Chapter 13

I Howl and I Whine

The worst part about not having a link with it was that it could hide. Michael stalked down the corridors of his ship looking for it because it had stolen the transmitter.

Has anyone seen her? Michael asked politely affording her every consideration a queen demanded. She was supposed to have a constant guard because he could not quite put her…no, it…in the cells. The buzz of checking vibrated through his head and the unsatisfactory answer of "no" reverberated in his skull. He punched the air in frustration and hissed.

Rounding the next bend in the passageway, he found it with its guard who had ignored his hails. They were exiting a science lab and she greeted him most innocently.

"Checking up on me, Michael?"

"What were you doing in there?" With his patience gone, he grabbed it by the arm.

"Relax. I was just double checking the transmitter to make sure it was functioning properly." It gave a sideways glance at her guard. "Don't want to get trapped in here," it said tapping the side of Sheppard's head.

You could put the Wraith in the human, but the Wraith could not stay hidden for very long. When they returned to the cruiser she…it tried to take command by ordering Dr. McKay to be taken immediately to the cells.

He had the satisfaction of his brethren looking to him for guidance. He liked that-- a lot. Of course, he confirmed her…its command and Dr. McKay was dragged to the cells. Michael then followed it like a pet down the corridor.

He surmised the implant must have been excreting the pheromone that the queens used for blind subservience. Although, the effects of the pheromone could be lessening because the tendencies were growing easier to ignore.

As she confessed of fatigue and sought her quarters, she…it walked arm and arm with him. The touch was extremely disconcerting because she/it smelled like Sheppard as well. The two aromas mixed and his confusion grew. He wanted to follow its orders and devour it at the same time.

Plus, it was just plain bizarre.

However, his confusion distracted him enough for her to pick his pocket. A female Wraith in a human male's body was proving to be problematic. Sometimes, he did not know who was fooling who.

"Hand it over!" He held out his hand for the device.

"Here, it's working fine," it answered derisively.

As he held its arm and accepted the device in the other hand, he felt its body twitch with constant muscle tremors.

"Are you all right?" Maybe she had a weakness to exploit. Maybe, he could dispose of her…it as soon as they obtained the cloak.

"Adrenaline. I have him on a constant rush so I can protect myself from all of you possible predators." She laughed the words out of her mouth. "Think I'll go lie down now. It's been a long day coming back from the dead." She gave her guard a nod and walked towards the room prepared for her. "Wake me when we get to the planet."

If he thought he was confused, it did not compare to Dr. McKay's. His disbelief at Sheppard ordering him to a cell had been satisfying. Michael was not going to explain anything to him just yet. However, once they reached the planet, then his task would be revealed and his part played. Michael kept his entire deep-seated plans close. Not even his brethren knew his full goal. He did, however, have their trust.

Michael unleashed the other Wraith on that traitorous fool's world to hide his tracks and he let the Atlantians get away to further his plans in the future. She had her own plans coiled around his ship. He would have to check what happened in that lab. What had it been up to that the drone with it had not reported to him right away? He decided to immediately change its guard. There might be an allegiance issue. There was deviousness to this queen that his old Queen did not have. He would show her how betrayal was done.

Also, he was proud of his flagrant and deceptive fabrication. The Lanteans did not need to know that the bomb was destroyed by the bombardment. They could not take the chance that he could deliver on his threat. They could not afford anymore enemies added to their list. It had been a great diversion and tool.

He had played a game or two of poker during his incarceration in Atlantis. While they were trying so hard to convince him he was human, he had learned to bluff. He had a feeling that it had learned a similar skill from Sheppard because it was playing at its own game.

It, she, or him would just have to be kept closer.

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McKay stood next to him as they looked at the familiar central spire. But, this one was covered in vines and stood alone in a forest.

"You cull any of them and I'll make sure this ship goes down in a fireball. Threatening to kill me won't work either; I simply don't care." McKay did not look at him but frowned and blinked as the spire increased in size on the misty view screen.

"I take it the trickster is ready?" Sheppard's strangely softened voice asked, startling them both.

McKay frowned even harder at it rather than answer it. The queen slipped smoothly onto the bridge and regally commanded attention from everyone there.

"He was just informing me of his terms," replied Michael. He had conveniently let her new guard wake it up instead of himself.

"All he needs to know is: do his task or die." It placed an arm around McKay and purred with his colleague's voice. "But then, I'm sure he'll try to bluster and bluff his way out of this."

McKay inhaled through his nose and tensed up even more. "Don't…care."

She made an "hmm" sound and smirked. "I doubt that. I know you trickster. He knows you," she said pointing to herself. "You're trying to figure a way out. Or at least, a way to destroy us."

