Chapter 7: Bonds

Disclaimer: the Stargate franchise and aliens that they created are the property of MGM. This is just a fictional story made out of fun and has no profit or commercial value derived from it.

The Hive fleet were orbiting around a planet of another permissive wraith faction. Every Hive were busy replenishing stock or doing technical maintenance. This planet was the biggest she has ever seen. It was about four times the size of the usual terresterial ones. And it had six moons. One was irregular shaped. There was a larger amount of prey population. Some agricultural landmarks could be seen from space. Crops of food for the prey who in turn provided sustenance for the wraiths.

Instead of the usual hunting method, cruisers were despatched from the fleet to a designated point of pick up. It was a fly by fast food pick up. The worshippers sent by smaller scout ships in the Hive hangars to the planet's surface. Only the fleet worshippers were allowed to move into prey populated areas under strict escort of the faction worshippers. They were even checked for any technology. No technology can go with them. Not even data tablets.

Their worshippers came back with bundles of leather and fabric, several sacks of harvests and other necessary items required in the Hive until the next planet. Some worshippers were walking through the Wraith quarters. Each was carrying a big bag filled with different items. They were delivering individual requested items to wraiths. She watched some blades excitedly comparing differently designed daggers from the planet. Two clevermen walking past her, had leather bound books under their arms . Books were the primitive version of data tablets. Some wraiths had odd tastes.

Training was on hiatus. The laboratory was now restricted to the young cleverman only. The terminals were running simulations and the two trainees were not allowed near it. The inseparable duo were part of the fleet's clevermen delegation on the planet meeting with the clevermen of the faction. The transport beam technology was of particular interest to the new faction and they have a research stronghold on the planet.

She was bored. It was already one cycle. The combat room was filled with young blades sparring. Taking a fighter out to fly was not allowed under the agreement with the faction hosts. The worshipper's hall was crowded with worshippers and their stocks. Only a few blades were allowed there to provide assistance. She was corridor watching and it was also getting boring.

She turned around only to sense a worshipper with one big bag approaching her.

"Master, I have something for you" The worshipper said timidly as she held out a neatly packaged box.

"I did not order anything from the planet." She stared at the worshipper. The worshipper looked like a girl. Not nearly a woman, yet not a child.

"I am ordered to give it to you." The worshipper murmured. Fear was in girl's eyes, her hands were trembling along with the box.

"By whom?" She demanded. It better not be a mistake. She was in no mood to fight into a fight with a wraith who might be upset about a misdelivery.

"Iiii donnn't knnnnow. I wasss just told to paaaass it to you." The girl stammered.

There was no point in questioning her further. Scanning the girl's mind did not reveal who it was from. She took the package and waved the grateful worshipper away. The girl scurried on to the next delivery.

Now she was intrigued. In the privacy of her quarters, she tore the packaging and opened the box. Inside the box, laid a hairpiece and a vial of liquid. The hairpiece was made out of a dark organometal and shaped like a wraith fighter with detailed carvings. Her sigils were also carved on it. She styled her hair and put it on. Her hair looked better with it. She took a sniff of the vial. It smelt sweet and pleasant. Then she took more sniffs at the box.

No wraith has been near it. She had not done anything for worshippers. Maybe it was bribery to keep her away from them. But they would not know her sigils. Almost all worshippers did not understand the Wraith written language or the sigils. It had to be from a wraith. It could not be from her former Commander. She did not tell him her sigils. Perhaps it was the inseparable duo ordered it for her. Only they would be that odd.

It was six cycles. The delegation were still on the planet. The worshippers were still offloading the stock from the planet. She was still getting gifts. It was ridiculous. No other wraiths would want her items. The delivery was no mistake and the delivery was by a different worshipper each cycle. A bone carved comb, a dark red embossed leather dress, two more hairpieces, and a make up set. The make up set was extreme. The inseparable duo could be playing a joke on her. She might dress up and play wraith worshipperagain.

"Master, I have a delivery." The worshipper said politely and bowed. Yet again. She took the box from the worshipper and waved her off again. Another gift again. She looked at the box. It was engraved with her sigils. It was meant for keeping decorative body pieces and make up inside. She opened it and there were fresh native flower petals from the planet. They gave off a faint but delicate fragrance which permeated her room. This was a bit too extreme. All the essentials to smell and look like the favored worshippers. She could not imagine that the inseparable duo asking the uniform making worshippers about her measurements. The dress fit her perfectly. She will turn the tables on both of them.

'"To get a woman to speak to you, gifts are of the absolute necessity. To get her to pay attention to you, you must maintain a certain mystery. Most women like to beautify themselves. Jewellery, perfume and make up would be suitable gifts. Only the finest quality. It would be better to personalise your gifts. If a woman starts wearing them, it is time that you take the chance and speak to them." An older worshipper advised him.

