Believe me when I saw that for the next thousand years I was NOT pleasant. I was short tempered and easily provoked. The only person who get near me without having to fear for his life was my Wraith. After eight thousands years he had grown use to Alex and had cared about him even through the jokes Alex had said to bait him. He was the only person I didn't need to act around and play the tough role as the only vampire in the entire galaxy, with him I could curl up and cry my eyes out.
At least, until he had left for some super secret mission. I remember watching his dart take off and knowing that it would head for the portal on the planets surface. I also remember being summoned to the Queen, at least she was sort of kind when she told me that he had missed the last five check-ins. They would continue the search but doubted they would find him... alive.
After that I decided to leave the hive and the Queen granted my request. She couldn't admit it but I heard the sadness at losing the two of us. I was allowed transport to the surface of a planet with a portal so as to go where I pleased, I watched the dart disappear before turning around and dialing on of the many addresses that I had learned in ten thousand years.
I would set up camp in the villages that I came to but I wouldn't stay long before going some place else. Presently, I'm on a planet called Athos and this is the hundred thirty seventh planet that I've come to.
The village that I am in right now is a hunting camp really, not even a village. Their tents are truly attractive and the people are very nice, though it took some time for the leader a woman named Teyla to warm up to me. I am still a little more Wraith-like than most humans are comfortable with, ten thousand years is a long time.
Right now, I find myself cleansing the buckets that are used to carry water from the nearby river and apparently great entertainment for the children because they were just watching me. Granted I had just arrived two days ago and the only thing I've spoken to them was for them to call me Faith. Other than that I hadn't said a word and the kids were bubbling with questions but their parents had told them to leave me alone.
Fifteen years have past since I left and I don't hunt humans anymore seeing as they usually surround me now a days. The days on this planet are very short and only last about six hours before night falls.
I look up to see the bright sun rising over the tree tops, it really is a lovely sight though I show no sign of enjoying myself. I place the last clean bucket next to the rock I am sitting on and rest my elbows on my knees as I watch the Athosians start their day.
I spy Teyla coming out of her tent, her long bronze hair shining as the sun hit it and her mocha skin blazing in contrast. She surveys the camp and her people before she notices me watching her. I move on.
A mountain of a man, Halling, and his kid son, Jinto, are heading down the main trail into the forest with one of the buckets that I cleaned last night to fetch water for this mornings breakfast. Halling's wife had been culled during the last Wraith visit five years ago, Jinto is six.
I sigh as I think of the Wraith, if they stick to the schedule they will have gone into hibernation soon after I left. I drop my eyes to my still wet hands and wonder how long I should stay here. There are many in this camp, Teyla included, who possess the ability to sense the Wraith. Now, even though I'm only a vampire I have found many starring at me and I've discovered that many of them had this ability.
Life is just getting to complicated.
Taking a deep breathe I hold it for a moment before letting it go in a huff. Standing, I wonder into my tent behind me. This is nothing unexpected to anyone watching, I usually do what I need doing during the night and retreat inside while everyone is out and about. Slowly, I lower myself onto my bedroll and close my eyes as the sun finally peaks over the trees and illuminates everything.
" Jinto!" Halling's deep voice jerks me awake, " Jinto! Where are you?"
I sigh, this is the third time since my arrival that that... child, has disappeared into the night. Sitting up I peer out the opening to my tent, the black night is rather comforting to me and I step out into the cool night air.
" Faith! Have you seen my son?" Halling approaches me with a worried expression, for his son not for coming near me. He is one of the few who have welcomed with no mixed feeling whats so ever, I admired him for that.
" Sorry, Halling, I just woke up. But I'd be glad to help you search." I knew it wasn't his fault that Jinto went into the dark, usually with his friend, without telling anyone where.
Halling thanked me for my help and we headed into the night ready to search through the dark forest for the confused the brat. I now know why parents on Earth invented beatings, I would never suggest that to Halling for I knew he was doing his best given the circumstances.
We were almost to the portal, everyone else called it the Ancestral Ring, when I heard a small startled gasp followed by a surprised squeak. I quickly inspected the area around the portal only to discover twelve new comers with Jinto and his friend.
" Halling, I think someone else found your son. By the Ring." Halling took off through the trees in a hurry to get to his son.
I beat him there but didn't show myself and hid so Halling did not see me either. I survey the large group, Jinto looks scared and his friend has a rather poorly made mask of a Wraith on which he slides off. The people who surround them are human and wear dark combat uniforms and gear.
What really attracts my attention is their weapons, they are more advanced then most that I have seen for humans (the Wraith don't like having food who can fight back, go figure). Before I can consider this further Halling blasts through the trees and stops in front of the kids, " Please, don't hurt them. They were just playing." one of the men lowers his weapon, black and shiny, before anyone else does.
" Are you here to trade..." he leaves it open to get a name, I'm more than curious as to what it is too.
" Major John Sheppard." he didn't say anything out of the ordinary, though I detected a slight note of carefree sarcasm.
" Halling."
