Hello my loyal readers, sorry i have not posted for soooo loooong. It's hard being in collage at fifteen but neat! Anyways, continue to watch Stargate: Atlantis on the sifi channel weekdays at 5pm central time and 8 and 9pm central time on Fridays. I should post sometime between Friday and Sunday, so new chapters coming soon!
Reading Key:
Thoughts in Bold. Quotes in Italics. Everything else is normal.
Broken Paradise
Dear Journal
The next few days passed in relative quiet, well, extreme quiet for me. It's kind of nice. I began to walk with Michael's help. And by the fifth day I was walking on my own. Then on the tenth day since the crash Michael went out for another walk…
I am up and checking on the progress of the eggs we had candled days ago. Michael said they should hatch any day now. He freed me from my cast just yesterday. I like having Michael around me. It feels like we have known each other forever; not just for a few days. He is always worrying about me as he watches after me; something which none of my potential mates have exhibited. He is extremely intelligent, even helping me on my theory. I'm not looking forward to going back to my ship with out him, but I have to go soon and he must stay here and continue his research.
But there are one or two things about him. He never talks about his past or of any family or friends. And then he does not even know his queen's name. Every wraith should know the name of the queen they work under. It just seems a little suspicious.
Just then Michael comes in breathing hard. "Pack up we're leaving." He manages to say.
"What? Why?" I ask confused
"No time for questions." He growls grabbing my hand.
"Michael, tell me or I'm not moving." I hiss back wrenching my hand from his grasp.
"Alright," he huffs, "The Atlanteans are attacking us and if the find us they will capture us and harm us. Get the idea?"
"Let's go." I say smiling. I quickly race down the hallway and begin shoving things into a bag. Within thirty minutes, I'm ready. "Alright, now what?" I ask.
"Put this on." He says handing me a strange device.
"What is it?" I ask wondering if the odd, green square-shaped device is safe.
"A personal shield device I invented." He says putting one on himself. I quickly put it on. "Grab your bag, let's go." He says taking my hand. We race to the star-portal in the middle of a group of Super-wraith. When we get to the star-portal though, it is only us and two guards. Michael jumps in front of me protectively as projectiles fly at us.
Michael actives the portal, but by the time our group makes it up to the gate only Michael and I are left. "When you get to the other side go near the dialing device." He tells me mentally as he pushes me through. I hit the grassy ground on the other side. When I get up I head over to the dialing device. Michael pops through and throws himself on top of me. I hear a loud bang and feel the heat of a blast. Michael pulls me up and limps over to the dialing device and quickly dials. He breathes a sigh of relief.
"Michael, you're hurt." I say shaking from shock.
"Not bad." He growls, "Com'on." He says leading me through the portal. We go through five other portals before finally reaching our destination. Once there, we both collapse breathing deep, fast breaths slowly recovering from the exciting events.
When I recover, I walk over to Michael who is still on the ground. "Are you alright?" I ask concerned.
"Not really" he vaguely replies.
"May I look?" I ask smiling with amusement at our roll reversal. With out answering he rolls over. There is a twisted piece of metal shrapnel in his lower back. "Do you have a base on this planet?" He nods. "Can you take me there?" I say helping him up. He makes the wising noise to call his creatures nodding. Within a minute, one of the creatures responds. Michael then points me in the right direction.
Within thirty minutes, we are at Michael's base. I help him up on a table and to remove his trench coat and shirt. The wound did not look life treating. I grabbed a cloth and wrapped it around the metal. "Feel free to yell as much as you wish. I won't mind." I tell him. I grab the metal and put as hard as I can. He growls. Finally, when I think I can't pull anymore, it comes out sending me across the room. "Where do you keep your medicinal supplies?" I ask wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
"In that cabinet over there." He says pointing to a rough shaped wooden box. In it I find alcohol and bandage supplies.
"This might sting a little" I tell him put some of the alcohol on the wound and bandaging it. He sits up and turns to face me.
"Thank you I feel much better. I never knew a Queen would have the guts to do something like that." he teases me.
"I am not ordinary queen," I smile back, "Michael, what happen back there?"
"Just changing bases, it is something I do on a regular basis." He responses avoiding my question.
"Changing bases hum, with projectiles flying at us!" I his at him hands on my hips. I add a little snarl at the end for emphasis.
Michael snarls back starling me. I back away surprised. "Sorry," he says, "It's just…just hard to explain." He glances up at me his eyes softening. "I startled you. I'm sorry Matia it wasn't my place. I should never threaten a female. I'll explain what happened." He says regretfully. "The Atlanteans are afraid of the creatures I have created. Therefore they attack me. Unfortunately I believe they misstated your ship for one of mine and shot it down."
