Stargate Atlantis: Nature's Bounty2
Carson Beckett was shaking his head, ignoring the stubborn stance of the military commander as he stood, blocking the doctor's way. "Sorry, colonel, but I've got no bloody idea."
"Oh come on, Carson!" John scolded, arms folded across his chest. His green gaze narrowed. "You know everything about the Wraith!"
"That's very flattering. I don't know everything about them. I'm not the resident expert on Wraith and Iratus bug biology and behavior."
"I thought we agreed not to mention those things," John chided, touching his throat in remembered pain from the grasp of one of those bugs.
Carson smiled. "Sorry, colonel." He sidestepped past the other man to carry a tray of vials to a table. Hearing the military commander following Carson sighed. Sometimes the man was like a dog with a bone, not giving up until he got what he wanted.
"Then who is?"
"Who is…oh. Doctor O'Meara. She has posited several reasons for the change in Wraith behavior and some of them do involve the altered enzyme and the new chemical bonding that has altered their physiognomy not to mention their abilities and the—"
"Excuse me?"
Carson turned to see a quizzical expression on John's face. "The enzyme. It must have spread through the Wraith population fairly quickly once they saw the advantages of it. Somehow it has increased their strength and stamina and creating a new molecular bonding that may have even altered their evolution, if you will, and Moira thinks it is a more basic reacting response and why they were able to unite under a single queen, for example."
John blinked. "Ah. And how was it altered?"
"By you. Well, not specifically you," the doctor amended. "By Todd. When he was fed upon by a queen Iratus bug it not only restored his life and his feeding abilities but also replaced the former Wraith enzyme with a more potent and more powerful strain. We've been running some chemical comparisons and it is quite fascinating, John," Carson warmed to the subject to John's regret, "and this particular version is similar to what saved you when you were infected by the retrovirus and Elia's blood. Do you see what this means?"
John hesitated, wishing for a translator. "Um…Todd's more Wraithy?"
Carson nodded. "Aye, in a way. Exactly. We suspect that it may have rendered the Wraith nearly immune to the Hoffan serum."
"Wonderful," John sighed. "And that would explain their uncharacteristic behavior?"
"Partially. You really should talk to Moira about this, John. She has been studying the Wraith as a species and applying biological parameters to their society, as it were, from a sociological stance as well as a—"
"When she's not chasing after entelodonts, you mean."
"What?"
"Nothing. Nobody cares about that, doc, although I do seem to remember a report…" He frowned, thinking back on older material he had read. "Something about bees? I think I lost it in a box somewhere."
"Or the dog ate it?" Carson quipped. "John, you really should read the things that people give you."
"Whatever. Okay, I'll catch up with her. Thanks, doc."
"John!" Carson called after him, and John halted his escape, turning to face the doctor. "I didn't mean that. It certainly wasn't your fault, creating this super Wraith species."
"I'm the one who let him go, doc."
"Yes, but we all thought he would die."
"Well, he didn't, did he? And then I let him escape. And now he's out there with all of his super Wraith buddies." Before the doctor could argue John turned and left the infirmary.
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Todd was silent. It had been a long trip, through several Stargates, across several planets, feeding when he could, and now he had been found by those of his own kind. He had been welcomed as a long lost brother, although most of his original crew were dead, killed by Sheppard's orders. Todd had been greeted as a savior, as the altered enzyme was creating a new breed of Wraith, a better breed of Wraith that would be able to dominate the galaxy once all threats were eliminated.
Todd knew Atlantis was one of those threats.
He was curious to learn about the other one.
He had heard only whispers. He had heard dark mutterings about massive ships and weapons that the Wraith alone could not hope to match. The facts were few, the rumors rampant about these invaders from another galaxy. Soon Todd would learn all about them, as he was being ushered into the Throne room, into the heart of the Wraith Empire.
He was being ushered to the queen herself.
Todd could see the nervousness of his escorts and it made him wonder. Wisely he kept silent. Wisely he genuflected when they did, bowing towards the back of a large throne which sat in front of an impressive viewport that glistened with the stars. He moved to his knees as they did. He lowered his gaze to the floor like they did, but all the while he was annoyed at this excessive obeisance and wondered at the reason for it.
