"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 19

(Infirmary)

"Alright, what do you want to trade?" Weir asked.

"Stacey's mind is too strong for me. I'm not sure how long I can stay in control," Nemesia said. "I would like another host. One that is weak, so that I can take over easily."

"And what do we get in return?" John asked.

"My knowledge of Atlantis," Her voice remained cold and flat.

"Not a chance," Weir said immediately. She turned to Bates. "Take her to a holding cell until we can sort through all this," She then turned to Carson, "Be sure to get that bruise taken care of."

"Allow me, Doctor," Nemesia said. She began to reach up. The security team aimed their guns closer to her. She backed away calmly. "Fine then."

Bates pointed his weapon at her and said, "Move."

Nemesia looked at him scornfully. "Insolate fool!"

(Holding Cell)

Nemesia stood in the middle of the small cell with her arms folded and milky white eyes starring straight forward. Only blinking occasionally. Major Sheppard, Dr. Weir, and Dr. McKay stepped in the room.

"Let us talk to Stacey," Major Sheppard said.

"That is impossible," Nemesia said.

"Why?" McKay asked.

"It is not like a Goa'uld Symbiote," she answered coldly. "If she would to resurface, her very soul would be lost forever. There would be no way to recover it."

"Fine," John said. He raised his

90 at her. "I'll just kill you then."

"And killing your wife and unborn child," Nemesia said.

John lowered his weapon quickly and glanced at her.

"What?" Weir asked.

John blinked.

"I will tell you nothing more," Nemesia said coldly.

John stepped over to Weir and McKay.

"We're getting no where with this," Rodney said irritably.

"What do you suggest," Weir asked.

"Let me talk to her, in private," John suggested.

Elizabeth considered it and then said. "Alright, but, I want Bates and Ford to guard her."

John nodded in understanding and the two left. Sheppard then turned his attention to Nemesia.

"How do you know that she's pregnant?" John asked slowly.

"I can feel it growing within me. It's not hard to sense," she replied stoically.

"Just out of curiosity, was it you or Stacey that wanted to, you know?" he asked a little uncomfortably.

For the first time since she took over Stacey's body, Nemesia smiled slightly.

"Well, it's good to know you can smile," John commented.

"It was, indeed, both," she answered calmly, ignoring the Major's comment completely. "She wanted it, but did not want to act on it. So, I acted on it for her." Nemesia, then, sat down gracefully on the floor. "I require several hours of meditation,"

"Ockie-Dockie, I guess We'll continue this later than," John said. As he excited he leaned close to Ford and said, "Notify me the moment she's done."

"Yessir," Ford replied.

John left. Nemesia closed her milky white eyes.

(Stacey's mind)

Nemesia, with her normal brown hair, brown skin and blue eyes, circled around a cage. The place was dark, except for a beam of light that was shinning in the middle. The person occupying the cage was Stacey. Nemesia circled the cage. Stacey followed Nemesia around, with her eyes.

"What do you want?" Stacey asked.

"A second chance," she replied. There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

"A second chance at what?" Stacey pressed on.

"You have access to my memories as I have access to yours. You tell me," Nemesia said. "Just close your eyes and concentrate hard."

Stacey reluctantly closed her eyes. It took her a moment to search for the answer. But, when she did eventually find the specific memory, she wished she hadn't.

"Oh, my god!" she breathed.

To be continued . . .

(A/N: I know, I'm really evil for ending it there. I hope It doesn't take a month to get the next chapter out.)