The four were finally on the right floor. They hadn't seen a single living being. This made all of them jumpy and paranoid. They should have seen someone or something. The group had seen so many doors pass, they had lost count and were confused as to where they were. However, Shaun walked with such confidence they couldn't help but follow. Apparently he had reached the correct door, because he stopped suddenly. The others did also. Wen turned her back to them and raised Ronon's gun. Zola turned hers on kill and raised it in her right hand, while still holding the P-90 in her left. Shaun glanced at Dacey and then back at the door before saying, "I think there are Wraith inside but, I can't be sure."

"Does your life-signs detector say so or not?"

Shaun looked guilty and muttered, "No, I hear them talking. The detector can only read energy."

Dacey gave a looked that said she couldn't believe her ears. Shaun quickly brought his hand up, indicating for her to lead. Going back to a serious look, Dacey stepped up to the door. Imediately a Wraith fired at her from inside. The stun blast went above her head as she ducked. Her bullets unloaded into his armor, he was a soldier. The mask on his face flew off as Zola shot him with her borrowed gun from Ronon. The body fell to the floor as another Wraith soldier took his place. The room was elongated and only one could stand in the middle at a time. Bullets whizzed everywhere. Stun blast missed their targets by inches. When a soldier fell, another stepped forward to replace him. After at least a dozen bodies littered the floor, no more came. Dacey tentavely stepped further into the hall. Still staring ahead and ready to fire she said, "Shaun, how much further 'till we reach the core?"

Shaun glanced nervously at his life-signs detector. "It should be straight ahead."

Dacey continued forward. Why had the Wraith only been stationed in this hall? Why had the other halls all been empty? These thoughts whirled in Dacey's head as she scooted forward.

The group shuffled onward. After a few meters, the passage opened into an unusually large room. In the very middle, inside an Ori-made metal circle, floated a huge white ball of light. Wraith skin like material, used to make the hives' walls, covered part of the circle and supported the ball. This was the core. Every member of the team stared in awe for a moment. Dacey was the first to recover, "Shaun, set up the bomb. Zola, Wen, cover him. I want this to be quick. I want to get home in time for dinner."

Zola nodded and moved to the left. Wen simply began to the right, never fully acknowledging what she had heard. Shaun opened the bag at his waist and carefully removed the device. He set it underneath the metal ringing the sphere. Dacey placed her back to him, pointing her gun down the hallway. Behind her, Shaun frantically started opening the naquadah bomb. Zola and Wen paced around the sides of the core.

Shaun swiped his forehead with his sleeve, wiping away sweat. Dacey could feel her skin becoming wet with her own sweat. "Dacey, I'm done setting the bomb. Can we go now?" Shaun said nervously. Dacey never moved or wavered but replied, "Alright, find the quickest way out of here. We need to bug out before the Wraith discover we killed their poor foot soldiers."

Shaun grabbed his life-signs detector and pressed on the screen a few times. "Oh no. We are totally screwed." He looked up. The others registered his alarm.

Zola spoke before Dacey could, "Well, what is it? I hate guessing."

"A squad of twenty Wraith are at the only door out of the room. There isn't another way out." Dacey frowned as it sunk in. Wen didn't utter a sound but, her face became more stony. Zola's eyes betrayed her despair.

Dacey squared her shoulders and concluded, "We will have to fight our way. Atlantis and Earth are counting on us. Shaun, give Wen the bomb detonator. She can withstand the most stun gun shots. Wen, no matter what, destroy this ship."

Shaun handed Wen the detonator. Wen took it roughly and nodded at Dacey. Her gravelly voice said, "I will. Don't let it come to that."

Dacey stepped back down the hall. Shaun brought his P-90 up and trudged behind, followed by Wen and Zola. The door automatically opened when the few came within range. Dacey opened fired as the two panels split to reveal Wraith standing in a semicircle. Her bullets buried into their armor and the soldiers fell one by one. Stun blasts headed towards Dacey. She dodged many but, finally, one clipped her in the chest. Dacey fell into a leaning position against the wall of the hall. Shaun looked at Dacey in horror. He closed his eyes and began firing blindly. A stun blast from a Wraith in the back of the semicircle hit Shaun in the shoulder. He crumpled on top of Dacey. Zola opened fire and kneeled. Wen shot above her head. When most of the Wraith had fallen, the rest retreated. Zola and Wen grabbed Dacey and Shaun and hauled them into the hall. Wen turned the corner and aimed her gun where the Wraith should have been. They were too fast though and were already gone. She hissed and looked down at the two crumpled bodies. Zola stood about a foot away, standing with her hands up and facing the direction behind Wen. Panic was plain on her face. Puzzled, Wen slowly turned to look in that direction. Five Wraith soldiers had their guns pointed at Zola and Wen. The group parted to reveal a Wraith Queen. She had white hair and wore a red dress. It had sleeves that came to points on her hands. The bottom edge had small iron-looking spikes pointing to the floor, hiding her shoes. The dress was a V neck and the V came down quite far. Shoulder pads with rather large spikes accented the hem. A belt of metal encircled her waist. It held one simple stunner.

Her skin was pale and few tattoos broke the pale surface. She inclined her head and hissed, "How dare you come here! This was your suicides. You insult me by believing a simple team of humans could destroy my ship. For that you will pay." The Queen cocked her head to the right and ordered, "Stun them and put them in a holding cell until I choose to feed."

Wen raised her weapon to quickly fire but, alas she was too slow. Three stun blasts hit her and two hit Zola. Zola fell onto the floor. Wen went to her knees. With her last bit of difience, she pulled out the detonator and set off the bomb. Lights flickered and the Queen screamed in frustration. The Queen yelled, "Go see the damage done and restore the engine. We will destroy Earth!" With that, she stomped off down the hall. A soldier picked up a person each. The last went towards the engine room. Wen's soldier was behind Zola's and last. Regaining some hope, she elbowed the guy and fired his own stunner at him. Zola's soldier dropped her and turned to fire. Wen got him first and prepared to fire on the others. However, the remaining two slung Shaun and Dacey over their shoulders and sprinted around the corner to the right. Wen debated and decided. She leaned down and pulled Zola over her own shoulder. Wen began heading towards the rings. She put the stunner in her holster and pulled Ronon's gun. Next, she took Zola's gun she had borrowed from Ronon. Pointing both in front of her, she started to the rings.

In the ring room, Wen laid Zola in the center of the ring. She went to the panel on the wall and pressed a few buttons. Wen limped to the center of the ring. After a few seconds, the rings activated and enveloped the duo in white light.