It…she slithered around to the front of him and looked directly in McKay's eyes. "I'll even bet you're trying to save him. You just don't know what has happened or how to fix it."

McKay stuttered, gaped, and opened and closed his mouth. He started words and did not finish them. He fished for anything to say and fell short.

"You are looking at a dead man. A shell. A corpse." She delighted in his discomfort. She reveled in his despair. "There is no more Sheppard."

"There is only Zool," McKay finally said as all color drained from his muddy face.

To Michael's and McKay's surprise, she laughed.

Michael realized she laughed because she understood the joke. She had access to everything that Sheppard knew. However, Michael had to believe that it would not matter to the outcome of his ultimate goal.

"Exactly." She languidly walked around McKay. "You don't know what to do and it's frustrating. And just to add a little more salt in the wound, while you were asleep, you probably figured out what was happening. You might have even figured out how to reverse everything. Then again, maybe not."

Oh, this one loves to play with her food, Michael thought. She was very good at being Wraith. But, then again, so was he.

"Michael, just so you know, I am familiar enough with Lantean technology to observe this one and to make sure that he puts the component in correctly so he does not blow up the ship. And by default, I can initialize anything you need."

McKay wilted for a second only to return to his scowl. "I give you my word that I will not blow up this roach motel if she gets out of him."

"Or what?" she asked.

"Or kaboom," he answered.

She dragged her arm around him as she circled him. McKay knocked it away. In retaliation, she shoved him half way across the bridge until a console stopped him.

"Stop it!" Michael forcefully ordered. "You may be able to put a cloak in, but he's the only one who can remove one from their spacecraft."

McKay woozily stood up. "You still need me you unfulfilled bug." He held on to the console and donned the frown once again.

"Oh, that's right. I forgot. You're indispensable. Guess you can hang around a little longer." She walked to the door with her new guard. "Well, come on…" and then she lowered her voice, "Get a move on McKay!" The queen sounded just like Sheppard and an already heavy frown on McKay's face intensified into anger.

"You should know, I never respond well to orders." McKay took one step and then stopped. He spoke directly to Michael. "Let me warn them to stay in their homes and only send one or two escorts with us. Please. I don't want a chance for any of the locals getting hurt or dead."

"Very well, my coffers are full anyway," Michael hissed in false contentment. His goal, telescopically clear, lay out before him like a star field. He needed no more individuals for the holds. He needed no more complications.

As Dr. McKay contacted the leader of the village a short distance from the spire, Michael turned an appraising eye to Sheppard at the hatch. All they had to do was land and this little game would be over. His agreements dissolved. His obligations terminated. With the pleasure of their company over-extended, their time to leave drew near.

It was then that he decided neither would be leaving the atmosphere of this planet.

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Not a single spark of human life was drained as per Dr. McKay's request. Dr. McKay removed the cloak from the Jumper ("quaint name," she had commented) within fifteen of their minutes. The two of them had it installed in his cruiser in under an hour (again, their measurement, not his). Now, it was time to deliver on his promise. It was time to be free of this female of the species, permanently.

"Well done," he greeted the both of them as they stood next to the reconfigured console. "Time for you to be sent home, Dr. McKay, just as I promised. I said I would see what I could do about Col. Sheppard…" He pointedly stared at it. "I think I'll give Dr. Beckett that promised message now."

Michael stunned it before it could say a word because he hated it more than the Lanteans.

McKay stood next to the spliced together console, shaking. "Show me how it works," Michael commanded calmly. There was no need to rush. They were at the end of their partnership and formalities were all they had left.

McKay ran through the directions with a nervous voice and gave a practical demonstration as his eyes darted to the lump of human at the base of the console. The entire cruiser disappeared just as it should. The sentries outside confirmed it. As a result, Michael was very pleased and now he had everything he needed. There was only one, last task.

"Now, Dr. McKay," Michael began in a low growl. "Time for payment."

Michael slammed McKay into a vein riddled wall. "I have a message and three gifts for Dr. Beckett." Michael pressed his feeding hand onto McKay's chest. The nails sank into the human's flesh and the maw sliced through the shirt.

"Tell him…" Michael paused while deciding how best to express his message. "Tell him…"

He paused again because he doubted McKay could hear anything over the scream coming from the pathetic human's own mouth.

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A/N: So, I have outlined the last chapter making the story unofficially complete. Now all there is to do is add, add, and add some more. Whew! Thanks once again for all the reviews! They are loved and cherished.

And yes, I have left you with another delightful cliffhanger. Enjoy!