Trials of Faith – Chapter 21
In the dark of space
'Will you grant their freedom?' Astra yelled, already knowing the answer.
'Worlds will no longer be under our attack unless we feel hunger.' He glanced at the people looking on. 'These, however, cannot be freed.'
'Why?' Astra asked, rolling her eyes.
'Because we must feed on them, the constant search for you has famished us. It is only logical to replenish ourselves with those we have nearby.' He smiled cruelly. She narrowed her eyes. He looked at the group that had been standing with her. 'These are friends?' He paused. 'They will be the first to be cocooned!' He spun and walked away.
Two of the Wraith left Astra and gathered up the small group of Athosians and Major Lorne, pushing them in the back. The front two lead Astra out.
They were walked into the long corridor that went on for as far as her eye could see. An unusual design for a Wraith ship. To bottleneck escaped prey? No matter. It would not stop her.
The scientist slowed to walk in front of her. 'I am Rasiesk.' He growled. 'I have been assigned to study you. What can you tell me about your unnatural existence?'
Astra frowned. 'My existence is far more natural - and attractive - than that of the Wraith.'
Rasiesk smiled. 'You will be an entertaining subject, but insolence will only be punished. You would do well to co operate, I can then promise very little pain.' He grinned to himself, his needlepoint teeth scraping his lower lip.
'Well I'm afraid that I am not accustomed to pain in such small amounts and therefore cannot promise you that I will behave.' She smiled; the Wraith glanced back, saying nothing, just looking at her.
Major Lorne smiled. He liked her style.
They were nearing the end of the corridor and he could see it led left, right and straight on. He felt the Wraith pulling him left and could see them taking Astra straight.
'Sadly Rasiesk, I will not make for an entertaining subject as I do not intend to stay that long.' She said low, menacing.
The Wraith frowned and turned to face her at this unusual comment, he realised his mistake immediately the moment he saw her eyes. They shone like stars. As though he had been hit with a sledgehammer in the chest, he flew up and back down the corridor until he landed with a crash to the floor far, far away.
Astra's left leg flew up into the face of the Wraith on her right and he stumbled back, she brought the same leg down and in one cruel motion, broke the shin of the other Wraith, elbowed it in the stomach and the face, finally pushing it to the floor with her hand. The other Wraith advanced. She side stepped delivering a kick to his back, he swung to hit her and missed she came up immediately to hit him sharp in the face three times – jab, backhand, jab. She delivered a roundhouse kick to his middle which sent him flying and then threw her hands in the air. With the force of the kick and her own mind she quickly guided him back to knock out the Wraith struggling to control Major Lorne who ducked at the last second. Three down and one to go.
The last Wraith left the Athosians, having the cheek to face her after what she had done to his comrades. She held her fighter's stance, just as Ronan had instructed her too, and grinned. Her eyes burned as he was lifted from the ground, slowly. He felt for his neck, apparently having trouble breathing. She cocked her head and gave a little wave. There was a sharp crack as the Wraith's head snapped to an unusual angle. He fell to the floor.
Major Lorne raised his eyebrows, breathing hard. 'Nice.' He smiled at her. She nodded.
'Come.'
They followed her down the right passage.
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'Rodney!' John yelled. 'Let's go! We need to get her out!'
'We have little time; we do not know where she could be.' Teyla urged.
Rodney focused.
'Just a few more minutes.' He breathed.
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Astra sped along another corridor, leading them.
She could hear so many voices and her stomach felt like lead with the heavy coldness she felt. Still, she concentrated; she had to get these people home.
'We are lost!' One of the children cried.
'We do seem to be going down the same damn corridor.' Lorne commented in frustration.
'We are close!' She insisted. She was already weak from using her powers on the Wraith, and she still needed them. She allowed her instincts to guide her, dodging the corridors where she sensed Wraith. She had a target, her mind led her there, guided her to where she wanted to be. It was only down this corridor and on the right, she knew it.
A wailing screeched throughout the ship. Finally, the news of their escape had been found.
