Chapter 3: Manifestation of Hope

Atlantis

The Colonel's footsteps were beginning to annoy Chuck, since the man had not stopped pacing all afternoon. Thankfully Chuck knew he was almost done and then might be left alone, or at least pestered for other reasons. Just as Sheppard was about to ask again McKay stepped into the control room and crossed his arms while standing directly in the Colonel's path. Almost running into him Sheppard finally had to stop.

"We're busy here McKay, haven't you got some treaty to finalise."

McKay gave his usual snort and smiled lopsidedly. "Chuck is busy Colonel, you are just being annoying and for your information the treaty has just been ratified by the Genii."

Sheppard looked both surprised and impressed, "Wow, that's… that's just great Rodney." He grabbed McKay by the arms, "Elizabeth would be proud, and amazed. Who would have thought that Rodney McKay would form an official alliance with the Genii?"

McKay was obviously fairly pleased with himself noticed Chuck, since he did not shrug off the Colonel with his usual adversity for physical contact, but he did still stir the pot.

"I cannot take the entire credit."

"But you'd like to."

"Well it was my innovation to provide them with not just technological but educational assistance" said McKay smugly, "and its not just the Genii, we now have over sixty signatories covering fifty systems."

Giving McKay a questioning look Sheppard finally dropped his arms. "They're not letting you call it the United Federation of Planets are they?"

"No… we're sticking with the Pegasus Alliance. Short, simple and keeps the arguments to a minimum." McKay tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice but failed miserably. Everyone in the city was well aware of his push to call their new alliance the Federation but unfortunately one Earth scientist had told a Genii scientist where the name actually came from. After that the Genii simply refused to be a part of any treaty that would end with their membership in a fictional federation. As an added jibe at McKay the negotiators somehow got the parties to agree calling the treaty the 'Meredith Treatise', it was a well guarded secret where the name actually came from and much as McKay pretended to fume he did seem a little flattered.

"Sirs," said Chuck. "The last sensor link just came on line, data burst in five four three," he counted down with just his fingers and pointed on zero. Not just McKay and Sheppard but every person in the gate room looked up at the empty space above and in front of the gate. On cue the box shaped hologram flickered to life representing the entire segment of the galaxy now covered by a sensor net. As each cloaked satellite sent its data along the link a spherical section within the box lit up with symbols and icons; there was a collective sigh as the significance of the achievement sank in.

Sheppard placed his hand on Chuck's shoulder. "Well done Chuck, well done."

"Thank you sir." He wanted to grin like an idiot for the compliment, but knew the hard work had only just started. "We now have almost a third of the Pegasus Galaxy under observation, no Wraith ship will be able to move in that area without us knowing it… but."

"But?" asked Sheppard

McKay was busily working at a console and answered instead, "It's the amount of information we're receiving, its just beyond anything even the Atlantis system has ever processed; it will take time to access the data and build programs to filter relevant details and then recalibrate the satellites; right now they are sending us information on every energy signature, not just hive ships but stars, planets, moons, asteroids, gas clouds," he paused and looked at the Colonel. "It will be weeks before we can decipher individual ships let alone…"

Sheppard sighed, "Individual beacons."

"Yes but think of it John," said McKay, getting excited. "We can warn people weeks ahead of time that Wraith are heading their way, organise evacuations, defences… we can ambush the Wraith!"

The Colonel did smile at that, a predatory look in his eyes as he rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. Chuck could guess what he was considering because it was something they all felt. The tables were turning and it was time to start taking revenge. One part of Chuck regretted the pleasure he felt at the thought of it, but Pegasus was a harsh galaxy and had made them all harder, pragmatic and ruthless.

Of course the Colonel once again surprised Chuck by revealing it was not revenge but strategy he was considering. "What if we had a super computer, a network of thousands that could assimilate the data in hours and not weeks?"

"And you just happen to have one," said McKay sarcastically. "No? No? Right then, we just have to," he paused as the 'I just got a great idea' look came over his face. Sheppard looked on; obviously already with the answer but waiting for McKay to think it his own.

McKay snapped his fingers. "Tens of thousands of processors working in concert could simultaneously process the data and produce the correct protocols."

