Chapter XIV
Over the next couple of days, the Atlanteans spent most of their time preparing for their upcoming mission. Gear was double and triple checked, plans were gone over a third, fourth, and fifth time with each side vetting the other to make sure there would be no surprises this time around, and medicals were done daily on those that had been injured during their last mission to ensure they were physically and emotionally fit to go off-world again. It left them all quite busy with little time for much beyond their jobs, eating, and sleeping.
On the eve of the mission, the group met one final time to make sure that they were as covered and ready as they could be. Not surprisingly, the wraith had been more than happy to accept the new amendment to their proposal; they were wiling to have the Doctor on board as well as Carson in exchange for the Gabrihath. It unnerved them all, except the Doctor naturally, that the wraith seemed so eager for the alien to come aboard and they had spent a good hour trying to figure out what the wraith were up to but to no avail. Each person had their own opinions over what the wraith wanted but without having the full story, which they all knew very well that they didn't, they could do little more than guess.
Afterwards, they all ate together, shared stories, and tried to create an atmosphere without tension. Things between John and the Doctor were still on edge but after having seen that Carson bore no grudge against the alien, the pilot tried to do the same. John wasn't one to hold on to things when there were more important matters on his mind, but he also had a protective nature that always came out when it came to his team and his friends. He recognized that he was foolish to believe that the Doctor would try to hurt Beckett, John couldn't dispel the belief that the alien would hand Carson over without a fight if it meant saving someone else and that didn't sit will with John. Still, he did his best to move forward and let things lie. If their plan worked well, it wouldn't matter because the Doctor wouldn't be left alone with Carson for that long.
The dawn of the next morning came too brightly for half their party. Rose, Rodney, and Carson all trudged into the gateroom looking bleary-eyed and only half awake while Ronon, John, Teyla, and the Doctor were all smiles, good cheer, and general energy. Only Lorne seemed neither awake nor tired.
In the back of his mind, John heard the Doctor communicating with both Atlantis and the TARDIS.
Are you two sure about this?
We are, both ships answered in unison. As far as John knew, Atlantis didn't actually have a part to play in this mission. So, why then, was the Doctor conferring with her?
The timelord's eyes slid towards John as though noticing for the first time that he could hear them as well. Ah, right, the Doctor's voice echoed through his mind. I forgot you lot can hear them as well.
What is it you plan for Atlantis to do? John asked, instantly suspicious and concerned. He knew the city could very well take care of herself but the fact that the Doctor might be planning something that could affect the whole of the Atlantis expedition wasn't sitting well with him.
John's vocalization got Carson's attention and soon the three of them were all involved in the conversation with the two ships.
What's this now? Carson asked, his tone a lot friendlier than John's but still obviously wanting to know what was going on.
I am doing nothing, John, Atlantis answered. I agreed to help if needed but it will not affect those whom I protect.
The other humans will be fine, Colonel Sheppard. It is the health of yourself and your team which you must worry about, the TARDIS added, sounding a lot less comforting than Atlantis did.
I'm more worried about how we're going to get onto the hive ship, John said, making sure to keep the part about how he was more worried about the ship getting them to the right destination without someone to tell her where to go.
The TARDIS gave an almost angry sounding wheeze, flashing her light with intensity at John. Evidently the ship could hear what he wasn't saying and didn't like what he was implying.
Easy, ol' girl, the Doctor soothed, his voice almost passing for a hand that was rubbing her, calming her. Remember, he's not used to a ship that ignores what she's told and does whatever she wants.
The TARDIS gave another angry sound and John saw the Doctor wince as though he'd been struck. When the timelord opened his mouth to retort, Atlantis broke in.
Enough. It was a command but it hadn't been harshly given. Still, it was obvious that both the TARDIS and the Doctor were paying attention because they seemed to quit with their bickering. Remember, timelord, that she is young as are you. You both need more time to grow.
Well, that was something that John was sure neither the Doctor nor the TARDIS heard everyday. From what he had understood from their first meeting with the alien, the Doctor was more than five hundred years old as was his ship. Therefore, having someone call them young was a new experience for the both of them. However, since Atlantis was around a couple thousand years old, John felt that she was the most qualified to do it.
