst.
- I'll tell you... All in good time - she said mysteriously smiling and she speak on. - Coming back to the prophecy... as I said, this are the words of Avatars, who announced that they would return a few years after the Great Awakening, to put an end to the conflict between the Wraith and the humans... Hence in this part words of the fall of the humans, but it's really about restoring the balance, which was disrupted with the outbreak of war... According Firerain, now Avatars can back occur at any time.
- And the Council know about this? From ten thousand years? - Mo said.
- Yes... And now the best part: since the beginning of the war, the Oldest... but only insiders, because it turns out, that not all... they meet once a year in the base called: Genesis, and shall report with year-round activities.
- For who?
- For Avatars... They record everything on the crystals, to pass them later Avatars for the insight, when they return. Someone have even personal entries... I know that they are doing so our grandmothers - she looked at Mo. - My mother caught on that Firerain, when I was a baby. At first mother thought, the grandmother talking of someone, but then she realized it was a recording. But when she asked her why and for whom... Firerain said, that it was none of her business. However, a few days later, she told her everything, explaining, that she wanted to first talk with the rest of the Council of her introducing... Then she gave her all of her private entries from the last ten thousand years... Mother told me, that never before history of the Wraith was not so close to her - she said, looking at her father. - That the Wraith, which she knew all her life, had never been so close to her... That's why she started doing the same thing. Although more for posterity, than for Avatars... Eleven years ago, on my four-hundredths birthday, she handed me a crystal to records and she revealed everything. The Council agreed to introducing me.
- Did you see these records? - asked Moonlight.
- Only a small part of... There are thousands... tens of thousands - she said. - The same official entries is 10.056... The last meeting took place four months ago.
- So, it means, that since the outbreak of the Great War had passed 10.056 years? - interest in the colonel.
- You added about half a year. The first entry was made one year after the go away of Avatars, and then the war lasted already a few months - she explained.
- Why the Council hiding it? - asked Steelflower.
- For a variety of reasons: not to tantalize the other something, that no one knows when there will be... Besides, a large part of the Wraith from the later generations, and so believes that Avatars are only the myth.
- My mother used to say it, when my father told me about the Avatars, and the time before the war - snorted slightly Sunblaze. - She thought it was silly sentimental stories, to nothing useful.
- That is why the Council is doing it in secret - Alabaster said. - The war was over, and we had to move on... without constantly worrying about: WHEN ... When Avatars returns - she said and looked pointedly at her father. - Now it's your turn, father - she smiled slightly.
The Commander looked at her, clearly torn with thoughts and coughed slightly.
- Yes... My turn - he said, and glanced at Emmagan. - Well, from what to begin here...
Moonlight shook her head in amusement.
- In laying the conspiracy he is a master, but in their explanation... - again she shook her head slowly, looking at her uncle with a note of irony. - You designate course on this planet, and I'll explain Abe details - she said and grabbed her by the arm, walked towards the side entrance leading to the royal chambers.
.
.
Three hiveships jumped out of hyperspace at a safe distance from the blue planet, to slowly fly for her geostationary orbit.
Shadowmist looked surprised at the readings from long range sensors.
- Someone is already there - he tell to the Commander, still analyzing the flowing data, and after a moment he looked at him. - This is Nebula.
- What's Stardust doing here? - he was surprised.
- You may ask him... They call us - added a Second Officer.
- Connect - Starburst muttered and looked at the screen where the image is flashed.
He straightened up instinctively at the sight of the Wraith, whose image appeared on organic tarp and nodded.
Stardust was one of the Oldest, a similar age to Nightstorm, and like she, he belonged to the Second Generation... and they always evoked in the rest of the Wraith this a strange kind of subconscious reflex... order of showing them respect.
- Burst? - he seemed to be a little surprised. - Again you getting into the trouble? - he snorted lightly.
- Nice to see you too - he retorted. - Long time no see ...
- As four months ago... What are you doing here? This is not your feeding grounds - he added with a note of warning, that they invaded a foreign land.
- By calm... We not fly here on the harvest - the officer assured him.
- So, what are you doing here?... In addition, in the company of Invention and Starflash... I admit that it's pretty weird.
- We are here because of New Lanteans - he said. - Dr. Jackson discovered something in the local mountains...
- You came because of relievo? - he interrupted him calmly. - You might be disappointed, but beyond this, anything else out there you will not find.
- Tell that to the humans...
- I was told... but Jackson is stubborn - he said.
- It's because of them you are here? Kate Harrigan mentioned, that she concluded with Wildfire deal, that you will not will be take local humans as feeding.
- Yes, it's true... I'm here for another reason - he smiled corner of his mouth. - But when we came here an hour ago, we detected the presence of the Atlantis ship. Therefore, I know what they are doing here... And as I mentioned, it's a waste of time... We're waiting until Rainsong back. He is on Vallen with one of the local human, who makes sure, that New Lanteans did not destroy anything. This cave is the kind of place of worship for the those humans.
- So, you do not mind that we look around? - get asked casually.