Major Sheppard looked confused, " I don't know what that means." I nearly burst out laughing.
A gray haired, hard looking man came up, " That's his name."
" Oh, Halling, nice to meet you."
Halling nods and turns to his son and tells him for the tenth time not to wonder into the forest after dark. He looks at the new comers on last time before saying, " Teyla will wish to meet you. Come."
I choose this time to make my appearance and I step into the clearing the portal rests in. Five of the dark clad men raise their weapons in my direction but soon lower them as I stop next to Halling. I glance at them each in turn before looking at Halling.
He nods to me and turns around towards the path that will lead to the camp, I hear the footsteps of the men following and watch as the boys fall behind to talk to Sheppard.
" What are those thing on your head?" I look behind me to see Sheppard pulling something black off his head.
" Help you see in the dark, check it out." he hands the black object to Jinto who looks through them, " Wow!"
" Let me see, Jinto." his friend reaches for his turn and pulls them to his eyes, " Wow, can I have them?"
Sheppard grins, " Afraid not," he takes the goggles back and glances at the mask in the boy's hand, " what's the deal with that?" he asks as he motions towards it.
The boy looks at the mask, " This? Wraith." he says the name so matter of factly.
Sheppard pulls his eyebrows together, " Wraith, huh? What that?"
Jinto and his friend stare in shock, " You don't know what the Wraith are? What planet are you from?"
Sheppard hesitate for a second before grinning, " I'm from a planet far, far away."
" Cool, can we go there?"
" Fraid not."
Nonchalantly, I change my pace so that I'm walking behind the gray-haired, hard faced man as a young black man starts talking to him.
" Excuse me, sir, but I noticed that you have a problem with the Major. Mind if I ask why?"
" I don't have a problem with him, it's his record. I don't like anyone who can't follow protocol."
The young man glances over his shoulder at Sheppard, " Yes, sir."
I didn't know these people, and at this point I am only assuming that they're from earth, but I wanted to defend Major Sheppard from the hard faced man. Over the years that I've lived among humans I have had to control myself, especially when I get angry. Which means no growling and hissing or flashing my fangs at people I don't like. So I was a little taken aback when my fangs were drawn out without any conscious decision making on my part. I will have to watch myself, if I'm not careful I'll be the cause of my social demise.
Our group turns a bend in the path and I see the entrance to the camp. As we enter I break off and stand in front of my tent as I watch the outsiders approach Teyla's tent. Jinto and Halling enter with them, and realize that I am not the only one that is watching.
Three minutes pass before Hard Face comes out followed by all except Sheppard and the young black man. Hard Face scans the village, a little surprised that they are all hard at work even though the sky is still black, before he sees me watching him. I wonder if this man has ever smiled in his life. He stares at me like he's waiting for me to suddenly be ashamed of spying on him and turn my gaze away, but I stand my ground. I've dealt with far worse than you. Apparently coming to the realization that I'm not backing down, he turns around and starts giving orders to the men with him. By now, Sheppard and the young man (who Hard Face addresses as Lt. Ford) have joined also. The young Lt. Ford was told to guard the Gate, must be another name for the portal. The rest of them were to find out if these people would be willing to take of refugees.
Humans in dark uniforms scatter at his order, except Sheppard. He just sort of leans back on his heels before ambling around the camp, studying the people as they prepare for the day. So far, I like him. He's easy going and takes pleasure in infuriating his commanding officer, we'd get along great. I set down on the rock that still has clean buckets resting next to it and watch them like they are an enjoyable television show.
The Major, in his random amblings, was only a few feet from me now when he looks up. He grins a little when he sees me watching him, " Hello."
" Hi."
" Nice place you got here." small talk is not his thing.
I laugh as I glance at my one person, ratty old tent, " Ya, you can have it if you think it's so nice."
His grin falters, " No, thanks."
I smile, " That's what I thought. Just being polite to a young woman who has nothing."
" I wasn't just being polite, and my comment was not actually aimed at the tent. I like the people who live here." he says it like it was obvious the whole time.
I nod my head, " Ya, I kinda like the people here, too."
Sheppard notices the tone in my voice, " Your not with them, are you?"
My lip twitches, " No, I'm not. Just a random person passing through."
" Alone?" he sounded surprised.
" Yes, alone."
" Where's your family?"
My mild races for a good story, trying to think of a good reason for traveling alone, " They were culled when I was very young. The only reason I wasn't is because I was exploring some nearby caves. Ironically, I wasn't even suppose to be there, it was forbidden because they were prone to cave-ins."
" Culled?"
" That's right. Your precious planet doesn't have Wraith so you wouldn't know." I said it like any jealous kid who wished for something would.
" What exactly are these Wraith that everyone seems to know about?" the curiosity in his voice somewhat amused me. But I couldn't tell him anything that would cause suspicion, so I lied.
" I don't really know that much, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because of it. All I know is that every few centuries the Wraith go around the galaxy culling worlds and those that are taken never come back. My parents didn't tell me what happened to them, maybe to keep me from living in fear. I don't know." I wasn't at all pleased that I was this good at lying. It rather irked me.
