"Normal speech"
"Gothic around non-Imperials."
"Mental Links."
"Ship Names."
"#Ancient to every one#."
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R3mu5: Thank you very much. Now for the technical stuff, I have been considering this for awhile and have left it out mainly because I have been trying to tie up all the lose ends. I have, hopefully, perfected a solution that drives the plot and blah, blah, blah (I hate English classes). Anyway I will address the situation in this chapter and without giving anything away I will say that while not a straight out drug or something as easy, it is quite clever.
Chibi-Chipmunk on Crack: Thanks, I'm still going strong. I have a very simple belief; you finish what you start no matter the cost. It's got me through life and earned me fear and respect (mainly fear). Cheers and continue to review it provides motivation.
Xeno Major: I apologies for the similarity, I have not intended to rip off Guilty Spark in anyway. The similarities are, as I have already stated, due to closeness of 343 and my AI's functions and circumstances. The two characters will diverge latter as its personality developed. It will probably still resemble elements of 343 but I am trying my hardest to make it unique. While the four lines it has spoken so far could be likened to Guilty Spark I, personally, feel that I have not supplied enough information got make an accurate assessment. Thanks for your questions, they keep me interested.
FraserMage: Nope, the AI will be the only thing that even closely resembles anything from Halo.
Gforce member45: I will not be bringing elements of Halo over. The AI while similar will be of my own creation. While not totally insane, yet, it is a little off balance.
Long live Warhammer40k: The ball of light, as others have pointed out, resembles 343 Guilty Spark. I am not intending to make it a straight rip off. Thank you for your continued reviews and support.
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"Please refrain from that, Adherent!" The floating ball of light said its voice not changing pitch but the threat came through clear all the same.
"Easy, easy, I was just checking his pulse." Carter said backing away from Sheppard slowly watching the spinning rings for any sign of those strange blocks detaching again.
"Operator! The Architect requires consciousness to continue his work." The thing demanded rounding on O'Neil.
"What do you want me to do?" O'Neil asked as the thing floated inches from his face, the spinning rings making him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Instruct the Oddity to move on from the damaged Operator and repair the Architect." The light ball demanded, a hint of anger sliding into its electronic voice.
"But McKay needs treatment." Daniel said appealing to the machine.
"Be silent Adherent!" The thing screeched spinning round to face Daniel.
The ball of light had so far managed to get under everyone's skin. The minute Sheppard had lost consciousness it had began barking orders out at every one like it owned them, especially the ones it addressed as Adherent. Once they got a closer look at the thing they could see that its core was covered on both sides by a random arrangement of hexagons of different shapes melted into each other, similar to the design on a Jumper's interior walls. The front end was a slightly raised lens that had a ring of Ancient symbols around its edge. The underside had two lines of metal that ran from right below the lens to the back end that widened out making a T shape on it, in-between the two lines glowed a deeper blue which Carter had quickly summarized as the anti-gravity unit. The rings that span around it normally traveled at a leisurely pace but when it was aggravated they began to accelerate. If what O'Neil and Carter had seen was correct they could separate and make some very messy ballistic weapons. It had refused to identify itself, either ignoring them or demanding that they wake Sheppard. On the other hand it had rather quickly labeled all of them: apparently O'Neil and McKay were Operators; Daniel, Carter and Teal'c were Adherents; Samuel and Gideon were Oddities, Sheppard was for some unknown reason the Architect and Davidenko had been labeled Third. Gideon was mildly intrigued by the machine; in his mind it represented an extremely advanced Machine Spirit that had achieved sentience.
"#This is unacceptable!#" The machine yelled at the room, rings blurring together making a threatening whirling noise.
Everyone chose to block out the AI's annoying ranting.
"Well is he going to be alright?" Davidenko asked Samuel as the marine Apothecary busied himself over the shredded lump of flesh that was once McKay's arm.
"I don't know. The eye is completely destroyed and if we don't replace it soon he'll lose sight in the right side altogether." Samuel said administering another dose of pain killers.
"What about his arm?" Davidenko queried glancing down at the pulverized limb. The lower arm was held on by a few tendons and shards of shattered bone stuck out at odd angles all around the wound.