She sped into the next right turn and smiled. The bay was before them, a platform with many darts. Below them were levels and levels of darts, sitting and waiting to be flown. The children did not look.
Astra sprinted to the nearest one and told them all to stand in a tight group so that she could pick them up with the dart. Lorne nodded at her, gathering them together with him at the back. He smiled as she started the climb into the dart.
Astra heard a shout and turned to see Major Lorne flying over the side of the platform, in desperation she flung her hands out and stopped him, turning to see Rasiesk looking supremely pissed. He advanced on the Athosians. Astra flung the Major onto the platform and jumped down from the dart.
'Wraith!' She growled. He was really starting to get on her nerves. It stopped and glared at her. She was what he was after. He would have her, his eyes told her.
He walked straight past the Athosians who rushed to the Majors side to help him up.
Astra could not use much more of her powers if they were to escape. It was okay with her if she got to kill him with her bare hands. He had been the beginning of it all, had probably insisted that they find her, that they murder hundreds of thousands to seek her out. Revenge hit her like red hot poker.
She propelled herself forward, flipping, kicking him with her feet as she up righted her self. She immediately ducked and spun her leg out, bringing him to the floor. She leapt on him, her hand going for his throat. He held her off. Growling, he used his inhuman strength to throw her over him onto her back. He used his hands to flip to his feet, Astra did the same.
'Anger can cloud the mind, unnatural one. It will seal your fate.' It snarled. He jumped at her, coming high into the air and snapping his leg out to hit her face, she grabbed it and pulled him down hard, thrusting her elbow to collide with its nose. He flew back but did not fall, blue blood dripping from the slits he called a nose. Astra fought hard, every available hit, kick and flip – giving far more than what she got, and still she was holding back. She wanted to see him struggle.
Astra hit his mid section twice before backhanding his face and spinning to kick his head. More cuts formed on his face which would have been far worse if he were anything other than Wraith.
'Vile, grotesque little girl!' It spat.
'Look who's talking.' Major Lorne snapped. Astra grinned. Revenge was indeed sweet – and also taking far too long. Reinforcements would not be long, and she had an appointment with life that she needed to keep.
'You failed, and now I will destroy you.' She stated, drawing up an inner strength, and breathing through the power of it.
He glared at her with a cocked head. Her eyes flew open, and without moving, she threw him over the platform, hearing his shriek all the way down.
She smiled at the group quickly as she jumped into the dart and closed the canopy. Major Lorne, in some considerable pain after his flight, huddled them together.
'Man I hate these things.' He whispered as the dart swept them up and headed for the exit.
The ship gave no resistance, recognising that the dart was in fact one of their own. The dart flew into space, stars in a flurry about them.
Astra aimed for the planet, unaware that there were two Wraith Hive ships bearing down on her. The ships may have believed the dart a friendly, but the Wraith at the controls knew that it was the enemy. They opened fire, hundreds of energy shots whizzing past the dart as Astra desperately tried to dodge them, and save the people who were counting on her.
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'Rodney, we are almost in range, are you-?' John growled.
'Done!' Rodney exclaimed, turning to the front of the Jumper. 'Oh boy.' He saw the two Wraith ships firing on nothing; he couldn't see who it was.
'Oh my god.' Radik whispered.
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Astra could feel the shots, tried to move the ship with the rhythm of her mind. To place it in safety, for the perfect time, that single shot which could easily-
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The team watched in horror as a small explosion of bright orange flared in the dark of space, debris flew in all directions.
Ronan froze, before sinking into a chair and holding his head in his hands.
They took the cloaked Jumper to the surface of the planet below and set it down, all of them looking pale. John opened the door and smiled at Rodney who nodded weakly. John tapped Ronan's shoulder in comfort before heading down the ramp and onto the grass, Teyla just behind.
'John.' Teyla called. He turned to see her face looking ashen. She walked forward, pausing in front of him, before stepping into his body for a hug. He was startled for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and placing a hand on her head, bringing his mouth to her hair.
He paused when he heard the familiar sound above.