- Be my guest - said most calmly in the world Stardust and he hung up.
The Commander stood still for a moment, staring at a blank screen, as if reflected on something, and finally he looked at his Second.
- Tell the others, that we enter into the orbit... And then get ready for us freighter - he said, and walked toward the door. - We will fly of half an hour.
- Yes, Commander - he said calmly, and as soon as the officer left the bridge, he looked at his friend.
"Something's not right" - said in his thoughts Bullseye.
He did not want to others on the bridge Wraith heard this conversation.
"What do you mean?" - asked Shadowmist.
"Something does not fit in the Stardust behavior. He's too... laid back."
"Laid back" - he said with amusement.
"You know what I mean... Every time, when we asked him about something related to the times before the war, he dispose us. And now he lets easily explore this relievo?"
"Maybe there really is anything more."
"And I remember, that one time Carehand was very interested this planet... And when the land was divided, this planet was on the top of the list planets, which belong to the hives closely related with the Council" - he said.
Shadowmist watched him intently for a moment, and then said calmly:
"Even if you're right, and so you would not find out anything... As you said: he always disposes us, when we asked about the times before the war... I do not think, that this time it was different" - he muttered and went back to his duties.
"You are not interested, what there can be?" - was surprised Bullseye.
"I am... But Stardust certainly will not tell us anything, so we must to wait for what find humans" - he explained calmly. - "Kate said, that this Jackson is stubborn, and if something interested him, he will be looking for so long, until he will find."
The Second Officer was not satisfied, but he acknowledged right his friend: they have to wait, until New Lanteans examine the cave.
Still he just do not understand, why Stardust is so calm. Perhaps he believes, that humans do not find anything there... Or maybe actually nothing is there... now.
.
.
Stardust looked out the window of his quarter on the blue globe hovering at below, when from the
communicator on his rang out a signal.
Only glanced in that direction, not moving from the spot.
- What is it? - he asked calmly.
- Message from Invention, sir - the voice told him. - On coded channel.
- Connect - he instructed and looked up at the organic tarp extending behind the desk. Just appeared on her image, showing well-known for his face. - Clearcut - he said surprised. - What a surprise.
- Are you completely crazy on old age? - said bluntly Wraith. - Why do you allow them to explore this cave?
The Commander smiled corner of his mouth, completely calm.
- The Council agreed to this - he explained.
Doc looked at him, clearly surprised.
- ...But why? - he choked.
- They think it's time to start slowly... discover cards - he said. - Get used others to the thoughts of the coming changes... Last Hope can arrive at any time. And so they already have considerable slippage. I think, that our calculations were not as accurate as we thought.
- I understand - he almost muttered. - You know what will happen, when the truth will to come out?
Wraith again smiled slightly.
- We live with this thought of ten thousand years...
- Rather we ignored it for ten thousand years... until the day when SHE arrived.
- ...Yes, it's true - admitted Stardust. - But sooner or later had to come to this... It was inevitable.
- Yes... I already have before my eyes our lynching - muttered pessimistically Clearcut, which amused his caller.
- Do not get hysterical... it's not like to you - he said with a hint of irony.
- Recently I have too many reasons for optimism - Doc has not changed tone. - ... I'll go with them... just in case - he added.
- As you wish... Good luck - snorted Stardust and hung up.
Clearcut muttered under his breath and came out of his lab.
.
.
Small freighter left the dock Unbroken and headed toward the planet.
Sitting in the hold of passenger group was silent. None of them did not know what to say.
Alabaster reacted to the news of her father's cooperation with the humans and the role played by Teyla as initially Moonlight - she considered it for madness. Emmagan could see in her eyes that same anger, with which she met at Mo.
But the young female was right. Anger Alabaster quickly disappeared, replaced by a whole lot of questions. Her curiosity won over pride Wraith. She absorbed information like a sponge the water, carefully listening to the whole story. But most of all fascinated her device, thanks to which Teyla and John can pretend Wraith, without any medical intervention in their bodies... and the information where it comes from. She wanted to know everything, down to the smallest detail, clearly fascinated by the ancient civilization, whose representatives accidentally stuck thousands of years ago in another dimension.
When Starburst came to the royal chambers, already dressed in convenient for trips to the mountains attire, his daughter gave him a harsh and eloquent look, confirms, that as usual he knew when to appear... that is, only when the emotions subside. In this way he not to risk a confrontation with the enraged Wraith female, leaving the problem of Mo and Teyla.
Anyway, the Sheppard words, who cautiously looked inside, with: "It is safe, already?", confirms words Alabaster, before her father could deny them.
All three females looked at the Commodore the same, mocking look, so he just inform them about situation, and he quickly left. Mo and Abe immediately snorted with laughter.
Teyla noticed, that they both sometimes had fun... stressful male of his species, pretending, that they are angry. Learn from an early age male Wraith respect for his Queens, instinctively feel uncomfortable when one of them scolded them... even if it was their own daughter... or niece.
But now, when she sat in the passenger compartment, and Alabaster watched her strangely for a long time, Athozian women felt as same uncomfortable as before Starburst.