In front of them, the gate activated and the wormhole was established. Its brilliance outshined even the TARDIS' strongest try, and as per his usual, John couldn't bring himself not to stare at it. Although he had been on Atlantis for going on five years, seeing the Stargate activate and the blue sheen of the wormhole was something that never got old. It was comforting in ways that he never thought possible. He was only saddened that this time, he would not be going through it. No, that job lay with Carson and the Doctor – followed by Lorne, Rodney, and Rose, of course. John, Ronon, and Teyla were going to be inside the TARDIS, following the Doctor and Carson onto the hive ship, lying in wait for when it was the right time to attack.
During their time back on Atlantis, Rodney had had time to discover that the ancient device he had found on Gabr was actually something akin to Atlantis' shield. It didn't run on a ZPM like Atlantis' did, and it was because of that, that Rodney was certain that he would be able to get it active. In fact, their entire plan depended on that. Because if he didn't, and John and Ronon helped get Carson and the Doctor off the hive ship too soon, there would be hell to pay from the wraith and the Gabrihath would be the ones to pay it.
"This is your last chance to back out," Elizabeth's voice said from the balcony above them. No one responded since they all knew whom she was addressing.
To John's left, Carson swallowed. "Lower the shield."
oOo
Rose watched as the Doctor and Doctor Beckett entered the Stargate. The device was as beautiful and wondrous as the TARDIS herself. Ever since she and the Doctor had arrived on Atlantis, Rose only just now realized that she hadn't had much time to consider the gate and how these humans travel between worlds so quickly.
The Stargate itself was enormous. It succeeded in making her feel small and minuscule, though whether or not that was the point, she didn't know. She'd heard chatter throughout a lot of the crew saying that the ancients, whom were responsible for building Atlantis as well as the Stargates, were quite arrogant in their manners. Meaning, that it was quite possible that they built the gates so gigantic to not only allow spaceships to enter but to make those that they deemed less than them to feel it.
The blue, watery-like substance in the middle of the gate, which was the wormhole itself apparently, flowed like liquid. It sounded like a pool of water had filled the Stargate and the blue shimmer of it shone out at her and filled the gateroom with its glow. Even with its brightness, the light seemed warm and comforting and she noticed how the Atlanteans seemed reluctant to turn it off. Granted, that could have been because one of their own had gone through the gate and his return wasn't guaranteed, but Rose had a feeling it was a mixture of both.
"Doctor Beckett to Atlantis." Carson's voice filled the gateroom. Or at least, that was how it sounded to Rsoe. It was actually more that he was not only on the comm speaker at the tech booth at the top of the stairs, but he was also coming through the personal comms which her, and almost everyone else in the gateroom wore. Rose noted that he sounded a little nervous, but his voice was still strong, almost confident as he talked. "We've arrived but there's no one around." There was a pause and then the gate suddenly shut off.
Rose wasn't the first to jump forward in alarm by any means, but she wasn't the last either. Colonel Sheppard had been the first, but whereas Rose had gone toward the Stargate, the pilot had immediately run up the stairs to the tech booth where Doctor Weir and the technician, Chuck, were. Changing direction with little trouble, Rose followed him, albeit with somewhat less ease. She arrived at the booth with her chest heaving, her heart racing, and her nerves on high alert.
"What happened?" she asked a little breathily.
Teyla, who had reacted as the colonel had and had gone immediately up the stairs, answered for the group. "The wraith." She hadn't said anything beyond the two words but she had put so much meaning behind them – was that anger as well? – that Rose didn't have a problem figuring out what she hadn't said.
"They cut the gate to assure that we wouldn't interfere," Ronon said from behind Teyla. His tone was neutral, uncaring almost, but the spark that Rose saw in his eyes spoke of death for those that harmed Carson or the Doctor.
She found it curious that the big man was so protective of someone that he barely knew, especially given that his best friend didn't seem to like the timelord, but she was grateful that he was in any case. It helped to reassure her that the Doctor wouldn't be abandoned for the sake of getting the Scot back. Not that she thought the Atlanteans would do that, per se, but it still. Better safe than sorry.
"Which means that we better get going," the Colonel said before beginning to head back down the stairs and to the TARDIS.
Rose still objected to being forced to go along with Doctor McKay and Major Lorne when the others were taking the TARDIS. She didn't like the idea of the Atlanteans having the ship, especially without her or the Doctor there, but she had been talked over and overruled every time she'd voiced her opinion.
Do no worry, dear Rose, the TARDIS assured her after sensing her anxiety. I will be fine. Rose felt a heat sear through her and enter her skin. Unlike most, this warmth was comfortable and not harmful. Rose had felt it before and she knew it to be the TARDIS giving her some of the time energy which helped the TARDIS operate and the Doctor regenerate. Besides, the TARDIS added, a part of me will be with you.