A Wraith dart came toward the planet at an alarming speed. John frowned and forced himself and Teyla to step back. A beam suddenly hit the surface depositing eight dazed people before crashing into the forest, smoke billowing out of its bulbous red tail. Ronan leapt down the ramp and stared before tearing into the Forest.
Five hours earlier…
'Well, let's work with what we do know. Or who we know.' John reasoned. He turned to Teyla. 'The Tolasians have an underground right? Apparently one that extends to P4X 778. The Tolasians figured out that the Wraith were coming for them three days before they actually arrived.'
'I will speak with Councilman Jardus and try to find these connections.' Teyla glanced at Elizabeth, who nodded.
'Take Ronan, and Teyla? Be fast.'
Teyla nodded and left. Ronan paused, watching Astra. He turned and followed.
'In the meantime, we have the shield in case the Wraith does show up.' Rodney informed them.
'That doesn't make me feel all warm inside, Rodney.' Elizabeth frowned at him.
'Well what else am I supposed to say? That the Wraith will just give up and go home? Not likely.' He huffed.
John had paused, deep in thought.
'We know what they want.' He said. 'So let's give it to them.' He smiled.
Elizabeth and Rodney stared.
'You have a plan?' Rodney asked in surprise. 'One that is not going to get people killed?'
John was blank for a moment. 'Well, sorta.' Rodney gave him a "I knew it" look. 'The Wraith want Astra, if she's captured by them then they'll stop the attacks on the all the worlds.'
'Oh brilliant plan! We sacrifice the one thing that might kill the Wraith once and for all! You know what; let's make it a rule here and now that you don't make the plans – ever.' Rodney snapped.
'Would you listen genius?' Sheppard growled. 'If Astra can get on the ship then she can use her powers to get out.'
Elizabeth frowned. 'The Wraith would over power her; they must know at least remotely what she is capable of.'
'If she is taken the same way that all the other people were taken, then they won't know that they have her until its too late. She kicks their butts, grabs Lorne, and flies off the ship in a dart.' Sheppard assured her.
'How in the hell will she know how to get to the hangar bay in a Wraith ship?' Rodney folded his arms, picking holes was something he did best.
'She was on a Wraith ship with Borus, right? Plus she's all weird and stuff, and if that fails, she can get directions from a Wraith.' He answered.
'If she says 'please'?' Rodney drawled.
'When she kicks the crap out of him, or floats him into an airlock.' John shrugged.
'Okay, and she escapes from her cell, how?'
'She can get out, Rodney; she's not like you and me. What Astra needs to concentrate on-' John turned to talk to Astra and paused. 'Where is Astra?'
Elizabeth and Rodney turned. Rodney gave him a tired look that people get when the dog gets out again.
John ran to the control room with Elizabeth and Rodney in tow. At first they thought it was deserted, and then they heard a groan come from behind the interfaces. They jogged over and saw that Zalenka was unconscious and Pierce was bleeding heavily from his nose.
'She went through.' Was all he could moan.
John kneeled by him. 'Where?'
'To the planet…where you found Teyla…'
John turned to Elizabeth. 'Medda.'
'Why?' Rodney asked. 'It's gone; the Wraith did a total Independence Day number on it.'
John frowned. 'It's also a great place for lowlifes and thieves – it has connections like Tolas, she's gone to find out where the Wraith are heading.'
'They'll kill her, there's no way she can save Lorne!' Rodney exclaimed.
'She's gone and we need to get her back.' Elizabeth stated, propping Radik up on her chest.
'We won't get to her before she figures out where to go, we need to wait for Teyla and Ronan and then go from there.' Sheppard glared at the Gate.
'Fine, so if she gets on the ship, finds Lorne and isn't detected by the Wraith, and then leaves via a dart – you know, which I think is impossible – how in the hell does she dodge a Hive shooting at her with its superior fire power?' Rodney asked, cocking his head at the Colonel.
'I don't know.' He frowned.
'Besides, if she gets away, the Wraith will only start destroying worlds all over again.' Rodney put a hand to his forehead.