"I had to cauterize the arteries to stop the bleeding and administered vasoconstrictors at the shoulder joint to lessen blood flow but what worries me is this." Samuel said quietly turning McKay's arm over revealing all of his veins unto his elbow a deep grey.
"I don't understand." Davidenko said.
"These shouldn't be grey, in fact without blood in them they shouldn't been seen at all. The most probable explanation is there is something in his veins and if its there then it's in all his tissues." Samuel said gently turning the arm back over.
"And that's bad." Davidenko said quietly.
"It means that he caught something off that animal when it bit him." Samuel said a frown growing on his face.
"Unfortunate." An electronic voice said from right beside their ears. Both Davidenko and Samuel whirled around to face the now calmer machine. "This Operator has been infected, he is beyond help. Now repair the Architect." The machine said, silently floating closer to Samuel.
"What do you mean by infected?" Samuel questioned squaring up to the floating AI.
"The subject that I terminated was Asper-12. If that is so then he is infected with the Asper Genus." The machine paused and it rings began to accelerate faster and faster. "And the Virus." It said pure hatred clear in its voice.
"The Virus?" Davidenko asked worry soaking into her words.
"Your knowledge on the subject is irrelevant Third. Oddity repair the Architect." The AI demanded, its voice back to its normal calmer tone.
"No, I have to finish my analysis of Doctor McKay." Samuel said turning back to McKay's prone form.
"He is beyond salvation. You will obey!" The AI screeched.
"I will not!" Samuel shouted back at the floating light ball.
The AI surged backwards surprised by the marine's outburst, by this time everyone was watching it with interest. "Termination approved." It whispered.
Thin blue lines shot over the rings dividing them up into identical rectangles that began to expand further and further away from the central body. O'Neil's eyes widened as he recognized the spinning shapes and before he thought it through he opened fire on the floating machine. The bullets bounced off a shield which flared up as green wave that rippled away from the blast for a second before it vanished from sight again. The AI spun around its weapons moving faster than the eye could see.
"Terminate." It whispered before a rectangle shot out.
O'Neil reacted on instinct and lunged to the side a milli-second before the blunt block shot over his head and tore straight through the wall behind him leaving a very jagged hole. An orange plasma blast smashed into the AI making its shield flare again. The machine rounded on Teal'c who simply fired again into its "face", the Jaffa's face set in stone.
"Die Betrayers!" The AI screamed before the entire top rings worth of rectangles fired at everyone.
The entirety of the room threw themselves to the floor as flying blocks tried to shred them into ragged lumps of quivering flesh. The rectangles mostly missed the SG teams but they left the room looking like a small world war had just been fought in it. Before the second wave of death dealing blocks could surge forth and completely liquefy the pinned humans a loud groan and muttered curse drifted through the room.
"I hate this part." Sheppard muttered pulling himself further up the wall he was propped against.
"Architect! You are functioning again." The AI shouted the flying blocks of death shooting out of their holes in the walls or making new ones and snapped back together into the three lazily spinning rings.
"Why is a light bulb talking?" Sheppard asked pointing at the little machine.
"We don't know. I, personally, was hoping you could get it to talk sense." O'Neil said waving his gun at the light ball that was now floating in circles around Sheppard's head rambling happily to its self.
"Sure, right. Then would you like me to reconcile humanity and the Wraith?" Sheppard asked sarcastically pulling himself further up the wall to get a better look at the room.
"You got one." Carter said.
"Talk is inconsequential. The Architect must finish his work." The AI demanded turning to face Carter.
"Be quiet for a second." Sheppard said up to the floating machine.
"I obey." It said before lowering its self down to rest just above his head.
"What?" Sheppard asked as O'Neil, Carter, Gideon and Samuel all stared at him questioningly.
"We have been trying to shut that thing up for the last hour." O'Neil said a little annoyed.
"A second has passed, may I converse again?" The AI asked.
"No, just don't talk unless I ask you something." Sheppard said offhandedly.
"Confirmed." The AI said before falling silent once again.
"How's Rodney?" Sheppard asked as he sat down in a chair that the AI hadn't tore apart.
"Samuel has stabilized him, for now, but we must leave soon." Carter said randomly shifting through some scraps of machines long since gone that lay scattered around the lab.
