The next morning, Tidus woke up and felt a little better. His arm didn't hurt anymore and his head didn't feel warm either. He looked at his arm and decided to put a long sleeve shirt on. He put the rest of his clothes on and went out to see what everyone was doing. He met a few people along the way and they just stopped to say hi. He said hi to them and went on his way. He's been feeling excited in meeting his parents again after a long time without them. He walked into the Gateroom and saw some people talking. They stopped when he walked in. He felt like an outsider cause everyone was looking at him. He walked up the stairs and saw Sheppard and Carter in her office. He walked over to them and they stood up.

Sheppard smiled and said, "Good morning, Tidus. What can we do for you?"

Tidus looked at them and said, "Is something wrong?"

Sheppard looked at Carter then back at Tidus asking, "What makes you think something's wrong?"

Tidus walks over to the window and says, "Because everyone is looking at me like I'm someone they've never seen."

Tidus turns around to face them asking, "So, I want to know if there is something wrong."

Carter sighed and sat down saying, "We do have a problem...and that is with your parents."

Tidus was surprised and said, "What's wrong?"

Carter sighed again saying, "We lost the signal again."

Tidus was getting irritated at this and said, "WHAT?! How could YOU lose them?"

Sheppard walked over to him saying, "The technology we use doesn't work all the time. We usually have to assume that it's going to work for us."

Tidus glares at them saying, "So, what you're telling me is that you lost my parents...you have NO idea where they are?"

Sheppard and Carter hung their heads.

Tidus looked at the ring and then said, "I can't believe this is happening. I was REALLY looking forward to being with them again...and now...you've made me lose my chance."

Sheppard looked at him saying, "HEY! It's not OUR fault...it just happens. We can't do anything about that. You just have to be patient. We'll get them back."

Tidus glared at him and said, "I would prefer if you can get them before I DIE!" As he says that he slams his fist down on Carter's desk. They both jump from what they just witnessed. They've never seen him like this. He holds his right arm as he grits his teeth. The pain is unbearable.

Carter looks at him then at Sheppard and walks over to Tidus saying, "Does your arm hurt? Why don't you go down to the Infirmary."

Tidus looks up at her and says, "Forget it. I'm fine."

Tidus walks out of the room still holding his right arm. They watch him as he walks out. They feel defeated cause they can't seem to get this right. Just then Sheppard looks on the floor and notices something black. It looks like a puddle of black ink. Both him and Carter look at it and he touches it.

Sheppard smells it and gags saying, "Whoa. That reeks. I have no idea what this is...but it is where Tidus was standing."

Carter looks on the floor and notices another spot. She looks at Sheppard and says, "We better find out what is going on. This doesn't look normal."

Sheppard nods and goes to get Dr Keller. Carter walks out of the room and into the Gate room.

In the Infirmary..

Sheppard walks into the Infirmary and sees Dr Keller with an injured Ronon. Sheppard rolls his eyes and walks up to the doctor.

Dr Keller smiles at him and finishes patching up Ronon and she says, "Hello, Sheppard. Can I do something for you?"

Sheppard nodded saying, "We are going to need your assistance with Tidus."

Dr Keller was shocked and said, "Tidus? What is going on?"

Sheppard shrugged saying, "I don't know. He's been showing very strange behavior and then both me and Colonel Carter noticed some black ink-like substance on the floor of her office. We would like you to examine Tidus."

Dr Keller nodded saying, "Sure thing." She looks over at Ronon and says, "The next time you stick fight with anyone...try not to get hurt."

Ronon just smiles at her.

Dr Keller gets her medical bag and follows Sheppard out of the Infirmary.

In the Gateroom...

Tidus was in the Gateroom talking to some people and staring at the Gate. His mind was a jumble mess between missing his parents and the severe pain in his arm. He didn't realize that the talking stopped. He looked at the person and they backed away. He looked to his left and saw Sheppard, Carter, Ronon and Dr Keller. She had her bag with her.

Tidus looked at them and said, "Going through the Gate?"

Dr Keller looked at him and said, "We aren't going to hurt you...we just want to examine you."

Tidus was confused and felt the stinging pain in his arm again and then realized what she meant. He moved backwards and looked around for something to use. He couldn't find anything. He figured he'll have to fight them hand-to-hand. He lunges at them only to get grabbed by Ronon and this time he's not letting go. He pulls him down to the floor and holds him down. Dr Keller runs over with scissors and starts to cut his sleeve. He's busy struggling and screaming.

Tidus struggles saying, "GET OFF ME!!! LET ME GO!!!"

Dr Keller was able to get the sleeve off and everyone gasps and backs away. Even Ronon gets up and backs away wiping his hands on his pants. Everyone in the whole Gateroom stops and stares at Tidus. Tidus holds his right arm and black puss is rolling down his arm. The black spot has become bigger and has engulfed his whole arm up to the elbow. He slides backwards and his back hits the wall. He sits there and tears start to roll down his cheeks. He grabs his head and starts to scream the pain in his head is unbearable. After a few minutes of screaming and the pain he collapses and is unconscious.