This was the Doctor's solution to how she, Doctor McKay and Major Lorne were going to communicate with the Gabrihath. Since Colonel Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla were taking the TARDIS, there wasn't going to be an easy or clear way for her and her faction to talk to the inhabitants on Gabr. However, the Doctor reasoned that since Rose had taken in some of the TARDIS before, providing the ship could transfer it safely and only a little bit, she could do so again. Rather than being infected with it like she had been, Rose had been given only a smidge of what was available but both the Doctor and the TARDIS were sure that it would be enough for her to act as a translating circuit for the two groups.
At first Rose had been shocked that the Doctor would be so cavalier with her life, and apparently he had realized it because he and the TARDIS had, within the confines of Doctor Beckett's lab and with the help of the Scot himself, created a stabilizer which would prevent Rose's cells from shutting down automatically when the energy got transferred. She could feel her body becoming stronger, more resistant to the damage that the regeneration energy was causing and she let out a sigh of relief. Doctor McKay was confident that he could get the shield up, and therefore get the Doctor, Carson, Colonel Sheppard's team, and the TARDIS back to Atlantis with enough time to save her from having to worry about the long-term affects of the drugs and the energy.
Rose followed the others down to the TARDIS, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't going to go along with them, and then stopped just short of entering the ship. She ached to join them, but the time energy within in her swirled, comforting her in the same way that the TARDIS would have done.
"Are you sure you can fly that thing?" Doctor Weir asked. Her voice coming from right behind Rose startled her. She hadn't expected the leader to follow her down the stairs too. Already a bit testy from Colonel Sheppard, the TARDIS wheezed angrily at the woman. "Sorry," she said, "her. Are you sure you can fly her?"
"The TARDIS flies herself, really," Rose answered and not for the first time. "She will take them to the hive ship and wait for the Doctor's return."
Doctor Weir still looked skeptical but worry was just underneath. Rose understood both. This woman was trusting her closest friends to a technology, a ship, and a pair of people that she didn't know or understand. She didn't want to lose them because of an error; whether that be from asking too many or too little questions or something else entirely.
The leader of expedition looked over to where Colonel Sheppard stood in the TARDIS' doorway. Her blue eyes were warm but determined. "Be careful," she said and Rose knew that that wasn't the first time that she had said that. "And bring them home."
Sheppard nodded and then looked over to Major Lorne, whom, Rose understood, was his second in command. "Lorne, make sure McKay doesn't mess around or screw up."
"Oh, excuse me, when I have ever screwed up, Colonel "Let's wake up the wraith"?"
Sheppard had done what? That was news to her. Maybe she could get Doctor McKay to tell her more while they're on Gabr.
"One word, Rodney – Doranda."
At that, Doctor McKay's face when white and he swallowed convulsively. "I thought we weren't going to talk about that ever again?" he asked, still sounding peevish though he looked positively sick.
Sheppard didn't respond, but the smile had been wiped off his face long before he'd said anything and it didn't look like it was about to return any time soon. Clearly whatever Doranda was was a sore subject.
"Will do, sir," Major Lorne said, moving them all long from the uncomfortableness that had begun to settle all over them. "Bring Doctor Beckett back safely. Otherwise, sir, I'll let you explain it to Doctor Porter."
The colonel physically shivered at that idea and Rose had to chuckle. She had noticed the looks that Doctors Porter and Beckett had been trading when they thought no one was looking. Clearly something had happened between the two to further their relationship in some way but she wasn't sure what. Which meant that even she wasn't sure that she wanted to be the one to tell Grace that Carson hadn't returned.
Without another word, the colonel shut the TARDIS door and then she was wheezing her way into oblivion and onto the hive ship.
Major Lorne waited about five minutes before he ushered her and Doctor McKay through the Stargate. The weather seemed to have gotten colder since she was last there. She buttoned up her coat and threw up her hood as snow blew into her face and hair and Rose suddenly found herself very grateful that the Atlanteans had not only insisted on everyone wearing warmer clothing but had also checked the weather before they had gone through the gate.
The gate was abandoned and it seemed no welcome party was to be sent for them this time. Given the weather, that wasn't all that surprising. If it were up to her, she wouldn't be out in the cold either.