"But Weir will have a ship coming in like four hours so he'll be okay." Sheppard said confidently and Carter just nodded slowly in return.
"Major, I might need your assistance." Samuel said turning to face Sheppard. "Instruct that machine to tell me about the Asper Genus it mentioned." Samuel continued making Sheppard raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"Sure, um, you. Tell Samuel all about what ever he said." Sheppard clumsily commanded the AI.
"As you wish. The Asper Genus was produced after extensive modifications to the Zelus variant. It was designed for a roll with greatly increased ability to manipulate cell growth and differentiation. The High Council commissioned it along with other nano-tech weapons. It was employed on three occasions across differing theaters with a hundred percent success rate. Unfortunately the Asper Genus colonies proved too advanced and began to contradict their own directives, ignoring other to complete the primaries. The flaw seemed to be universal as any subject that suffered too much damage began to cannibalize tissues in ascending order and the units that flood the brain assert temporary control over the host. The program was discontinued after Asper-19 went berserk and slaughtered seven Operators and nine Adherents." The AI said complying with its commands perfectly.
"And this Virus you spoke of?" Samuel asked narrowing his eyes at the floating light ball.
"That information has not been specified for release." The AI said a faint note of arrogance at the back of its voice.
"You… listen do you have a name?" Sheppard asked.
"Affirmative, on activation I was designated Caminus Animum-252 but at a later date you dubbed me Ignarus Vultis." The newly named AI stated.
"Daniel?" O'Neil asked a lost look on his face.
"Let's see, Ignarus Vultis is the Ignorance of Form and Caminus Animum is a Forged Mind." Daniel said after a second.
"That's a bit weird." Sheppard said looking back at the AI.
"You informed me that it was ironic, considering your work." The AI stated.
"Okay, how about just Vultis for now?" Sheppard asked.
"Or V, for short." O'Neil put in.
"If it is the Architect's directive then I will obey." Vultis said.
"Great, now answer the man." Sheppard said pointing at Samuel. "In-fact you will answer any question from the people in this room." Sheppard finished after a short pause.
"Including the Adherents?" Vultis asked a hint of displeasure in its electronic synthesis of speech.
"A who?" Sheppard asked annoyed at even more complications.
"It's what it calls every one without the ATA gene or something else strange about them." Daniel supplied.
"Yes everyone." Sheppard said glaring at the machine completely lost in the thought if a glare mattered to the little ball of aggravation.
"Confirmed." Vultis said before floating over to Samuel.
"The Operator has been infected as I already stated. The Virus is a creation of the Betrayer. The Betrayer designed the Virus to destroy all the work of the Architect by manipulating the two Genuses into lobotomizing their hosts resulting in a loss of higher brain functions. The Zelus was able to maintain lower functions in its hosts but they lost its regenerative benefits. The Asper was able to maintain a far greater restorative ability but all Adherent or Operator Aspers have been reduced to a low animalistic state, with the animal subjects retaining a Lupine level of intelligence. The Virus is incredibly evasive and no treatment was ever found before the Council ordered the planet purged." Vultis stated completely oblivious to the anger, depression and fear that filled the room.
"How long until Rodney dies?" Carter asked somberly.
"That is irrelevant. Now the Architect has returned with a solution we can begin to restore the city." Vultis answered happily.
"What?!" Sheppard shouted at the floating dispenser of annoyance.
"You have returned therefore you have a solution." Vultis stated.
"We have another mission." Sheppard said.
"Another mission? What overrides restoration?" Vultis demanded swinging around to float inches from Sheppard's face.
"You don't need to know." O'Neil said bluntly.
"#Unaceptable!#" The AI screamed. "Divulge! You will obey! You will obey!" It shouted at O'Neil.
"Machine Spirit, calm your self. We must concentrate on helping Doctor McKay." Gideon said gently.
"That Operator is beyond salvation. He is lost." Vultis stated rolling towards McKay in its version of a nod.
"If we removed the machines shouldn't he recover?" Daniel asked.
"Negative, Asper Genus can only be destroyed by lethal doses of ionizing radiation, positive thermal extremes or high velocity impact." Vultis stated.