Dr Keller runs up to him but Rodney stops her, "Wait. We need to make sure there is no radiation." He grabs a little machine and scans Tidus...and finds out there is no radiation. Dr Keller calls for her aides to come and help her get Tidus to the Infirmary. When they get him to the Infirmary bed they strap him down and continue to clean his arm. It takes a while to clean and sterolize his arm. At least the puss stopped coming out. They decide to wait and see what happens.

Later that night, Tidus opened his eyes and looked around the room. He realized that he's in the Infirmary but doesn't remember why. He tries to get up only to see that he's strapped down. Now, he's really confused. He struggles and wiggles but it is of no use. The sound of his struggling brought Dr Keller to his side.

Dr Keller looks at him and says, "You gave us quite a scare there. How are you feeling?"

Tidus looked at her and said, "I feel fine...why am I strapped down?"

Dr Keller sat in the chair and said, "You don't remember?"

Tidus sighed and said, "No. I don't."

Dr Keller looked at his arm and said, "So, can you tell me about this?"

Tidus looked at his arm then back at her and said, "What is there to tell?...I'm dying."

Dr Keller jumped up and said, "Dying? How is that possible? What can we do to help you?"

Tidus looked at her and said, "There is no cure."

Dr Keller rubbed her forehead and said, "There has to be a cure. We just have to figure out what it is. Can you tell me how you got it?"

Tidus shook his head no...he didn't want to tell her the real reason for him contacting it.

Dr Keller sighs and touches her earpiece and calls, Carter and Sheppard to the Infirmary. In a matter of minutes they both are in the Infirmary looking at a very displeased and confused Tidus.

Sheppard looks at him and says, "So, what is going on? What's going on with your arm?"

Tidus shrugs.

Dr Keller says, "He told me it doesn't matter...he's dying."

Carter looks at him and says, "Dying? How?"

Tidus sighs and says, "It doesn't matter. I just am...there is no cure for it."

Carter looks at his arm and says, "How do you know if there is or isn't a cure?"

Tidus sighed and he knows he can't keep his secret for long and he says, "Be--Because...my father...had it."

Sheppard nodded and said, "That's right your father mentioned that he had some kind of poison put in him."

Tidus nodded saying, "It's called Geostigma. The only cure is at my home."

Dr Keller smiled and said, "Well, that's great...we can get someone to bring it back."

Tidus looked at her and said, "They can't. I don't know how to get back home."

Dr Keller's face showed sadness and she said, "That's a shame. What do we do in the meantime?"

Tidus shrugged saying, "I don't know. My father never talks about it. I just remember from memories."

Dr Keller sighed and said, "Does it hurt all the time?"

Tidus shakes his head and says, "Not all the time...just mostly whenever I get upset...then it seems to come out."

Dr Keller nodded saying, "Do you know how long you have left?"

Tidus shrugged saying, "It's hard to pinpoint the exact time. It could happen in a matter of days, weeks or even years. Again I just remember from the memories that my parents told me about."

Dr Keller sighed and said, "I wish there was something we could do for you."

Just then there was an explosion and the whole city shook. They looked around to see what happened. Carter touched her earpiece and spoke.

Carter said, "What is going on up there?"

Rodney said over the earphone, "Wraith are attacking."

Carter and Sheppard looked at each other and ran out of the room. Dr. Keller stayed in the Infirmary with Tidus trying to comfort him.

As Carter and Sheppard neared the operations another hit and the city shook again. They both fell to the floor and got up quickly.

Carter said in her earpiece, "Shield the city!"

Rodney said horrified, "We can't...the shields were damaged. We're sitting ducks."

Carter and Sheppard looked at each other again. Sheppard looked at her and said, "I'm going to sit in the chair and fire some drones at them."

Carter nodded and proceeded to go to the operations. Sheppard ran off towards the chair.

Infirmary...

In the Meantime, Tidus is trying to get Dr Keller to let him out of the restraints.

Tidus complained and said, "Come on...Dr Keller. You have to let me go...I want to help."

Dr Keller sighed and said, "I can't. You might hurt someone or yourself...you aren't helping yourself."

Tidus rolled his eyes and said, "Like this is going to help me...I'm going to sit here and let everyone else be killed...no. I know my father wouldn't do that...so I'm not going to either."

Dr Keller sighed and looked to see if anyone was going to come through the door. She took the restraints off and Tidus sat up.

Operations...

Rodney looked at the screens as he saw Carter walk up to him and said, "We have a problem."

Carter looked at him and said, "What's wrong?"

Rodney turned to look at her and said, "We were scanned. There are Wraith in the city."