John paused. 'So we need to kill her.'
Rodney did a double take while Elizabeth stared. 'What?' They said in unison. John smiled at Mckay.
Half an hour later, the entire staff of Atlantis, military and science personnel, was squeezed into the Gate room, Elizabeth standing on the balcony with John, Rodney and a groggy Radik slouching next to her.
'So know you know.' She stated, after finishing the briefing. Many unhappy faces stared up at her, some whispering to their neighbours. 'I kept this from you for a reason, and now that reason is meaningless when one of our people has been taken by the Wraith.' More chatter ensued. 'I need you to work now because Rodney has an idea on how to save Major Lorne, in order for it to be a success, he needs help.' Elizabeth looked at the scientist who stepped up.
'Here's what we need to do.' He began.
Ninety minutes later…
'We know where the Wraith vessel is, according to Tolasian sources, it is indeed heading to Atlantis.' Teyla breathed heavily. They had been running.
'It'll pass a planet in two hours with a Gate in orbit; we can get to them then.' Ronan added.
'Ronan.' Sheppard said slowly, watching him carefully. The Satedan could be highly unpredictable.
Ronan frowned. Teyla frowned.
'Astra took off when we were talking about what we could do, she took down Zalenka and Pierce, dialled the Gate.' He informed.
Ronan stormed up the stairs. 'We can still head her off; the Wraith won't be there for a little while. I can find her.' He went to the DHD interface and began pushing the coordinates of the planet Astra had travelled to.
'Ronan stop!' Elizabeth ran into the control room with Rodney in tow.
Ronan looked up ate her and frowned. 'If the Wraith get their hands on her, that's it!' He yelled.
'I know.' She said softly. 'Just wait a second.'
'Why?' he snarled. He had to go now, he had to find her.
'Because you need to hear my brilliant plan which will make everything all shiny and good again.' Rodney beamed.
Ronan narrowed his eyes, but listened.
'We do need to head her off at the planet, but we just need twenty minutes to finish it, and then we can save her and Major Lorne.' Rodney informed.
'It?' Ronan asked.
'We.' Teyla echoed.
Rodney beamed. 'Yeah! The minions have gone back to work; all it took was for the Wraith to kidnap a member of the team!'
'Mckay.' Ronan growled.
'Oh! Right. Follow me.' He led them to his lab.
Thirty minutes later…
'You cannot stop me.' Astra stated, glaring at the team as they approached her.
They had travelled to the planet where the Wraith would soon arrive, and had found Astra walking along the busy streets of the village. She stood in a fighter's stance, preparing to stop them from stopping her.
'We don't want to stop you.' John told her. 'We want to help you.' He paused and stepped forward. 'We want you to get on the ship.'
'We also want you to get off.' Ronan said, grinning at her. She wanted to grin back, but she was not in the mood. They should not be here.
'Explain.' She snarled.
'Well, how about we find a place that's a little more quiet, and maybe with a refreshing beverage?' Rodney suggested, having seen a Tavern just across the path from them.
Astra hesitated before agreeing. They filed into the Tavern and sat at a table in the corner, attracting strange looks from the locals. Ronan sat next to her and noted the stiffness in her shoulders.
'A round of whatever is popular.' Smiled John at the waitress. She smiled back, batting an eyelid at him. Teyla smacked the back of his head and he turned with a sour expression on his face – almost as sour as hers.
'We are now in a quieter environment; explain what you have come here to do.' Astra demanded, looking at them in turn.
'Well, we think you can save Lorne, but it'll be a lot of work on your part, and it may drain a heck of a lot of your strength.' Rodney informed. 'It will also require for you to be wearing these.'
Astra raised her eyebrows at the small objects in front of her.
'I am listening.'
She did listen, and she agreed that this plan had better chances of success than what she had intended to do. The team left, Ronan doing so reluctantly, leaving a lingering kiss on her forehead. She sat at the table with her mead, and waited.
Astra saw the dart over head, saw the people running from the beam. They crashed into her as they were all swept up, and the world went black.