Yet another chapter this weekend, Yeah! I love three day weekends! Anyways, this chapter may answer a few of your questions.
!!SPOILERS!! Do not read unless you have seen Micheal, No Man's Land, and Vengeance. If you have not, go to Youtube and Stargate Atlantis then the episode's name. Most of them are on there.
Just a reminder, the names in Bold means that there has been a change in speaker, and the text beneath it is in that character's POV.
Thoughts
Quotes
Text
The Strangest Conversation
Dear journal,
Ah, what a relief! After yesterday's events, today was wonderful! Here's what happened…
The next morning, I stand in front of the force-shield opening in the bridge watching the blurs of violet and blue rush by as we fly to the next planet where we are to coordinate a culling with one of my rivals as a sign of good faith. I am not thinking about that though. My thoughts drift from Michael's harsh words to what I will do without Thayex on my council. A normal council consists eight members: the queen, second-in-command, chief scientist, chief medical officer, military leader, curator of the feeding grounds, ship adviser, and one elected member. My council, on the other hand, consists of: me, second-in-command as well as millaty leader, chief scientist and medical officer, curator of the feeding grounds, ship adviser and no elect member. Most where my mother's advisor's as well. Sadly, I have not been queen long enough to know who to choose as replacements. Part of the problem is that until I find a mate, I could, in the most general since, choice from any male on the hive. Therefore, corruption is sure to take its toll. Now they may understand why I am escorted by a whit-less drone as apposed to an adapt guard.
I am brought out of my thoughts by a young messenger telling me that someone wishes and audience with me. I smile noticing his hair has yet to change from childhood brown to adult white being somewhere in between. Nodding in reply, I follow him back to the main room of the bridge. It is still early yet so only those necessary man there posts. "Let him in." I tell the messenger sitting in my throne. I just get comfortable when Michael walks in.
"My queen, I--" he stutters noticing that I'm not alone, "May we talk in private?"
"Yes, of course," I say to him then to my guard and crew, "Stay, I will be fine." I walk out in the hallway not stooping for Michael but signaling for him to follow.
I lead him to a small room with a large shield window in it. "We may talk here. No one will hear us." I say turning to him.
"My queen, Matia, I don't know where to began," he says in a low voice head bowed in respect and shame, "What I said yesterday, I was wrong I should never have said it. I was upset, and I know that's no excuse. Please disregard what I said yesterday and punish me any way you see fit." He looks up at me as a child would who has done something very wrong."
"Michael, I forgive you for what you said. I know you said it in haste and anger, and I will disregard it as though it never happened. You have no need to be punished. Fear not my wrath." I answer smiling at him and reaching over to touch his shoulder.
"And this," he says taking out my journal, "I had no right to read it. Why did you give it to me?"
"I will answer your question if you answer mine; are you leaving?" I ask.
"No, never." He says as though the thought never crossed his mind.
I smile and answer his question saying, "There are several reasons I gave you this. One has preformed its duty well. The other answers are a bit more complicated. I trust you Michael, more than I have been able to trust anyone in a long time. You earned that trust by caring about me more than yourself a character trait I have looked for years and you are only one of four others I know to have it. The other is to help you to trust me. What I told you over a month ago in that bunker is true. I want to get to know you Michael. Those were my reasons."
"You took such a risk." He says in surprise.
"I take risks everyday some do not turn out as well as others. About yesterday though, Thayex will not harm you again." I say reassuring.
He glances away as if thinking then looks back at me, "I want to tell you something but it will take a long time perhaps it would be better to wait until another time."
"Yes, it would. I am busy until the morning two days from now. Will you meet me here in this room early that morning?" I ask.
He nods and says, "Yes, Matia thank you. I have met many queens but I believe you are here for a reason. Your kindness and grace are unmatched." With that he leaves. I am left holding my amulet with warm cheeks and hope renewed.