Rose shared a look with the major before she began to trudge her way towards the entry for the underground tunnels. She knew that the Gabrihath would most likely intercept them long before they actually reached the city, but she didn't see the point in simply waiting around fro them to come. The major, as well as Doctor McKay seemed to agree, for they both followed her, the military man taking point just in front of her while Doctor McKay held back, reading whatever readouts were flashing on his datapad's screen.
As expected, they hadn't gone far before a group of six Gabrihath warriors riding their werewolf-like mounts met them. Among them was Kola, whose dark complexion and braided ebony hair contrasted sharply with his mounts pure white fur, and Koltar, whose pale skin, hair and ice-blue eyes seemed to melt into the background until all that could be seen was his chestnut-colored mount. Rose felt her heart drop and her wariness increase at the sight of the brute who had unapologetically beaten the Doctor on their first meeting. She hid it as best she could as she smiled at the friendlier of the two.
"You will come with us," Koltar announced, evidently being the spokesperson for the group.
Doctor McKay and Major Lorne both looked at her with confused expressions and then she remembered that only she could understand both races. Rose was so used to it happening automatically that she'd forgotten that this time around, it was only her.
"He says we are to go with him," she said, careful to keep her tone neutral and clear of any fear or trepidation she felt.
Major Lorne didn't answer her or give a reply for her to translate. He simply looked at the self-imposed leader of the group and nodded. Apparently there were no words needed for that action to be understood and Koltar immediately turned his mount around and began leading them.
While the humans trickled into the same formation as earlier, the Gabrihath slowly surrounded them. Rose didn't miss that Kola had positioned himself right by her or the looks that Koltar seemed to be receiving from the rest of his men, but what they meant, Rose wasn't ready to say. At least, not until she'd had a chance to talk with Kola.
"He is not happy that you are back," the Gabrihath said. His voice was gentle and almost quiet as though to explain away his leader's rudeness. "He believes that we should no longer have any dealings with you or your kind."
Rose swallowed that for a minute, mulling it over as she decided that it would be best to keep her distance from Koltar in case the being got ideas beyond those of his orders. "And you?" she asked, halfway scared of the answer though she knew that it wouldn't be a negative one.
Kola shrugged, the movement seeming stiff. "I am happy to see that you are well but I must confess myself confused as to the reason for your return."
"Did Kliptock not tell you?" She thought it a bit odd that their leader hadn't shared the information with them but maybe he had only done so with Koltar? Rose couldn't fathom the reason behind that but as Kliptock was the leader and not her, she wasn't going to necessarily question it yet, either.
"He still favors Koltar," was all that Kola said but the careful neutrality of the statement suggested other things.
Rose opened her mouth to hint at the possible ramifications that Kola might have suffered but the growl at the head of the group stopped her. Whether it had come from Koltar or his mount, she hadn't a clue, but she knew what it had meant all the same – stop talking! Throwing Kola an apologetic look, she distanced herself from him so as to not get him into any more trouble, and then ducked her head to keep the snow from getting into her eyes.
How long they walked, she couldn't guess and nor did she want to. She was honestly just grateful that Doctor McKay hadn't started complaining about it. There was no doubt in her mind that, even though Koltar wouldn't be able to understand what the physicist was saying, the tone alone would translate and the leader wouldn't tolerate it. While she didn't necessarily like Doctor McKay, she would never want him subject to the abuse that Koltar would dole out if something didn't go his way.
By the time they had reached the undergrounds, which were only marginally warmer than the outside, Rose was frozen solid. Her hands were stiff and almost numb from the cold as was any other part which had been left exposed. Every intake of breath was sharp and painful and seemed to freeze in her throat as her uncooperative lungs seemed to refuse to take in too much. Looking over at her companions, she could see that they weren't much better off, but no one seemed keen to mention their discomfort.
Koltar led them to what seemed to be a stable of sorts, where the Gabrihath dismounted and led their animals to their proper stalls. None of the Gabrihath seemed intent on the animals' comforts since not one of them fed or watered their mounts before closing the doors and dispersing into the various hallways and doors that led off of the room. Only Koltar and Kola remained, and the leader gave Kola such a look of hatred that Rose became unsure as to why Kola was hanging around.
"You are free to go," Koltar all but snapped at his companion.
But Kola remained where he was, returning the other's glare with an even but determined look of his own. "Kliptock has instructed me to remain with the humans at all times."