- Abe... you stressing her - said finally Mo.
Young Queen moved her gaze on her.
She was wearing the same outfit as the other: pants, tunic and boots, but unlike the rest, her was mainly burgundy, as before her dress, and only minor additions typical for Wraith black color.
- I wonder all time, if someone from the Council have guessed - she said calmly.
- Now you stressing me - said a female.
- I'm serious - she replied. - Raptor said colonel Sheppard, that he not betray your plan, because it would suffered on this too many Wraiths, including the half Council... Tracker said, that the Invention is a Council idea... and about the possibility of using a retrovirus as an alternative to dwindling feeding ground, mainly because of the Hoffan plague... And in addition they and so, from a long time, knows about New Lanteans dealings with my father, therefore they helped in bringing Dr. McKay's home... And that's why I can not stop thinking, that they might know more than you admit.
- You terribly tangle it - Mo muttered.
- But what they gaining, keeping silent? - asked Teyla. - I know that our vision of the Wraith has been recently changed significantly... - she glanced at John - but I do not know why they have to keep our plans in secret.
- In order not to lead to another split among the Wraith - said Skyfall, and the others looked at him. - For the first time, since the outbreak of the Civil War, the Council maintains a miracle as such order. But if this, what we are doing, came out to the light... Let's say, that in the near future, you does not need to care about us... Besides, from what Raptor said, that such a split would be very handy Midsummer. At least half of our hives would be join her, and then... Then you would be have a problem... You and those, who have remained faithful to the Council.
- Again, the cost exceeds the benefits - add from the copilot's seat colonel.
Along with Sunblaze he decided to fly this ship - he was very curious how piloting this machine as the Wraith, and now had the chance to find out. In truth, the drug, which give him Beckett, slowly stopped to work, but still he was able to perform some operations manually.
The Commander looked at him. Like as Emmagan, John was not disguised as the Wraith. However, because the lack of time, they both could not go to Atlantis to change outfit. Therefore given them Wraiths uniforms, mostly used by scouts: pants and a jacket or tunic. Similar to those, that wore others.
- Exactly - admitted Skyfall. - Revenge is not always profitable... Otherwise we would never met, John Sheppard.
The colonel did not answer. He knew what the Wraith officer has in mind: revenge Moonlight for killing her mother and the other from the Abyss.
- We are approaching to the place - said after a moment Blaze. - But it seems that not much is where the land - he said, reviewing readings from the electronic map on the main screen.
- Maybe here? - John suggested, pointing to a spot on the map.
- It looks stable - almost muttered pilot. - Even so, we will have to go a little bit.
- I hope that these your clothes are warm - said Sheppard.
- Well... we do not freezes as soon as humans - said the pilot and he glanced corner of his eye, grinning with amusement at the sight of the grim face of the human. - Take it easy. You not freeze... immediately - he snorted.
- I'm beginning to suspect, that sarcasm is your national trait - growled the colonel.
Sunblaze snorted slightly under his breath, and then lowered the flight machine to carefully casualty sits freighter at the small, even flat clearing. Whole area covered the same thick layer of snow, what the rising all around mountain. Fortunately, the day was sunny and almost windless, getting them to go outside.
Starburst opened door and walked the ramp as the first, looking around. Sun rays reflected in the ubiquitous snow, dazzle him mercilessly. And although his pupils shrunk up maximally, it still he felt considerable discomfort. Wraith were not accustomed to such a bright light. On their hives was pleasantly, almost twilight, like in caves inhabited by Iratus. Even ordinary sunlight they felt as a certain discomfort.
That's why sometimes he wondered, how their ancestors endured permanent residence on the surface of the planet, since by almost a thousand years they lived on the Patria. Among all the Wraith, he knew, only Moonlight seemed best to put up with such a bright light. As if her eyes were better for this purpose. Maybe it is a feature inherited from the ancestors, he thought, which rest of them had lost by a long stay in the hives. She often travels to different planets, so maybe her eyes still are able to cope well with different intensities of light.
He went down, allowing other leave freighter, when to his ears came the sound of the engine the Wraith fighter. He looked at the blue sky, and more the mind, than his eyes, he found the source of the sound.
Dart slowed, reducing the flight, to finally let go a transport beam... and fly away.
The Commander came out of the gangway, and his high leather boots sank into the snow up to mid-calf.
He walked to the back of the ship, to see what the fighter left there... and more specifically: whom.
Dressed in scouts outfit and knee-length coat, Clearcut looked at him calmly from the extensive hood, little protects his eyes from the sun reflecting in the snow.
Next to him stood a human.
- Doc? Kiryk?... What are you doing here? - said surprised Mo, before the Commander himself asked this question.
Wraith smiled gently.
- Someone has to keep an eye on you... so, you do not put yourself into trouble... And you, Starburst and the young, have to this amazing ability - he snorted. - And from what I noticed, colonel Sheppard also - he looked meaningfully at the human, and then up. - I think it's there - he said, pointing to the ledge on which stood a jumper from Atlantis, then led the way.