The Colonel and McKay stared at one another for a second then spoke at the same time. "The Asurans".

Wraith Hive Ship

"This is different," said the phantom Parrish as Lorne lay on his back gasping for breath. The Major did not answer the phantom for one of the Wraith guards had remained in the room after dumping him on the ground. Parrish did not seem to notice the guard as he studied Lorne's ruined arm. "They've moved on from just breaking bones then?"

Lorne did not have to look; he knew what had been done to his flesh. Whatever the Wraith equivalent of a blowtorch was had been used quite effectively to blister his skin from wrist to shoulder. Wishing for the good old days of bone smashing Lorne raised his head and glared at the Wraith.

They stared at each other for a while, the guard was not one of the faceless but the more highly evolved with a face that could almost be called human, in a very dark room through blurred vision with a head that was shaking from the effort of moving.

As he was about to let his head fall back Lorne found the strain taken up by the Wraith, its hand on the back of his skull keeping their eyes in contact. Hope flared as Lorne thought that finally they would feed and his suffering would be over, the latest torture was almost the end of him. Broken bones were terrible but he had almost got used to them, and had learnt if he remained as still as possible the pain was reduced. Burns however had no such relief; the pain simply continued on and even the slightest contact flared the agony once more. Lorne had fervently hoped some kind of infection would take hold and finish him, but they appeared to keep him in some kind of sterilised environment. That or there was no bacteria on a Wraith ship capable of attacking a human body.

In almost slow motion Lorne watched the Wraith's other hand sink onto his torso and he tried to conjure up whatever last thoughts would be appropriate. Some kind of prayer, but then he was not even slightly religious, even now. Famous last words were useless because who except for his phantom friends would be listening. He settled for just thinking of his friends and loved ones, all of whom were on Atlantis since he had no family and prior to Atlantis the air-force had been his community.

The hand made contact and Lorne tensed, then started to fight. No matter how much he thought he had wanted death it would be giving up, surrendering and Major Evan Lorne just could not give the Wraith that last piece. He would die a warrior.

SGASGASGASGA

The entire lunch room came to a complete stop as Chuck raced in and skidded up to the Colonel's table. Sheppard froze with a sandwich half-way to his mouth and could not even form a question, the hope too much and the fear too close.

Chuck saved him the trouble.

"We have a contact sir, verified and then triple checked. Major Lorne is alive and we know his exact location."

The Colonel jumped up as did everyone else in the room, all of them holding their breath for the next order. The Colonel allowed a smile of pride to slip across his face as he saw that every person had not trepidation but expressions of determination; they would follow his orders no matter where it led them. For the past six months his single minded determination to find the Major had motivated every section to find even better methods to battle the Wraith, and to put an end to the constant slaughter. They now had weapons that fired explosive phosphorous rounds, taking down a Wraith with only a few shots. They had shielded body armour that rendered the stun weapons useless and sensor scramblers so that the Wraith could not detect their life-signs.

Dozens of other equipment upgrades and new technologies had given the expedition a new found hope. That hope had also had resulted in their willingness to work on an alliance with former enemies, the Asurans number one on that list. After negotiations that seemed sure to fail McKay had returned victorious, the Asurans had joined the Pegasus Alliance. All it had taken was providing them with every piece of data on the weapons Earth might use against them and as a final desperate plea McKay had offered them Atlantis. This had finally convinced the Asurans that Earth did not want them destroyed and in true machine logic they simply put aside all the bloodshed between the former enemies and joined the alliance, also declining Atlantis. They could after all make their own.

McKay now had all the ZPMs he ever wanted and a fleet of Aurora class vessels for human use were only months away from completion. All this though did not guarantee success, after all the Ancients had had more and still lost. But as the expedition had come to learn the Ancients were flawed in many ways, not least their arrogance and lack of ability to diversify had probably cost them the war. The Pegasus Alliance had no such problems, utilising people and technology from a hundred worlds and the sound knowledge that they were fighting back from a losing position.

As the Genii had commented on more than one occasion, the Milky Way humans had a habit of becoming more dangerous the worse their situation grew. All this the Colonel knew before giving the order, as was always the case the situation was grim and they would need to come up with a plan that relied on luck and odds that no betting man would ever take.