Sheppard excepted my story. He looks around and his eyes narrow, I look up too and see the sky lightening up. Day was approaching and everyone would really start working hard. But the Major's gaze wasn't on the sky or the people, it was in the distance on the other side of the river.
Following his gaze, I see a shape through the usual fog. The Old City of Teyla's people. I turn back to Sheppard, " I wouldn't if I were you. These people believe that if you venture into the Old City, that the Wraith will come. There is some skepticism as there always is with myths, but there has to be a reason why no one has tested it in so long."
He nods to signal that he heard me before looking around and seeing Hard Face studying the same thing. Without another word he heads in that direction leaving me sitting on my rock. I shake my head as Hard Face starts toward Teyla's tent, Sheppard glances at me before following.
He had potential.
I am not surprised to see Hard Face and a small group of men move in the direction of the foggy river, idiots. I know Teyla would have given them the same warning that I gave the Major, they couldn't be from earth, they were to stupid. The breaks over the trees and brings everything into sharp focus even with the fog. I see a flash of bronze and turn to see Teyla leading Sheppard into the forest. Curious.
Wondering what they are doing, they I get up and run into the forest after them. The temperature drops at least ten degrees under the tree canopy and I lift my face as the cool air greets me. This really is a nice planet, not to hot and certainly not to cold. Just right. I smile to myself as I head in the direction of Sheppard's voice a few yards a head of me. I make sure that neither of them sees or hears me following, that would be all that I need, Teyla getting more suspicious about me.
I watch as Teyla gracefully jumps down from a steep mound of dirt and resist the urge to laugh as Sheppard slips and falls down while trying to make it look like he meant it the whole time. I follow behind just within hearing distance of their voices, on the journey they talk about many different things. Nothing of real interest to me, families, likes and dislikes.
About four hours into the trek, Teyla leads the Major into a cavern. Light appears inside before diminishing around a corner.
Intrigued, I know that I can't follow them in but maybe if I casually appear at the entrance and act all surprised to find them here too it won't seem to odd. Quietly, I walk to the entrance and lean my back on the outside, partially hiding but still visible. I hear the mumbling of their voices just inside. Ten and a half minutes passed before I saw the bright light of a flashlight coming my way.
Teyla exits first, a round metal pendant that I have never seen her wear around her neck. Automatically I reach up to feel the metal flower under my shirt that Alex had meant to give me. The movement of this alerted Teyla and her head snapped towards me, by this time Sheppard had appeared as well.
" Fancy bumping into you here." I say while looking into the forest.
" Were you following us?" the accusation in her voice would have once caused a low hiss, now I just stiffen against the stone. They've tamed me. Without even realizing it, these humans have tamed me!
My sigh maybe was a little to forceful, but I was beyond irksome now. Taming a vampire, who would have thought of such a thing.
" Me? Following you? Do I honestly look that frivolous to you?" my voice had an edge to it, but it could have easily been connected to annoyance.
" What are you doing out here then?"
" Non of your business what I decide to do with my time. If I want to go for a nice long walk I will."
She couldn't say anything to my reasoning and turned to leave. Sheppard eyed me for a second, " You coming?"
I smiled, not just at his question but at the flare of resentment I got from Teyla, anything to bug her.
" Thank you, Major, that is a kind offer." my smile widens as he thinks over my words, before he can say anything I walk past him humming to myself.
I glared up as the sky darkened and the forest became pitch black. From behind me I hear a soft click and light sudden floods the surrounding area. Prepared, I'll give them that much.
No one said anything as we walk back through the dark trees. My mind is swirling with questions that I don't know if I can ask, how far would I be able to go until I passed the I'm-Just-Curious line? I didn't notice the familiar buzz in the distance until Teyla stopped in front of me and I nearly walked into her. Sheppard had been paying attention at least and didn't have trouble.
Teyla lifts her head as she catches the faint hum of the darts.
" What is it?" Sheppard asks as the sound reaches his ears.
" Wraith!" without a backwards glance she starts running along the path that we had been following. Sheppard starts after her only to pause and look behind him, I know that I should be playing the panic-stricken human but I couldn't find it in me as he watched me.
Confusion clouded his thoughts before he turned around and ran after Teyla. I glance up and see a dart through the trees, the buzzing of the little ships all to natural to my senses. A sound like gun fire grabs my attention and I race after the Major and Teyla.
" The Wraith can make you see things. They are not really there." I see Teyla walk through an allusion that I've seen before, like a mix between smoke and a ghost-like image. Sheppard must have over reacted to the images and fired at nothing. My lips tugged at the corner at the memory of once helping make those images more... realistic.
Teyla whirled around and the Major followed, this time so did I. There is a small clearing ahead where the path is completely unprotected.
This can't end well.
Sure enough, as soon as we run into the clearing I see a dart appear above us and activate that blue/white beam. Sheppard saw the glow of the beam and veered off the path but Teyla didn't and I hurry to shove her out of the way. I wrap my arms around her just as the beam over take us and everything vanishes.