"Then why is it spreading so slowly?" Samuel asked turning McKay's arm over to show the grey lines that now reached just below the shoulder.
"Curious. There is contradiction in his cells." Vultis floated closer the rings spinning very slowly as it appeared to stare at McKay. "He is not full Operator!" It screeched surging back.
"What the hell does that mean?" O'Neil asked getting impatient with the secretive and loud AI.
"He registers as Operator yet several groups of cells are from an Adherent." The AI said flying in circles above their heads.
"And that's bad?" O'Neil asked.
"Positive, Asper will treat non-dominant genotype as pathogen and destroy it. Operator will suffer major biological failure then rebuild with dominant genotype." Vultis said still flying in erratic circles.
"It'll kill him!" Sheppard shouted.
"Confirmed. Projected loss of bodily functions in seventeen minutes, nine seconds. Estimated brain damage at seventy percent of total efficiency." Vultis said settling back down to head level.
"I believe I have a solution." Gideon said his old face wrinkled in thought. "You said this Asper would destroy all different cells then re-grow them, correct?" The tech-marine asked.
"Affirmative." Vultis answered.
"Then it will spread extremely slowly, yes?" Gideon continued.
"Affirmative, I have already stated as such." Vultis answered again.
"And this Virus, it's harmless without the machines?" Gideon asked a small hope gathering behind his eyes.
"Negative, many tests showed no adverse effects on non-host subject but some cases developed auto-immune reaction after the fact but only thirty two percent of experiments had such a development." Vultis answered.
"Then we simply remove the infected flesh." Gideon said plainly.
"Are you insane? We don't have anything close to the right equipment or procedures. We don't even have a sterilized tool on us. He's human Gideon; he can't survive battle field treatment like we can." Samuel argued.
"It's this or his life Samuel." Gideon said quietly.
"Would this work?" Sheppard asked the AI staring right into its shining center.
"If Genus hasn't spread beyond the shoulder joint and the incision is done fast. If a serious limb separation is detected they will attempt to flood the central body and continue." Vultis answered plainly.
"Alright, I say we do it." O'Neil said frowning over at the still scientist.
"Jack it's his whole arm." Daniel said.
"You, how long was it before Shep… I mean this Architect guy left?" O'Neil asked Vultis.
"You will show respect. The Architect left on the eve of the planet's cleansing. Approximately three years after the first outbreak." Vultis said a note of sadness in its voice.
"See Daniel it's the only way. He's the second smartest out of us and I don't think he has three years." O'Neil said pointing at McKay.
"Positive, approximately nine minutes till Genus extends beyond the limits of the limb." Vultis supplied much to O'Neil annoyance.
"Teal'c hold him down, Davidenko you help. Gideon and Carter try and get the transporter to work again. Daniel, take the fairy light and set up a comm channel. I don't want our rescue to think we're dead. Samuel you ready?" O'Neil said sitting down beside Sheppard.
"As we'll ever be." The Apothecary said with a sigh stretching out McKay's arm to get at the joint.
"Good luck." Gideon said with a small nod towards the bolter on the table.
"Alright hold him still, and Emperor guide me." Samuel said as small blade on his Narthecium revved up.
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The Servitor thudded dead to the ground its cybernetic implants still futilely trying to command the withered corpse. The spidery arms eventually lay down to rest and circuitry that had suspended it on the verge of death for years shut down as the body gave into its final sentence. A low gurgle from the vox caster that replaced the throat and lower jaw was the last sign of life as Levis ripped his right hand off the little amount of grey flesh he could find. The Wraith craned his neck and snarled in pain; hunger was not new to him and these walking dead men gave so little nourishment. A cough drew his attention to the door as Doctor Carson Beckett walked in followed by two I.G.L. riflemen. For a second Levis's vision faded to red and his instincts took over, the warmth of a real feeding called to him more than the rotting carcasses he was fed. A half step forward and the world snapped back into place. Twin las rifles had snapped into automatic position and the two guards stared at the Xeno, almost daring him to take another step. Levis flexed his right hand and took a step backwards away from his possible meals and the dead servitor. The Wraith sat down in one of the two chairs in the room and glared at the three humans.