At that, Koltar seemed to sneer. Evidently he thought that "babysitting" a bunch of humans was the perfect job for Kola, as it was simply beneath him or any of his men to do. Kola, it seemed, didn't agree but nor did he look like he disagreed. His expression relayed compliance with orders and nothing more.
Koltar transferred his attention from Kola to the humans, his look becoming instantly chilling. "Stay close," he snapped, "I cannot vouch for the behavior of my men should you wander."
And with that, the brutish Gabrihath spun on his heel and marched in the direction that they had entered. Rose, Major Lorne, and Doctor McKay all looked at one another, the worry which Rose felt reflecting in Rodney's eyes while sardonic resignation resided on the major's face. Then, without another word, they all scampered to catch up and not be left behind.
Just before they had reached Koltar, Rose heard Major Lorne whisper, "This should make for an interesting day," and Rose couldn't help but agree. If only he hadn't meant it in a bad way.
oOo
In the hive ship, Carson and the Doctor sat in their own, separate, cells, waiting for whatever would happen. The wraith had surprised them on Gabr, stunning them just as Carson was about to relay that no one was around. When he awoke, the Doctor was already pacing in his cell, scanning it with his "sonic screwdriver", and not looking even the least bit worried. Carson, who has placed in a cell across the hall from the Doctor, wished that he could be as calm and as curious while aboard the ship, but he just couldn't. No matter how many times he was captures, he would never be able to feel any sort of calm as he waited for the wraith.
Since they had been thoroughly searched and separated from most of what they had possessed, Carson found it strange that they had left the Doctor with his screwdriver, especially given what he'd been able to do the last time the timelord had been captured. But, there he was, in his brown, pin-striped suit, glasses on, hair amiss, as he spun on his wheel, scanning anything and everything.
"I don't think you deserved it, by the way."
Carson's head shot up, shock running through his veins. He wasn't sure what surprised him more, the words that had been said or the fact that the timelord had spoken at all. Since he still had his watch, he knew for certain that it had been hours since they'd been taken and not a word had been uttered between them. "I'm sorry?" he said, wanting to make sure that it hadn't been a fluke.
The timelord stopped his scanning, lowered the screwdriver to his torso where he deposited it into an unseen pocket, and then focused solely onto Carson. His expression was an odd mixture of compassion, apology, and ferocity. What the last one was aimed at, Carson couldn't guess but he knew the first two, knew them well as a matter of fact; he wanted to smile and reassure the alien that there were no hard feelings but he refrained, waiting for the timelord to speak first.
"The TARDIS – or was it Atlantis? I couldn't tell – showed me what you went through when you were in the hands of the wraith, Michael," the Doctor began and Carson had to stifle a wince at that; he hadn't wanted to share that memory with anyone, let alone a complete stranger. He supposed that he should feel a little violated by the fact that one of the ships had replayed his own memories for the timelord, but he suspected that it was for a reason and that its purpose was to help the Doctor understand something or other and so he held his tongue. The Doctor lifted his head, as though in defiance, and then he continued, "I still think that it would be good for you lot to feel what the wraith had felt after you had experimented on them, but I do not agree with their methods. You at least tried to do it with as little pain or trauma as possible – the wraith did not."
Carson gave a sardonic smile. "No, they did not," he agreed in a half-whisper.
He could still remember how it felt as Michael's virus swept through his body, alighting his nerves on fire. His skin crawled as the cocktail made him feel like a stranger within his own body and Carson went from freezing to sweating with differing seconds. He remembered feeling nothing but pain but he didn't know the cause or what has happening as he felt it – his world had been too consumed with agony for him to care.
Any further conversation was brought to a halt as the sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the hall. Carson was pulled out of his memories by a wraith roughly hauling him out of his cell. Not having realized that the "space vampires" were there, the Scot looked around confused as he tried to get his bearings. Only once he had figured out what was going on did he look towards the Doctor's cell to see if they were doing the same to the timelord. They were being marginally gentler about it but they, yes, the Doctor was being evacuated from his cell and pushed forward to follow the drones.
All while they marched, two drones stood at Carson's sides, cold, strong hands, gripping his forearms with enough strength to surely bruise. The Doctor walked just to Carson's right, standing back enough to allow room for the drone but keeping close enough so that he could follow and not be separated.