I am sitting on a cushion nibbling a red fruit as I wait for Michael. I enjoy this time by myself watching the blur of hyperspace. Mother use to bring me here when I was a small child and couldn't sleep. She would sit me on her lap and tell me stories as I watched the blurs of color rush by. When I was a little older I remember playing here with one of my friends. I remember her dressing her dolls then I would draw them or make a star-portal for them to go through. I also fondly remember the sleep-over I had with two of my friends. How one continually told I and the other about the new dashing scientist who had become her teacher, until we kicked her out of the room where she met a handsome young guard just outside. I miss both of them. Both killed in the fierce civil war.
I am thankful when Michael walks in to pull me from my remembering. He smiles and sits on the cushion across from me. I offer him a fruit.
He takes one rather hesitantly, "I have not had fruit- well I'm not sure I ever have." He laughs nervously.
"I quiet like them, but they are mostly juice." I say trying to break the tension. He is quiet for a while. I respect his silence. Whatever he wishes to talk about it is obviously hard for him.
Finally he sighs and says, "I might as well start talking, but first I need you to promise me something. Don't stop me or ask questions until I'm finished and not to kill me the instant when I finish."
"Alright, I won't stop you or ask questions until your done. And I won't kill you unless you try to kill me." I promise wondering why he would ask such a thing.
"OK," he says taking a deep breath, "Back when I rescued you, you asked me to tell you my story. I did't then but I will now…"
Michael
I nervously wait as the message boy fetches Matia. 'How could I be so stupid?' I ask myself for the hundredth time. I only hope Matia will forgive me. She will see me—that's a good sign. I walk in, but had expected her to be alone. I want to speak to her alone as much for her sake as mine. She guides me down the hallway coldly. 'What have I done? Will I lose her and my only chance at rejoining my kin?' She stares at me as I speak the soft expression gone replaced with a queenly stare. Once I finish I dare to look up. Matia smiles the gentle patience returning to her eyes. 'I can't believe she does not punish me?' She trust me? How long has it been since I heard that? I trust her too. She is different. She shows—shows whatever Telya said only humans show. I wish I could rub that in the Lanteans' faces. I want to tell her my story, but she is preoccupied, so I stall. I need her to listen to me and only me. I can meet with her again. I can not believe my good fortune! A few months ago I wished only for a quick and honorable death, now I may have a chance not only to rejoin my kin but have a mate. Only one in every thousand of my brothers gets chosen to be the queen's life-mate.
The morning has come. Today I will tell Matia my story. I am nervous, very. What will she do? Will see be like the others or will she be different? I know this will seal my fate but by not telling her I could not stay. Once again I curse the Atlanteans. If it wasn't for them I would not have this fiction-like story to tell. Of course the irony is if they had not done this to me I would not have found Matia. She would have died and my people would have lost there great leader. Perhaps I should make that point.
I walk nervously into the meeting room. Matia is sitting on a cushion and there is another for me placed on a fur. She is beautiful as always. She is wearing a beautiful red dress that creates a small pool of fabric around her feet and legs with just the tips of her bare toes showing. Her hair is lose and spills in crimson and tawny waves over her shoulders and down her back blending into her dress. She is eating a small fruit which the Atlanteans call a strawberry. I think it rather curious since she is fully grown, but then I never was in the higher classes of Wraith society. Perhaps this is common among the high ranking, She offers me one. I take it not wanting to seem rude. I slowly bite into it. It is rather sweet with a little bit of tartness. I like it. I'm quiet for a moment trying to think how to start the conversation. I will make her promise to be quiet. That way I can talk and talk and just get it all out. She promises. With a sigh I start my tale. I tell her about my memory loss watching her face all the time. She looks sad and sorry for me. Then I tell her about why I had the memory loss. I watch as she eyes which had been mere slits begin to dilate with amazement. Her mouth opens and closes several times as if trying to ask questions then remembering her oath of silence. I tell her about rejoining the wraith. Her eyes pity me again. I tell her how I assisted the one called Sheppard saving his and many of their peoples' lives. Matia acts strangely when I mention Sheppard. I wonder if she knows of him. I recount how after owning their lives to me the Atlanteans imprisoned me then betrayed my trust. And finally how the wraith rejected me again and how I came to the planet and began my experiments.