"Alright son, how you feeling?" Beckett asked as cheerfully as he could, taking the seat opposite the Wraith.
"Adequate, not that you care." Levis said watching the human with almost too much interest.
"Now don't get worked up. Dr. Weir has made some arrangements and that pretty young lass of yours can come see you." Beckett said taking a blood sample from the Wraith's already insanely scarred arm.
"I wish to go out side. I did not escape that place to become another prisoner! I didn't save your friends to be locked in a cage again!" Levis shouted rising to his feet the Las rifles homing in on him in a second.
"Easy, easy; I've talked with her and until we got your lapses under control you can't be allowed out. If those marine hadn't caught you in time who knows what would have happened. Now I've been working with the Asgard to come up with something and we have an idea but it's complicated." Beckett said trying to encourage the Wraith.
"That is of no consequence. I can wait for a long time." The Wraith said smiling mockingly.
"Okay lads, I've got what I came for." Beckett said pocketing the vial of blue blood.
"Yes sir." The two men answered; after Beckett had passed them they both grabbed onto one of the Servitors arms and began to heave the heavy body out the door.
Doctor Carson Beckett looked at the vial in his hand and back at the door. One of the many unused outer building had provided a heavy duty room that could, according to Zelenka, withstand a high speed impact or two. The place was nicer than the brig and kept the Wraith far enough away form the general populace that none of the more active anti-Xeno groups could get at him. Levis him self wasn't looking to good, they may have been feeding him but the half alive Servitors had proven not to be a viable substitute for a live human. The Wraith had developed large deep green bags under his eyes, his skin had become progressively paler and most of the fight had gone out of him except for the brief flashes of pure instinct. Beckett himself was surprised to learn that the Servitor plan was a double edged sword; as well as keep him alive the decaying corpse also poisoned him at the same time. While many of the I.G.L and Atlantis expedition personnel had protested at keeping the Wraith around he had already proven very effective at cracking Wraith jammer technologies and augmenting their own computer to resist invasion. A sigh escaped Beckett's lips as he mentally prepared him self for another long, long talk with Nanna, Thor and Ve.
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The Goa'uld known as Ba'al; the scourge of millions, the destroyer of worlds, second only to Anubis was having a very good time. Far be it for him not to enjoy the simpler pleasures. Brushing a piece of white plaster off his trouser legs he continued to watch as the so called leaders of the Tau'ri military clambered over each other to get away. Yet even now, at the center of it all stood that little group which had caused him so much trouble in the past and probably the future. The Shol'va, the Tau'ri, the Tok'ra and the newest arrival to the party the Astarte. Since there's no time like the present he decided to push on with his self appointed mission.
"Now I sure I speak for most of us here when I say, I don't really want to become free atoms." Ba'al said smiling warmly at his reluctant audience.
"What is it you want?" Hayes asked staring down the Goa'uld.
"Two things really. First I would like sanctuary on this world and in return I will forsake one of my brothers." Ba'al said with mock hurt.
"And the second." Hammond asked his pistol still trained on Ba'al's forehead.
"Honestly, I would like a nice cup of coffee." Ba'al said warmly.
"Please refrain from making jokes." Hayes said. "Or I'll blow you up." He added at the end.
"Sorry, a bad habit on my part." Ba'al said smiling contently.
"Jacob, Bra'tac, Stein lower your weapons." Hayes said gently.
"Excellent, lets begin." Ba'al said happily jumping to his feet making the entire room gasp.
"First the information." Hammond said desperately wanting an excuse to shoot the Goa'uld dead.
"Straight to business. I admire that." Ba'al said sitting back down.
"Now if you please." Hayes prompted.
"Very well, this expedition you have sent to the Pegasus Galaxy. Well one of few remaining Goa'uld that escaped your purges has bestowed upon himself the duty of avenging our defeat." Ba'al stopped and sighed. "What that half insane lunatic was thinking is far beyond me. Alas, he managed to slip into one of your Shol'va regiments and get whisked away." Ba'al continued seriously.
"So what's his agenda?" Hammond asked.
"Well like some my more foolish race, he honestly believes himself a god and under this delusion he thinks he can rebuild the galaxy after the plague of death has washed over it. So he has decided that these, Replicons you call them, are punishment for you deserting us. He has decided that you cannot be allowed to survive." Ba'al said sounding almost sad.