"It wasn't your fault, Michael you could have never know this would happen. But, Michael I need to go back to my ship soon." I try to console him coming closer and showing that I'm not upset.
"I understand." He says eyes cast down ward.
"But I would like you to come with me." I say smiling expecting a quickly yes.
"No." he says firmly.
I jump shocked. "Michael… why not?"
"Because- just because." He stands up turning his back to me. I walk up behind him wrapping my arms around his waist and placing my chin on his right shoulder. "Don't charm me." He growls walking out from under me.
"I'm not." I protest, "Michael I-I want to get to know you better. That's why I want you on my ship, not to mention the invaluable scientific knowledge you can offer."
He faces me. "You want to get to know me?" he asks cautiously
"Yes." I say rubbing my cheek against his in a gesture of affection. He stares at me as if searching for an altered motive.
Finally he looks in my eyes, his own eyes a swirl of emotions and asks, "What is it about me you like?"
"You are kind, intelligent, strong, you will protect me over yourself, and you're just different from all the others. I like that about you." I say stroking the side of his face with my hand smiling.
"You like my difference?" he says looking down.
"Oh yes, you do not know this but, I have been searching for a mate for years. For the first time, I have a candidate." I rub his cheek again. He freezes for a moment then responds and wraps his arms around my waist. We pull apart and stare into one another's eyes.
"I'm tied." I say breaking the silence blushing.
"Take my bed." He says graciously.
"You need it more than I." I answer his kind gesture.
"No, I insist." He says.
"Alright." I say sitting on the bed. We are silent for a few moments lost in our thoughts. "Michael, what's your story?" I ask interested.
"My story?" he asks.
"Yes, what's your past? I've been with you for almost two weeks and you never talk about it."
"That is because I don't want to." He says turn his face away from me.
"Why not?" I ask suddenly curious.
"It's complicated." He growls.
"I didn't mean to upset you." I say quietly lowering my head as a sign of regret and respect.
"I know," he says sitting on the other side of the bed, "What of you? What's your story?"
"I come from a long line of queens dating back to the Great War. We have been the ruling family--."
He interrupts me, "You mean you're the ruling queen?"
"Yes, you did not know?" I as surprised. I figured everyone from my second in command to the lowest of the low knew that I was ruling queen, easily distinguished by my unique, crimson hair.
"No, my queen." " He says bow his head to me.
"Please," I growl rolling my eyes, "Act like you don't know again."
"Ok," Michael laughs, "Your wish is my command."
"Anyways, my life has been fairly boring up until six years ago, when mother died."
"I'm sorry. If you don't mind my asking, how?"
"She was killed by the Atlantean called Sheppard. When that happened, I had to become queen quickly at the age of seventeen. I seemed to have failed." I sigh.
"Failed? Why do you think this?" he asks.
"The Civil War, a more experienced queen could have avoided it." I say. My youth is still my fatal flaw.
"I doubt that. It would have happen eventually anyways. Just the early awaking triggered it early."
"Perhaps. But the war is almost over." I answer, "You sound like someone else I know, she says the same thing."
"Then take it to heart. The fact the war is over tests to your ability. What is happing, with the war I mean?"
"All but ten of the two hundred and fifty six queens have accepted me as ruling queen. The others objections are that I'm to young, and too small to have children or at lest a sufficient number, and I don't have a mate." I sigh. Sometimes I cannot understand "normal" females with my highly intelligent mind.
"Well, you'll grow out of being young and small. You have not reached your full height, right?" He asks
"I do not believe so... That's my point but they do not think logically." I say just now noticing that I have been holding my pendant.
"And your necklace, is it important to you?" asks Michael motioning to the crystal.
"Oh yes, I'm so happy to have it back. It has been in my family since the Great War. Every queen since then has worn it." I say so happy to have it.
"Does it have power?" he asks.
"My mother told me it does but that only one predestined queen can discover it and use it at the greatest need." Of coarse I know more than I say.
"Have you tried to figure out its power?" Michael asks.
"Oh no, I would never try especially at this time." Again I lie but it is for both our goods.
"Why not?" He asks curiosity flitting in his cat eyes.
"Now, I do not want to discuss that." I say using my authority.
"We both have our secrets do we not?" Says Michael smiling queerly.
"Yes," I say resting my head on his shoulder, "But in time I hope we will have fewer or none." In a few minutes Michael stands up and leaves saying, "I'll leave you to rest." I lie down and sleep peacefully.