But then as the Asurans had often been told of late, never tell humans the odds – it just made them all the more determined to prove them wrong.

Sheppard took a breath and a moment to think on whether it really was worth doing this for one man, and then he spied Parrish looking at him from across the room. His mind made up the Colonel gave the order.

"Assemble all teams and prepare for a go, Operation Retrieve has just been initiated."

Wraith Hive Ship

The Wraith's hand remained on Lorne's chest but the agony of his life force being drained had not yet started. The Major was trying to fight but his body was broken and even when fully fit he could not prevent this. This Wraith seemed gentle about it, his grip not crushing just firm and his face oddly compassionate. Not an expression Lorne had ever thought he would see on a Wraith.

"Have you not fought long enough human?" The voice was soft and low, another surprise from the hissing way they normally addressed him. "I had thought to end your pain, your courage has shamed me – even now you fight against the inevitable."

Not quite believing what he was hearing the Major just blinked at the Wraith, thinking that perhaps this was another phantom, another way to torture him.

His disbelief must have shown for the Wraith continued, "We are not at heart a cruel race, just practical. Your people are a threat to be eliminated and you can help us do that." The Wraith leaned in closer so that his face was only inches away from Lorne's. "But this has gone far enough, a quick death to feed is one thing but what has been done to you is not… right."

"You would kill me to save me?" Lorne chuckled at the irony, the one thing all Atlantis people feared most was the one thing that would end his pain.

"Yes." The Wraith kept his hand where it was but did not yet feed. "But I will not make it just a feeding, you have earned the right to choose. Will it be life and pain or death and release?"

The whole room was suddenly filled with a bright white light and Lorne closed his eyes against the glare, when he opened them again he was still lying down but no longer on the Wraith ship. He was in his own bed on Atlantis and instead of the Wraith atop him it was David Parrish. The scientist cast a loving smile on Lorne and brushed a kiss against his lips. "Before you ask, this is not a dream but then it is not fully real – it is just a moment of time."

Lorne licked his lips. "My subconscious is getting better, you even taste like David."

"Thank you, I think." David stroked Lorne's cheek, "I have missed you so much, if only?" He shook is head as if getting rid of a tempting thought. "You have a decision to make and I am here to tell you not to give up."

"I gave up a long time ago," hissed Lorne. "I just refuse to give in." The Major grabbed David by the wrist, marvelling that his hand actually worked and he did seem to be free of pain for the moment. "Shouldn't you be tormenting me by now?"

A pained look came upon David's face. "I would never hurt you Evan, whatever they have done to you, whatever has happened you must believe that if I could have-."

"You would have what? No-one can save me, no one can stop this. It is my hell and I cannot escape."

"It will not last forever." David brought Lorne's hand to his lips and kissed the fingertips, something he always did to calm the Major. "You must fight for just a little bit longer."

"It is always just a little bit longer, just one more day. I have nothing left to give, let me die – let me go David?"

"No!" Parrish glared angrily at Lorne. "Fight one more time, just one more day for me!"

"Why?"

David leaned down until his lips were brushing Evan's ear. "We're coming."

The light faded, as did the bedroom and Lorne was once again staring at the Wraith.

Pain lanced up his arm; letting him know that this was the real world and no longer his fantasy. Never-the-less Lorne had to hope that maybe there was just that one little chance. Also he knew that to give in now was to lose all that he was and all that he had ever fought for.

"Life," he whispered and the Wraith looked at him incredulously and seemed tempted to kill him anyway.

In the end the Wraith respected his decision, "As you wish human." He paused before removing his hand and closed his eyes. Instead of cold life sucking pain warmth spread from the Wraith's hand and flowed throughout Lorne's body. After several seconds the burning pain in his arm receded to something more tolerable.

"I cannot heal you completely," said the Wraith and gently put Lorne's head to the floor. "She would just hurt you twice as much next time, and kill me."

"Thank you."

The Wraith stood over him and looked totally confused, "I have taken you to be tortured almost every day and you thank me for one act of kindness. Humans are certainly quite odd sometimes."

He left and Lorne stared at the dark ceiling. "Yes we are."

tbc…