"And that's why you're here." Hayes muttered.
"To save your own skin. How beneficent of you." Jacob Carter sneered.
"Well, if he succeeds in sabotaging your expedition in any way he can then I die as well." Ba'al said with a small shrug.
"So what do you suggest?" Hayes asked narrowing his eyes at the all too happy man in front of him.
"Warn them and then let fate take its course." Ba'al said sitting back into the padded chair.
"That's quiet relaxed of you." Jacob Carter said the distrust almost visible around him.
"Well Suen is a tenacious little fanatic. He always got a job done before, no matter the cost." Ba'al said smiling lightly as his plan fell into place.
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"A most crude device." Vultis muttered while Daniel shot another of the moaning mob closing in on him.
A burst of loud barks from beside him drowned out his sharp response as Gideon's bolt pistol annihilated the closest three in a mini-explosion. A small bleep from beside them signaled the reactivation of the internal shielding and a blue water curtain descended from the roof and settled to the floor. The first man to the shield incinerated half his face and most of his body before falling back, the others behind him fell upon the body instantly.
"Third level secure." Gideon said into his vox caster.
"Roger, Teal'c's enroute to finish the patrol." O'Neil replied his voice sounding tired.
"Okay. Any word of a ship?" Daniel asked holstering his nearly empty pistol.
"Nope, and if they don't hurry we're going to lose McKay. His arm came off alright, and it's fucked up, but Samuel says he bleeding bad." O'Neil replied.
True to his word McKay's arm was of mild interest to the most of the more intellectual members of the team. The severed limb had turned completely grey and from what Samuel could gather it was still technically alive. The only problem was the black sludge that oozed out with the drying blood at the wounds. Vultis had informed them that it was the machines attempting to keep the limb alive.
"Apply pressure here." Samuel said pointed to a spot just above the red stain on the bandage and Davidenko pushed down with both hands.
"Anything on the transporters?" Samuel asked Sheppard while he tended to the long gashed down McKay's face.
"No, Colonel Carter hasn't been able to get them out side of this building." Sheppard answered from his seat at the doorway.
"Has the situation changed outside?" Samuel continued administering another dose of painkillers.
"Nope, still surrounded and they've got into the third floor now." Sheppard answered just a flash of white light shone from the transporter, instantly his P-90 was trained on the door.
"Architect, the security systems have been engaged." An electronic voice said from the transporter.
"Doctor Jackson, Gideon you there?" Sheppard asked his aim not wavering from the door.
"Yes Major." Daniel said stepping out of the transporter.
"Good, anything new?" Sheppard asked lowering his gun as the archeologist entered the laboratory they had occupied.
"Sam thinks she can get the transporter to take us to another building in about half an hour." Daniel said sitting down at a table.
"That would be a breach of regulations. I have informed you that charges will be filed if you continue." Vultis said from above Sheppard's head.
"Right and while your on that, figure out how many fruit pastels it would take to choke a partridge." Sheppard said sarcastically.
"What is fruit pastel?" Vultis asked floating down to face Sheppard.
"Never mind." Sheppard muttered with a sigh.
"So Samuel how's McKay?" Daniel asked.
"He's stable for now but if we can't get him back to a medi-lab and fit him with bionics soon he'll lose his right arm and eye for good." The Apothecary said resting a caring hand on McKay's sweat covered forehead.
"What is bionics?" Vultis asked floating in front of the space marine.
"It's a mechanical substitute for a lost or damaged organic limb." Samuel said.
"Mechanical variants? Processing… found, Imitor Artus unit." Vultis said almost to its self.
"Substitute Limb." Daniel said quietly.
"Confirmed, units were phased out after cloning ban was lifted." Vultis said.
"Wait! You have cloning facilities here?" Sheppard asked the AI rising to his feet ignoring the pain in his ribs.
"Negative, cloning was restricted in Lantean space after a… incident with the Wraith." Vultis said sounding almost embarrassed.
"So you don't have either?" Davidenko asked hopefully.
"Negative." The AI almost hissed at the woman. "The Betrayer was working on a combat pattern." The AI muttered hate dripping from its voice, if it could it probably would have spat on the floor.