It is now the twelfth day since the crash; I need to return to my duties. I know it, but I do not want to. I have already lingered longer than I should have, but I dread the starch truth of returning to a life of constant drudgery. For now that is how I view my life especially without Michael, for we have grown surprisingly close in such a short time.
Michael is so free! True he does not live the easiest of lives but he is free to do as he chooses. Then, I'm reminded of the words of my mother, "Matia, you are the one. You will lead our people though your reign will be fraught with trouble. That is why you were born with intelligence and pose. A queen's job is to rule her people fairly and protect them even at the expense of her own life." I had been a small child when theses words were spoken to me but they were engraved on my heart and held the key to my life.
Yes, I will have to leave today. I am bound to my duties and have neglected them to long. I gather my things and prepare to leave quietly. Michael comes in with a happy expression on his face hold a new-born creature in his hand.
His countenance falls when he sees I am prepareing to leave. "Leaving?" he asks rhetorically not bothering to met my gaze.
"Yes, I have to return to my duties. I have lingered too long already." I say with the authority of the queen I am, but in a softer tone I add, "It's not too late, Michael you could still come with me."
"I thought you would like to see the finished product of your work, my queen." He says handing me the tiny creature, "It and three of its siblings are females. You may keep her and one of her brothers."
"Thank you." I say wanting to say more but not knowing what to say.
"I will meet you at the star-portal with them, my queen. It has been an honor serving you." He says bowing.
I nod my head curtly in response then walk to the star-portal slowly memorizing every step. When I arrive, Michael is waiting with a small bag contain the tiny creatures. I dial the address of a planet I have been to many times, Calina. The portal opens with a whoosh. Michael hands me the bag and I head the last few feet towards the shimmering portal. I do not want to step trough. "Michael," I say. He glances up at me. I quickly stare back at the portal and step through.
On the other side I rapidly walk through a field of wild flowers head towards the main building where I know my long time friend and mentor, Kelata will be. Calina is a planet occupied by many of my people mostly females who refuse the life of a queen or have some disable or are there to train the younger ones. This is a place of rest. Many come here to have there children or to receive advise. I have come here because I will be able to contact my ship.
When I near the complex a group of threes girls comes out to greet me. "Welcome, sister, here you will find rest and wisdom-." Suddenly they stopped the greeting, and ran back to tell the others that I was alive. I'm sure news of my death has circulated through the community.
Kelata came out to meet me with a smile, "Matia, it has been a long time since I have seen you. I'm glad you are alive. Word has gotten around about you being missing possibly killed."
"It is good to see you to Kelata. How have things been in my absence?" I ask concerned that the fragile balance of the wraith hierarchy may have been upset in my absence.
"Come with me and we will talk." She leads me to a small garden with a flowing stream. "Tell me what happened, child." She says looking at me with her aged eyes
"My ship crashed on a planet where I discovered these creatures," I say taking one of the newborns from the soft mesh bag, "I waited until my wounds healed and then I came back."
"Matia, I know you too well. You have not told me everything. What is it you hide from me?" She says her tone harsher than normal but eyes still gentle.
"There was a male wraith there and he cared for me." I answer not wanting to go into detail about Michael.
"You care for him do you not?" She asks smiling.
"Yes." I answer after a moment lowering my eyes to the ground.
"Does he for you?" She inquires, the question going deeper into the subject I wish not to cover.
"I believe so."
"Then why is he not with you?"
"It's complicated. Please I do not wish to discuss it." I say hoping that will be the end of the conversation.
"Matia," she says shaking her head, "Talk to me young one. I see you care deeply for him. Please tell me."
"When he found me he was everything I wanted: kind, gentle, humble, even attractive." I say opening my sketch book, "We got along well. I know I stayed to long and neglected my duties, but it felt so wonderful being with him. When I asked him to come back with me he said no."
"And you let a simple no stop you?" she laughs, "That is not the Matia I know."
"I did not want to force him. He would be unhappy and I would be too." I answer.
"I understand, perhaps you will met again. The fates of many are intertwined; your ship will here in two days." She says leaving me to my thoughts.
I find a room to stay in. I decide to name the little creatures, Calina and Rekel. I enjoy caring for them. They are somewhat like children. That night I let them sleep with me.
In the mourning, I watch a young mother happily rocking her infant as her mate sits beside her. I can easily imagine me holding the infant as Michael watches on. I try in vain to push thoughts of him out of mind. I look forward to my ship coming. Then I can bury my feelings in my work. Emotions are fickle things. After what seems like an eternity my ship arrived.
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