Carter looked at the screen and said, "Do we know where they are?"

Infirmary...

Tidus got up off the bed and stood up. He almost fell over but regained his balance. He smiled and said, "See I'm fine...just because I have the Geostigma doesn't mean anything. Besides nothing bad has happened." Boy will he eat his words.

Dr Keller sighed and looked at her watch. She heard another explosion and the infirmary shook. Some debris starting falling down from the ceiling and she covered her head hoping nothing heavy was going to fall on her. Tidus ran up to her and held her arm trying not to let go. A few more explosions and shakes and computer fell off of their tables and crashed to the floor. Some sparks from busted pipes were everywhere. The last shake made both Tidus and Dr Keller lose their balance and fall to the floor. They got back up and tried to go toward the door. They were just a few feet from the door when it opened. She stood there with Tidus and waited to see who it is.

Dr Keller called out, "Is anyone there? Colonel Carter?....Sheppard?....anyone?"

Dr Keller gasped and her eyes went wide...Tidus was behind her and whimpered when he saw it. In walked a faceless Wraith. He aimed his stunner at Dr Keller. She backed up while keeping Tidus behind her. There was another explosion and shake and the faceless Wraith shot Dr Keller with the stunner. She fell to the floor and Tidus was standing there defenseless. He looked around and tried to move away from the Wraith. He started throwing anything that was easy for him to pick up and threw it at the Wraith. It didn't seem to have any effect on him. He didn't realize later that he ended up putting himself in a corner. The Wraith advanced on him and grabbed his arm and half dragged, half pulled Tidus with him. Tidus was busy screaming and punching him to let go...but nothing was happening. His arm started to throb again...perfect timing...the black puss started dripping down his arm and on to the floor making a black trail.

The Wraith was leading him toward the Gateroom. He touched a few buttons on his arm with his free hand and watched as the Gate opened. The blue puddle formed and the Wraith started to drag Tidus toward the Gate. Tidus kept struggling to get free of the hold on his arm. Tidus kept trying to punch the Wraith but his arm was beginning to tire and become more of an unbearable pain. Just as they neared the Gate and the Wraith was going to walk through, Tidus felt the Wraith stop and jerk backwards. He looked at the Wraith with confusion. Then he saw him jerk back again and fall down dead on the floor taking Tidus with him. Tidus struggled trying to get the Wraith's hand off him but even as he's dead he still has a grip on him. He finally felt hands on him and saw Sheppard and Carter breaking the Wraith's grip on his arm. He stood up, groaned and held his arm again...searing pain shooting through his arm. Drops of black puss were forming on the floor.

Carter touched her earpiece and said, "We need medical attention in the Gateroom."

Tidus sighed and said, "Dr Keller was shot."

Sheppard said, "Shot...by who?"

Tidus rubbed his temple and said, "By that thing."

Sheppard looked at the dead Wraith and then at Tidus saying, "How many times did he shoot her?"

Tidus sighed and said, "It was just once."

Sheppard nodded and said, "She'll be alright. She was only stunned."

Tidus nodded saying, "Oh, okay. I didn't know if she was dead...I couldn't get to her."

Carter looked over at operations and said, "Shut the Gate down!"

The Gate's puddle disappeared and everything was quiet. Carter turned to look at him and said, "How did you get out of the restraints?"

Tidus looked to the floor and said, "I asked Dr Keller to free me."

Carter sighed and said, "I'll have to talk to her about that."

Tidus said, "No...please...don't get her in trouble. It was my fault...she didn't want too."

Carter looked at Sheppard and noticed that Sheppard waved his hand as saying don't worry about it. Carter nodded and said to Tidus, "Okay. I won't say anything to her...but you need to help us out whenever you get these attacks from this poison."

Tidus sighed and said, "Well, I can't exactly pinpoint when these attacks will happen. But, I'll try to help you out by not having problems."

Carter smiled and said, "Thank you."

Tidus looked in the hallway and said, "I'm going to the Infirmary and see how Dr Keller is doing."

Sheppard walked over to him and said, "Want me to go with you?"

Tidus shook his head and said, "No, I'm capable in taking myself."

Sheppard's face fell and he sighed saying, "Oh, okay."

As Sheppard was just about to go with Carter he felt a hand on his arm. He looked behind him and it was Tidus.

Tidus said, "I wouldn't mind if you would accompany me though...we could talk along the way."

Sheppard smiled and said, "I think that would be a good idea."

Tidus and Sheppard walked out of the Gateroom and the soldiers walked up and dragged the dead Wraith out of the Gateroom.

Somewhere on a Wraith ship...

Cloud and Tifa are sitting against a wall. Tifa has her head on his shoulder and trying hard to sleep but the floor is cold and uncomfortable. But, she is happy that she has Cloud there. Cloud's eyes are closing but he's trying hard to keep awake. His military training always kept him on par. He wants to make sure he's ready for anything that should step through the cell doors...whether they are friend...or foe. He's going to get his wake up call soon.