They were taken to a room which Carson almost recognized. It was set up in the similar way that most wraith labs were. There were minor differences, of course, and one of those was that, behind the tech station was a raised dais where three thrones sat, one more superimposed than the others. In those chairs sat three wraith queens, two of which Carson recognized. The third, Carson was sure he'd never met before but as she differed so little from the other two, he didn't really pay much attention to her.
In the corner, in a cage that was barely big enough to house a bear, stood two wraith drones. Or at least, Carson thought they had been at one point in time. One was completely human, though still held the build and hair color for a drone. The other looked a lot like Michael, the exception being that he still had his long blonde hair. Both had obviously been affected by the retrovirus and they were clearly there to stand as test subjects. Carson swallowed at the thought of live-testing but soon his gaze swept further about the room and he felt his heart drop.
A family sat huddled in another cage in the opposite corner. Carson had never seen them before but he had no doubt as to their purpose. They were test subjects as well but for a completely different outcome and procedure. They had the Hoffan plague; the feeding marks on the chests of the adults – there were no children – attested to that.
"Welcome, Doctor and Doctor Beckett," Amara hissed in her wraith voice. There was a hint of laughter in it, as though she knew exactly how the test subjects made both of them feel and she was delighting in their anger. "I see that you approve of your future experiments."
"Let them go, Amara!" the Doctor snapped with more emotion than Carson had seen the timelord show in a while.
The redheaded queen sneered in a way that only a human-wraith hybrid could do, then she smiled. "I think not, Doctor," she said, though Carson already knew that. She nodded to one of the drones that surrounded Carson and Carson watched as the Doctor was shackled and chained to the wall in the middle of the two cages. The timelord didn't comment as he was treated like a prisoner about to be tortured; he merely glared at Amara, the look of what Rose had defined as the "Oncoming Storm" settling on his face.
Carson was so focused on what was going on around him that he didn't even notice as more wraith surrounded him. It wasn't until he was grabbed and practically thrown at the foot of the dais. He landed with a hard thud, not having expected the rough treatment, groaning when his knees slammed into the unyielding floor.
"Oh, come on, there's no need to get rough," the Doctor argued from his perch at the wall.
The queen to Amara's left hissed at the Doctor and her hands grabbed the seat but that was the only reaction that they gave to the timelord. No, that wasn't true. Amara smiled even wider and Carson thought that it was the scariest thing he had seen.
"Oh, I know," she said, her voice almost cooing. She stood and glided over to where Carson still knelt. Her feeding hand trailed over Carson, starting at his neck and gently sliding up to his face before settling on the back of his neck. Carson shivered with the feel of the mark, remembering the feeling of being fed on with perfect clarity. Her hand tightened on the back of his neck and he yelped in surprise as the grip soon became crushingly painful. She lifted him off his knees and turned them both so that they were facing the Doctor. "That doesn't mean that I don't want him to feel a bit of pain," she said almost sweetly. Carson's neck soon went numb as she tightened her hold even more and he felt his face flush with the lessened oxygen. "After all," she continued, though with more sour than sweet in her tone, "I think it only fair given the suffering he has caused. Don't you?"
"Since when do the wraith care about the pain of their own kind?" Carson ground out before his brain could stop him.
She hissed her displeasure at his comment but she didn't release him. Carson felt her nails digging into his skin as she once again increased her grip. With a sense of extreme unease, the Scot began to wonder precisely how strong the queens were. Every time he thought that she couldn't squeeze any more, she surprised him by doing just that. The blood tickled as it trickled down his neck and to his collar bone. It was an odd sensation, being caressed by one's own blood. Carson didn't laugh, however, as there was nothing remotely funny in this situation.
"You might want to curb your tongue, human," Amara warned. "Lest your usefulness should run out."
The threat was almost politely given but it was a threat nonetheless. In spite of his racing heart and the fear that fueled it, Carson glared at her, as defiant as he could be while being held off the ground by the neck.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice coming out as a growl thanks to the slight pressure on his vocal chords.
She smiled a little too sweetly and set him down on his feet. Making sure to trail her nails as hard as she could across his skin as she did, she let go of him and went to sit, magnanimously, on her throne once more.
"Isn't it obvious, doctor?" she asked, regally staring down at him as though he were no more than a bug to be squashed. "We want you to reverse engineer the viruses that you created."
Carson swallowed, wincing slightly when it hurt. "And if I don't or can't?"
The other wraith queen from before leaned forward, direction his attention at her. "Then, one by one, you will be responsible for the death of every human in this galaxy and yours."
TBC