He asked her politely in private to give him advice on getting human females to speak to him. She was surprised that he did not want to just take the woman, like other wraiths. Whoever the woman was, she would be lucky to be his worshipper. He was young, tall, well groomed and very handsome for a wraith. The old worshipper also sensed that he was very mild and not aggressive. The others just came, see what they like and grab the chosen worshipper. It was often against the worshipper's will. Their worshippers were just personal bed warmers and frequently complained about the lack of affection. Some could be beaten by the wraith. It was not uncommon to see badly battered women after bed warming duties. This young cleverman seem keen on getting a woman to speak to him. How sweet.

"May I ask whom you want to attract? I might be able to tell you what she likes." The old worshipper asked.

"No. I just wanted to know. What is the meaning of attract?" His multitoned voice replied.

"If you want a woman to keep speaking to you, attraction is necessary." She paused. Wraiths had no clue on the definition of human love. There was a blank look on his face.

"Or bond?" She thought carefully. They might have an idea of bond.

"Your words are valuable. You may leave now." He waved her off and she bowed.

He was in deep thought. Bonding was common between male wraiths. The bond is more of open mind sharing through feeding off each other but has to be limited. Or end up like his group leaders, the inseparable duo, where the thoughts were inseparable in one unit. Even telepathic signatures will merge to accommodate the other.

Mating with a hybrid is unacceptable. Bonding had occurred to him before they met. To his disappointment, she was not the male blade he had expected. Bonded males are often spared the mating frenzy because of the mind effects on the physiological functions. Queens do not desire them because it decreased the effect of their male pheromones. It has no reproductive value and had nothing to do with reproductive organs. Therefore the Queen would not care. It could be an option.

The inseparable duo were back in their laboratory. The Hive fleets were preparing to leave. Both decided to get her a data tablet of the strategy game moves from an avid player. It was one of the faction cleverman. He was unbeatable amongst his peers. She would be pleased. However it was the first time that she kept both waiting. The young cleverman was engrossed in analysing the information her gift as fast as he could.

Both were busy looking at the new schematics for the transport beam through the interface when the door open A fresh sweet fragrance wafted through.

"Worshipper, this is a restricted area. Leave or be fed on." Both said sternly, their eyes still trained on the interface.

"Really? Masters, I thought you missed me." A familiar voice said. The voice was sweet in a sarcastic tone.

A data tablet dropped on the ground. It was the young cleverman. All three clevermen looked at a stunning looking ...hybrid.

"Would you like me to mess up your laboratory?" She purred seductively. Her hair was styled with the black hair piece. She was wearing her Iratus necklace. The red gemstone centrepiece seem to glow emphasizing her dress and curves. If she was not a hybrid, she would have looked like a Queen.

Uh...the wraith worshipper joke was over? He knows what you are. Both of their eyes darted uniformly at the young cleverman who just staring at her.

Then why send me all of these? She was glaring at the inseparable duo.

The door opened again and a growl was heard.

"Hello worshipper, this is a restricted area. But you will warm my bed later if you are lucky not to be fed on. Given your need to be with wraiths. And you smell good." A deep gruff multitonal voice of the older blade said behind her.

She turned around and narrowed her eyes dangerously at him.

I will be back later. Forgot to take my data tablet. The older blade walked out of the laboratory quickly. He stole a quick last look at her while leaving. The female hybrid was known for being extremely vicious in fights. She had served under one of the most brutal Wraith Commanders. He had just fed and he was not about to risk landing in the feedlots. She did look regal.

Well? She tapped her boots impatiently. Her hand on her waist.

We got something for you. It is in the data tablet. That was all we got you. Those are not from us. Both eyed her curiously

Who else could have known my sigils? Even that blade is not aware how to access it. Only the ones who work in the laboratory knows. Other than you both... WAIT A MINUTE. Her eyes trailed to the staring cleverman.

YOU! She pointed her finger at the still staring cleverman.

The young cleverman picked up the data tablet and put it on the table. He excused himself and quietly left the laboratory with a blank look to the incredulous look of the inseparable duo and her fiery glare.

The inseparable duo came to her quarters. They noticed that their young cleverman was too quiet. He had shut his mind so they could not probe it without notice. He did his job but they did not like the silence from him. He always had some brilliant ideas to discuss with them during duties. They decided to talk to her about it.

We do not think that he meant it as a joke. It took a lot of effort to find your sigils and even more so to get the measurements from the worshippers without rumors. The duo said to her. They had to find a time to talk to the cleverman about hacking through the security protocols. Now was an inappropriate time.

Yes. And this look like an individual design. He must have got a worshipper to take the design to a master craftman on the planet. Did you both not meet while in the fighters? One of duo was examining the hairpiece. It was very detailed work. Not the handiwork of a common craftsman. The design was also meaningful.

And this vial of perfume oil is distilled from a rare plant. They nodded to each other in agreement. The wraith hosts had shown them the plant on the planet. In their prey's payment method, it would be fetch a high price. The perfume was often used as a reward for the most devout worshipper on that planet.

For all of this, bribes have to be paid. The other said as he studied the vial and the other gifts. The wraith scout pilots do not mind extra prey. The young cleverman had been rewarded with three extra prey from the special feedlot. It was no doubt that those have been used as payment. In fact, no wraith would mind extra food. Extra provisions was an easy feat. Those provisions would have to be paid to worshippers for those tasks. The worshippers did not mind it at all.