"Combat pattern?" Sheppard asked curiosity and hope clear in his voice.
"Yes, using material E-1764." Vultis said the momentary rage forgotten.
"What the hell is that?" Sheppard asked getting impatient with the AI.
"It is derived from substance D-396." Vultis answered like it was perfectly clear to everyone.
"But what is it?" Sheppard asked leaning over the table to glare at the floating machine.
"D-396 was recovered from species M-114. It was used in Omicron encoded experiments at Naamah." Vultis stated. Daniel and Samuel's heads whipped around to face the floating AI so fast that it appeared incredibly painful. Davidenko and Sheppard looked on intently at the mention of Omicron encoding.
"You said Naamah right? As in the science station?" Daniel asked carefully as if his voice would cause the machine to explode.
"Ex-station, all recovered materials were stored in stasis until E-1764 was successfully produced." Vultis answered bobbing from side to side perplexed by the Adherent's strange actions.
"But the Asgard said everything was destroyed." Samuel said.
"Correction, Asgard science vessel arrived after recovery operation." Vultis answered.
"What's this Naamah place?" Sheppard asked.
"It's a long story. All I'll say is that it's the last confirmed location of a C'tan." Daniel said quietly.
"#Warning! Adherent isn't allowed access to information!#" Vultis shouted at them its rings spinning madly.
"Calm down." Sheppard ordered.
"I am calm." Vultis responded.
"Is any of this recovered D-369 left?" Sheppard asked carefully.
"Confirmed, one inert piece remains in storage after planetary cleansing." Vultis answered.
"Can you take us to this Imitor Artus?" Daniel asked.
"Negative, Betrayer's Lab is sealed in adjacent building." Vultis answered.
"But you could unseal it?" Samuel asked.
"Positive." Vultis answered swinging around to face the marine.
"Sam! Sam, get those transporters working I think we may have found what we're looking for." Daniel practically shouted into his radio.
"Daniel stop talking nonsense." O'Neil's bored voice drifted in as a response.
"No, Jack the AI says they have a piece of a C'tan." Daniel said. He hear the sound of someone falling of a seat and a low chuckle in the background before that was drowned out by the high pitched screaming of Vultis.
"Daniel are you sure?" O'Neil asked his voice stern and harsh like it was when he was being deadly serious.
"Yes, it mentioned the science station, the Asgard ship and it said they have a piece of it here." Daniel said enthusiastically.
"Alright, Carter and Gideon are working on it now. I'll have Teal'c leave an automatic message. When I give the word get into the transporter and we'll send you over." O'Neil said before Daniel could answer he cut the line.
"Samuel, get him ready to move." Daniel said pointing at McKay as he got up and began packing the assortment of semi-empty clips that lay scattered around the place.
"You, go help the Colonel." Sheppard said to Vultis.
"Confirmed." The AI said before shooting out the room. A second later it came bobbing back. "Which one is the Colonel?" It asked from the doorway.
"She's the… female Adherent." Sheppard said trying to phrase the instructions so the machine could understand.
"Confirmed." Vultis said again before disappearing down the corridor.
"Alright, Samuel what can I do?" Sheppard asked the massive white blob darting around the room.
"When we carry him you support his head so he doesn't swallow his own tongue. I didn't go through all this trouble for him to have the indecency to choke on his own body parts." Samuel said applying a fresh bandage over McKay's face.
"Right." Sheppard muttered as he sat down and waited.
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Carson Beckett sat holding his own eye lids open as the three Asgard in front of him continued to argue. It had been a solid two hours of practically a non-stop loop of exactly the same phrases and actions only altered in the slightest degree every time. It was at this time that he finally understood why they had such problem defeating the replicators and later the Replicons. They took what they knew and worked outwards going over every detail looking for the slightest imperfection. It was the polar opposite to how most humans reacted. While an Asgard would sit and ponder about something a man like O'Neil would shoot it a couple of times and then see how it went from there. A trait that disturbingly a few Asgard were beginning to pick up.
"Alteration of the intestinal tract." Thor proposed.
"Kill him." Nana answered instantly.
"Nutrient supplements." Thor said again.