What could have altered Wraith society so quickly and so ruthlessly?
The throne chair turned and the queen smiled at him. "Welcome back, old friend. As you can see we have much, much to discuss. And we have much to plan."
Todd started. The voice was familiar. The human tones were familiar, but it was most definitely a Wraith addressing him. One that apparently knew him and was greeting him as a friend. It was a very human term. Slowly he raised his head and stared. He moved to stand, leaving his escorts on their knees on either side of him. He stared as recognition flooded, as memories filled his mind. And he laughed.
He laughed.
He laughed.
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John was halfway down the corridor when the thought struck him. Grimacing he made his way back to the infirmary, rubbing his neck as if he could feel the marks left by the Iratus bug that had attached itself to him many years ago. He smiled at the nurses and made his way to Carson. The doctor was engrossed in a data pad, head bent, blue eyes locked onto the screen.
The sound of a cough drew Carson's attention and he lifted his gaze. "John? Was there something else?"
"Yes, actually. All that stuff you said about the enzyme, and the purer strain from the, from the Iratus bug," he paused, making a face. "Would any of that have an effect on—"
"Colonel Sheppard to the 'Gate room! Colonel Sheppard to the 'Gate room!"
"Gotta run, doc!" John sprinted to the control room, forgetting his question, hearing the urgency in Chuck Campbell's voice. He met Evan on the way and the two men rushed towards the consoles. The Stargate was a shimmering wormhole but no one had emerged from it. The Shield was raised, a silvery film that prevented any incursions. "Status!" John barked.
"Incoming wormhole, sir, from off-world activation. Major Teldy's IDC," Chuck informed briskly, fingers pausing on the keyboard for the military commander's decision.
"Lower the Shield," John ordered, glancing up to see Richard descending the stairs. John and Evan moved to the 'Gate room, joined by a few marines. John took a proffered P90 and stood, waiting, staring at the shimmering pool of light. Abruptly John swore, ducked as laser fire pinged out of the wormhole and blasted the walls. A deep gouge was cut into the floor, and John winced, as if for a moment he felt the pain of the injury.
Suddenly Ann Teldy was propelled forcefully out of the wormhole and fell to her knees, as if shoved by a giant hand.
"Major!" John rushed to her.
"Medical to the 'Gate room STAT!" Evan ordered, tapping his earpiece. He looked past Ann but no one else emerged from the wormhole.
"What's happening?" Richard asked, standing at the console and staring down at the 'Gate room. He began to make his way there, concerned at the return of the lone woman marine and her battered appearance.
"It's just me, sir!" she gasped. She was dirty, grimy. Blood was spilling from the corner of her mouth and there was a bruise on her temple. Her BDUs were torn and she was devoid of all weapons.
"Raise the Shield!" John ordered. He helped the blond woman to her feet and guided her away from the Stargate although no more enemy fire erupted from it. "What happened, major? Where is your team?" he asked.
Ann shook her head. Her normally efficient bun was spilling blond strands across her face, along her shoulders. "Captured, sir. Ambush. We were several klicks out when we ran into a, a firefight." She appeared disorientated for a moment, and her grip on John's arm tightened as if needing to feel his solidity.
"The Wraith?" Evan asked in dread. He looked past them again, but the Shield was a silver blur and effectively blocking any ingress to the 'Gate room.
"No." She glanced at Evan then looked at John as he waited. "We were outnumbered and taken hostage and I was sent back to get you."
"Me? Who was it? The Genii?"
"Perhaps the Coalition?" Evan suggested worriedly.
"I don't know, sir, but he knew you. He knew all about you, about Atlantis, everything. And he gave me this." She opened her fist to reveal a set of dog tags. The silver chain slipped between her fingers, glinting in the lights. The silver tag was grimy but the words were discernible.
John took them from her, reading the name inscribed on one side, although he already had a suspicion seeing the dog tags and hearing her words.
His suspicion was confirmed. His gaze raked over the name on the tags.
Aiden Ford.