It takes a lot of effort and planning. Time too. The inseparable duo said in a serious tone as both were exchanging items to scrutinise.

He never sent me a message after we met face to face, and now he sends me this? He does not even like wraith worshippers. Her eyes were questioning them.

Have you thought that maybe he just did not know how to talk to you now? He does not know you as we do. You said it before - inexperienced. Both tactfully put it to her.

He was a mild tempered wraith and not brash as some of the wraith his age. He might be slightly older than her but he only experienced being on his mother's Hive.

She sighed.

Probably went around asking a few worshippers for advice too. One of the duo could guess what will happen. The female worshippers will know that he was enquiring about a likely worshipper. It meant being pestered since there were many who want to be favored by a wraith. They had noticed a few worshipper secretly eyeing the young cleverman upon their return to the Hive. Feeding on one annoying worshipper was different to feeding on ten annoying worshippers. The Queen will notice it. The Queen's attention is unwanted unless it was for exceptional work or achievements.

She sighed again. They wanted her to talk to the young cleverman. And not by the data tablet. Wraith to Wraith was the idea. Or in her case hybrid to wraith. She had to settle this or she will never hear the end of it. Her mind tried scanning for his presence on the ship. It was hard to locate a disconnected mind on the telepathic Hive network. She probably have to track him on foot in the ship.

Several corridors and a few levels later, she heard a group of female worshippers. She might go scare them. It always cheered her up. She moved silently towards the noise. She did not like what she was hearing. She sensed a wraith. Probably another one for the airlock former Commander style.

"Oh honey, why would you want to try and talk to a girl who ignores you? The old lady told us to accompany you. "

"You could take her. Unless another had already taken her."

"Some women do not appreciate good things when it comes to them."

"Any of us here are willing replacements. Just take your pick."

The group of worshippers saw her coming towards them and moved aside. To her surprise, they did not move away. It could be a high ranking male. She better move on. Until the corner of her eye spotted the young cleverman. He was sitting the window sill and looking out at the stars. It was a bad idea to put worshippers' hall in an area where the best views were. He was not reacting. The group of worshippers were not moving away. She hissed at them.

"ALL OF YOU. MOVE OR I FIND YOU THE MOST BRUTAL COMMANDER TO SERVE." Her voice raised in absolute vehemence at their shamelessness. This group was probably new from the planet. Their faces were new to her.

"Says who? Are you his? You are shouting in front of a wraith. Be careful. You may get one yourself." said an arrogant one who appeared to be the leader of the group. It was game on. She will toy with the arrogant one. After all she looked like a wraith worshipper for the moment. The young cleverman was still staring at the stars. He was ignoring all of them. His mind locked and seemingly lost.

The others joined in. "If you are his, you do not deserve to be. The old lady said that he told her the girl would not speak to him despite what he has done."

"Back off " A girl spat at her.

She controlled herself. A few dead worshippers would be hard to explain to the Queen. But one dead worshipper would be easy to explain. She went towards the girl who spat at her and narrowed her eyes as she approached her. One blade was walking towards the commotion. He saw her and stopped. He turned and immediately walked the opposite direction. Someone was going to die. He was not interested to be in the middle.

"Did you just spit at me, girl? Do you know who you are spitting at?" Her voice was now dangerously calm, her faces inches away from the girl.

"Oh? What are you going to do? There are 5 of us vs one of you."

"Really? What can you do to me? With 5 of you?" Her feeding hand twitching. Her eyes stared through the other's eyes.

"We can also make it look like an accident." The girl and her were staring each other down.

The group were circling her and moving in. Even within prey, they tend to bond with each other to pick on lone ones.

She suddenly grabbed the girl by the throat and shoved her against the wall. A gag was heard. She sensed that they were about to pounce on her. She slammed her feeding hand against the now struggling girl. Her prey gave an agonising screech as her life start draining. While she was draining the girl, she turned and look at the rest.

" Oh and I have served as a crew member under a very brutal Wraith Commander. Best time ever."

She looked at the glimpses of shocked faces as the group were frozen in fear. Their faces paled. They were sweating in the cool environment. The girl was now a dead husk.

"Drag her husk out before I start feeding on the rest of you. You may address me as Master. "

Two girls backed against the wall to stay as far away from her to grab the husk and drag it away. The other two were taking steps backwards from her as she walked towards them.

"Do not spit at me. That is punishment. Tell the old lady to back away from him. None of you deserve to be near him. None of you are good enough." She said in a very slow icy tone.

The girls gave quick successive nods and moved away. She turned and look at him. He was now staring at her.

It is true. They are not good enough for you. She shrugged. They would not be bothering you again.

I know. I appreciate that. I... miss the strategy game with you. And you did not want to speak to me. His eyes were sad.

Oh? I thought that you did not want to speak to me. She was surprised. I really like your gifts.

It cost me 2 extra prey but it was worth it. He smiled. After all, you fought over me twice. And you are speaking to me again.

He made a space for her at the sill of the Hive. They sat beside each other silently looking at the stars.

Bonds. Can be so simple yet so complex.