Matia
"The rest you already know. I came to seven planets which were my home until you came. That is my story." He finishes. I sit in shock for a minute or so before saying,
"I think I need to cancel my twelve o'clock meeting. I don't where to begin Michael. This is amazing, upsetting and I just—give me a minute."
"I will, but I need to know—will my humanness will that make a difference?" he asks frightened.
"No, no it won't. In fact it helps, but I can not explain that now. I'm sorry." I say still trying to understand everything he has told me. We are silent for several minutes. Finally I say, "You took a big risk telling me this. I'll tell you now that no one else will find out about this. I'll make sure of that. Now I have a lot of questions, is that ok?"
"Thank you for your secrecy. Yes, I can answer your questions." He says.
"First of all, do you remember anything about what it was like to change from wraith to human?" I begin.
"Yes, a little. I remember being strapped to a bed and a doctor giving me an inject. Mostly, I remember the pain. There was constant pain, both times. The humans taunting me. Once I woke up and found my clothes change and my hair cut off. When I began to struggle and demand release my voice had change. Then I was human."
"Wow, I'm so sorry. What did you learn about the City-on-the-Sea?"
"Atlantis? The tallest tower is a control tower with the star portal to earth. I more remember where things are, than anything else. I could do better with a map." He answers my questions so willingly.
"I'll have one brought to you. What of the Atlanteans themselves?" I wonder.
"One thing very interesting. These Atlanteans and our ancient enemies are not one in the same. These people came from earth just as explorers. They knew nothing of our kind. Only some of them can use the enemy's technology and only one or two very easily. They are a curious people. Very good at thinking there way out of a situation with a little luck. The one called McKay is bright but weak he will talk if interrogated. There is a runner among them, named Ronon. A woman named Telya. She is most like us, but her ancestors were experimented on by a wraith scientist. She would be willing to listen to reason, but she can sometimes use our telepathic network to their advantage. Their ruler is a wise woman. She wanted to negotiate with us but Sheppard talked her out of it. Then there is Sheppard. He is smart and rash. He loves his weapon. He is the second in command and uses the enemy's technology the best." He finishes.
"Hard foe." I say looking away remembering how he killed my mother some five years ago.
"Do you know him?" asks Michael.
"It was he who killed my mother, father, and brother. I was little more than a child then, but I remember running to the interrogation room just in time to see him stab mother." I recount.
"I'm sorry. I did not mean to pry."
"No, you did not pry you were about to find out anyways. When you rejoined the wraith, which queen were you under?" I ask. So many of my sisters have died I wish I had known them all.
"I do not know, she never told me her name even though I slept with her. She was young and had markings from her face down to her chest. Very pretty, though I think you more beautiful." He flatters me. He's good at this game.
"You slept with her?" I ask confused and discussed. I would never break my virginity to learn valuable information.
"Yes, she thought I would reveal more information. I'm afraid it wasn't worth her wile since i had already told her everything." He laughs.
"You said you assisted the Atlanteans even at the risk of your own life, but they still would not trust or help you?" I ask happy to get off the previous subject.
"Yes," he sighs, "They would not even talk to me after promising harbor and assistance. They are a very dishonorable people." He growls at the memory.
"How rude. Michael, do you think your memory will ever return?" I ask on a personal note.
"I no longer cling to hope. I tell myself that I cannot remember so nothing lost, but in truth I miss not knowing." He says regretfully.
"I can imagine. Before you came in, I was remembering. I don't know what I would do with out my memories. They help shape who we are."
"I know. I can't help but think I would be some one else. Sometimes I think I would be some one great, but other times I don't want to remember."
"I think you are someone great now... Michael, can you touch this for me?" I say removing my pendant.
"Your pendent? But I thought that was special, for you only?" he says.
"It is. Can just hold it for a minute? Please?" I ask hold it out to him. He slowly reaches out for it taking it slowly and holding it out in the middle of his palm. It slowly begins to glow. I am so excited. I have found him! Michael will be my mate!
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By the way, if you want to see a picture of Matia, go to my Deviant, eragonsaphira3.