Alisha grew bored after her notebook had been filled. She also grew slightly hungry. Poking her head out the door he looked until she spotted the promised guard.
"can you help me acquire food?"
"this way." he led her down a series of tunnels until they got to a large room where a few gathered to eat. instead of sitting with everyone she had the guard lead her back to her rooms. from there she walked onto the balcony that overlooked the ocean.
the food was OK and the view was amazing. as the sun set she watched it sparkle and dance on the water. late she wandered back into the room and drifted off to sleep in the bed.
"Hi" she said poking her head out into the hallway. the guard was different. he had knocked politely on the door.
"Hello." Teyla said standing next to the guard. she smiled. "I was off to spar. would you like to accompany me?"
"sure." Alisha smiled. teyla held up a set of clothes. "i know they have only given yo one set and you wore those all day yesterday. I'll wait outside."
she slipped into the skirt. it was tight at the top and split into strips above the knees giving her freedom to move. the top was a simple top. a corset like shape and supports by tiny straps
(like a tank top that laces up in back.)
she tied her curls up with the small leather strip on top. braiding the strip in and out she managed to get all the hair up off her neck and tightly secured.
Teyla was waiting outside. she led her, and her guard, to the gym.
"Have you spared before?"
"the wraith kept their pets trained in almost every form of fighting. we were a disposable army."
"well then I won't have to waste time teaching." she tossed Alisha a pair of long sticks. Alisha felt the weight of the sticks and set herself into a defensive crouch. they circled each other Alisha grew impatient and threw herself into the attack. they traded a flurry of blows and neither of them noticed when the doors opened and John walked in. He called Ronan. a couple more people wandered in amazed with the two girls. They were almost evenly matched. Teyla had spent her life practicing knowing that one day her life might depend on it. so had Alisha. and she had had more life with which to perfect her fighting. and she had been into it knowing her life depended on it.
the fight grew in intensity but slowly Alisha came out on top just barely.
the fight ended with Alisha holding one stick against Teyla's throat the other held ready at her side.
"My turn." Ronan said walking into the middle of the room. he grabbed the sticks Teyla offered him and stood at the ready. This time Alisha waited for Ronan to come to her. he pressed the advantage of his weight and strength while she carefully avoided full on contact with her speed and agility. she danced in and out landing small blows while taking a few herself. their fight was more intense than the evenly matched. it was her ability and knowledge agaisnt his strength. John walked up.
"the odds are on him. they think he is going to win because he is simply stronger. Some of the marines are taking bets."
"I think she will when. She has ten thousand years of practice on him."
"I put my money on her." they turned their attention back to the fight.
Wolsey entered.
"so this is where everyone went." he stated looking to the fighting pair. "Wow."
"I know. she is pretty good."
"amazing." he paused for a few more seconds watching the two. "i have to get back to work." he ducked out.
"Finally." John said a while later as Alisha pushed Ronan into a corner both her sticks crossed across his throat.
she backed away quickly and sat breathing hard.
"are you alright." Teyla asked standing next to her.
"Fine it's just that was harder than it should have been." she said her voice confused.
"You have been shot with a wraith stunner run for your life been operated on and gone through a complete mental shutdown in which you laid asleep in a bed for days. you just need to get back into practice. Though if that was you rusty i think i might be worried." Teyla grinned and handed the younger girl a bottle of water. the girl took it gratefully and took a few gulps.
"Come on. I bet you want a shower." Teyla grabbed the younger girls hand and pulled her trough the door. after that we will meet you in the cafeteria.
"Great." John called.
feeling clean Alisha walked through the halls with Teyla and her guard.
"I spar and workout early int he mornings. you are welcome to join me if you wish." Teyla informed her as they entered the noisy room. John waved to them to let them know were they were seated as they collected food. Only Ronan John and Rodney sat at the table. she felt a little awkward with the close knit team then Ronan turned to her with a grin. "those were some moves this morning. mind teaching me some of them?" the whole table began a debate on fighting technique's she felt herself falling into easily. Rodney, it was evident, liked long range he didn't like getting to close. the others fought with any means necessary. she herself had never fought with anything other than hands and sticks. Blades and long range weapons were something the wraith had never given them. she mentioned this and John began a lecture on guns. Ronan grinned and pulled out the one he had strapped to his leg. she admired them and they set plans to teach her how to use them. the area had slowly cleared of the rest of the people and John regretfully looked at his watch.
"it's about time for the briefing." the others drifted out and Alisha found herself alone except for yet another guard.
"would you mind working out with me?" she asked.
he thought for a moment and nodded.
"lead the way." she motioned for him the warrior in her still not willing to admit she would only get them lost.
when John finally found them for dinner he was surprised to find Alisha adjusting the young guards stance.
"have you been here all afternoon?" he asked.
"Yes." Alisha said lowering her arms.
"When Teyla said you just need to build your strength she didn't mean all day."
"John. aboard the hive there was nothing else to do. i have spent the last ten thousand years training everyday. all day." she followed him and the guard through the halls and sat again with the team.
Teyla walked the girl back.
"I'm sorry about your husband." Teyla said quietly as they walked, she had to talk with the girl about what she had seen.
the both sat on the balcony.
"Want to tell me about him?"
Alisha looked at Teyla with an undecipherable expression for such a long time Teyla thought she wasn't goign to talk then suddenly she began.
"my father had some authority on our planet. i was with him on a trading trip on another planer when we ran into him. he followed us back and within a month we were inseparable...... a month after we were married the wraith culled our planet. i was 17. i was awake in one of those cocoon things. he was next to me. we talked and said our goodbyes. then they took us. they wanted him but he got sicker as they fed on him again and again. he couldn't take the physical strain. they turned to me. they took my life for years. every day they would return and steal my life only to return it. my husband and i were left in the same area. he grew slightly healthier as they stopped feeding from him but he still never got strong again. when i couldn't take it anymore i gave in. it was on that day he died.
he wasn't my husband anymore. he was just another human that had failed the wraith. that was what they taught me. worthless. i had been completely brain washed. they didn't make my kill him. that would most likely have broken the still fragile bonds they had over my mind. no. they just made me watch while the queen killed him. she didn't feed from him she used a blade. they had my convinced he was suffering. they were just releasing him from his pain. they have had my under there spell for ten thousand years with that act of mercy. A part of my breaking free was a young man that reacted in the same way. he looked so much like my beloved. he begged in the end. for life. he was suffering and still life was precious. it made me wonder if he had wanted to go to. then i grew weary. then i ran expecting death." Alisha finished, tears ten thousand years over do coursing down her cheeks.
"he was tall. and he had a funny shaped nose i would tease him about mercilessly. he would always protest but you could tell he didn't mind. he had dark hair and he was clean shaved. he helped my father build our house. he was good with his hands.... they were rough from all the work he did." she paused. "his voice was low and a little rough. but it was always gentle when he spoke to me." Teyla gripped the younger girls hand tightly.
they sat in silence for a long time looking over the ocean.