Cloud heard someone coming toward them and he woke Tifa up. They both stood up and there in front of them with the cell doors still closed was the Queen. She looked very pissed today. Her 2 bodyguards were standing there like shadows waiting to use their weapons. She was dressed in black. She wore a long black dress with a revealing neckline. Her hair was a pure snowy white...it hung down to her waist with some pulled back at the base of her skull. Her skin had an ashy look and the black outfit made her skin stand out even more. Her eyes were what made people notice her, they were yellow with black slits like a cats. The only ones he remembered that had something like that was Kadaj, Yazoo, Loz and Sephiroth. He hopes that these aren't related to them...but he figures they can't be. These are 2 different worlds. With 2 different enemies.

The Queen opened the doors and stepped inside. She looked at Cloud and then at Tifa. When she spoke they can't help but cringe at her teeth. She said, "You told me that your son is living with the Atlantians. But, I was just informed that my Wraith were destroyed and he wasn't brought through the Gate."

Cloud looked at her and said, "Yeah, he's living with them...they are looking after him for us. I don't know what happened. They are trying to protect their city AND our son."

The Queen walked up closer and said, "Your son is what killed my Wraith. I WANT him."

Tifa said angrily, "Well, you're NOT going to get him!"

The Queen hissed at her. Cloud backed up with Tifa always behind him.

Cloud spoke up and said, "Don't worry about her. My son will not go with your Wraith. He's going to try everything possible to keep his distance."

The Queen hissed again and said, "I'll have to change that."

Just as she said that she hissed to her 2 guards and they rushed in. Cloud was trying to protect Tifa and keep his distance from them...but they proved to be too strong for him...and just when he didn't have his sword with him. One of the Wraith pinned Cloud to the back wall and the other practically dragged Tifa away by the arm.

Tifa screaming, "CLOUD!! HELP ME...CLOUD!!!!"

Cloud could do nothing but watch helplessly as they took her away...all the while she was screaming and struggling. Finally when she was out of sight...the Wraith guard let Cloud go and walked behind the Queen. She stepped outside of the cell and it closed and she smiled.

The Queen said, "If my plan works, your wife will be my helper. Then eventually...you'll be next which will lead up to your son."

Cloud growled at her and said, "You had better not hurt Tifa or Tidus."

The Queen laughed and said, "You can't do anything anyway. Get used to this."

The Queen turned around and walked out leaving Cloud standing there silently and hoping that Tifa will be okay. He now is without his son and his wife. He doesn't know how much longer he can go on. He wished that his friends were here with him. He also wonders how Tidus is doing with the Atlantians. He sure does miss his son. He knows that one day he will be reunited with his son and hopefully with Tifa too.

Back on Atlantis...

Tidus was in the Infirmary sitting on the bed while Dr Keller cleaned and sterilized his arm. She couldn't believe how much puss came out of the poison. Sheppard was standing there watching this whole process. He's surpised as well.

Sheppard was busy watching when Ronon walked in and stood next to him. He smiled at Tidus.

Sheppard looked at him and said, "What's up, Ronon?"

Ronon crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I just figured I'd come down here and see how Dr Keller is doing."

Tidus sighed and looked at his hand.

Ronon then said, "And I wanted to see how Tidus was doing too."

Tidus's head went back up and he looked at Ronon with a surprised look on his face.

Ronon walked over to Tidus and ruffled his hair saying, "What? I can't worry about someone?"

Tidus showed a confused look and said, "I thought you didn't worry about anyone but yourself. Also...I thought you didn't like me."

Ronon sighed and said, "Well, that was before. You have been through a lot more than I ever was. Besides you are living on Atlantis so what better way to get acquainted."

Sheppard spoke, "Acquainted? That's a first."

Ronon looked at Sheppard and shook his head and rolled his eyes.

After Dr Keller patched up Tidus Carter's voice came on the earpiece.

Carter said, "Colonel Sheppard...could you come to the Gateroom...oh and bring Tidus too."

Sheppard looked at Tidus and then at Ronon.

Sheppard said, "Yeah, sure."

Sheppard walked with Tidus and Ronon toward the Gateroom. They have no idea what is going on...Carter wouldn't just ask them to come to the Gateroom unless it was someone from Earth or one of their allies. Plus, the other thing that was strange was that she wanted Tidus in the Gateroom as well. The answer to his question will eventually come as they neared the Gateroom. They walked in and saw Carter standing in front of the Gate. She turned and smiled at them. They were a little confused at her smile. She pointed to her left and they all turned their heads to see where she was pointing.

They couldn't believe what they saw. Their faces were showing confusion and surprise all at the same time. They figured it was going to be a long, long time before it happened....

To be continued...