"Kill him." His idea was immediately shot down again.
"Using the human's retrovirus we turn him human." Ve proposed from his seat next to Beckett.
"Violation of rights and then kill him." Nana answered instantly.
"Look why don't we just gut him and stick a new one in." Beckett said discontentedly.
"That… might just work." Nana said.
"Yes, we give him a human digestive system. Interesting." Thor muttered turning away from the two seated individuals.
"Are you bloody insane? We can't go around digging out the guts of who ever we want!" Beckett shouted getting a nod of support from Ve.
"Then what do you suggest?" Nana asked rounding on the human.
"Well, the um Wraith…. They have a fully functioning digestive system but it deactivates for some reason. So if we could reactivate it." Beckett said frowning down at his paper littered desk.
"Impossible, even we can't achieve such complex and stable genetic manipulation over a long period. The state of our race before we had access to Imperial technologies is a testament to that." Thor said.
"But it sounds like a good experiment." Nana said rubbing her webbed hands together.
"True." Thor conceded.
"But that would endanger Levis." Ve said dampening the mood.
"I think I might have an idea." Beckett said quickly walking out of the room.
"Humans are so impulsive." Thor muttered.
"But there are so fun." Nana said.
"And dangerous." Ve said quietly.
Beckett strode down the hallways his mind running through scenarios and tests faster than he could consciously think. If they could trick the digestive system to begin accepting nutrients from normal food sources again. They would need to treat the muscle atrophy around the entire system, so he would need something that caused rapid muscle growth. He would need to stimulate the stomach, liver, intestines and pancreas, so he would something that could handle extreme genetic and hormonal manipulation. And finally he would need to practically rebuild the network of capillaries and lymph vessels around the Wraith's intestines and stomach, so he would need another battery of genetic and hormonal alterations. So the only question he was faced with was who could cause massive hormonal and genetic manipulation that he and the Asgard could easily gain access to and adapt to their own needs. Carson Beckett stopped dead in his tracks his face twisted into a mixture of fear, resignation and disappointment as the horrible revelation dawned on him, sometimes life was a real bitch. About turning he began walking very quickly towards Elizabeth Weir's office in hopes she could in someway help.
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Nestor's unarmored body smashed to the floor as the younger more violent marine stood over him grinning happily. With a grunt the older man was on his feet again and facing his captain. The two of them stood in the middle of the sparing arena with several of the Atlantis expedition watching on in interest and fear. To see marines fight was a spectacular and frightening thing. Men who could literally hold your head in their hand and crush it throwing each other around with apparent ease, was a very interesting sight. Angelus threw the shattered remains of Nestor's wooden sword, the third one they had gone through, away and widened his grin. The older marine smiled warmly before launching himself forward. An uppercut caught the Nestor in the stomach and the air escaped all three of his lungs. Nestor not one to be denied his due surged his foot forward tripping Angelus. They tumbled to the ground and fought for a second before Nestor lay flat on his stomach with Angelus sitting happily on his back.
"I concede." Nestor grunted.
"Of course you do." Angelus said getting off him.
"A ruthless as ever." Nestor said through a smile as he massaged his sore gut.
"It's me. What do you expect?" Angelus said happily admiring the sever dents in his training sword.
"Nothing less." Nestor said proudly. "The Emperor protects." He said with a small nod of his head.
"The Emperor protects." Angelus answered. "All right who wants pain?" He said happily at the watching crowd.
"I'd rather have a small talk." Elizabeth Weir said with a quirked eyebrow.
"Very well. Have the next victim ready when I return." Angelus said nodding to the assembled marines who were currently arguing among themselves.
Angelus's smile faded from his face as the door hissed shut and his normal semi-frown was back in place. "What is it you require?" He asked looking between the strong faced Weir and, even though he was trying to hide it, scared Beckett.
"You know about our resident Wraith?" Weir asked probingly.
"Yes, the Xeno survived on your peoples' recommendation." Angelus said sternly.
"Yes well, Dr. Beckett may have found a way to keep him alive indefinitely." Weir said half turning to Beckett.
Beckett took a half step forward so he was in front of Weir and cleared his throat. "Well you see, I was hoping… that we could get a sample of… one of your… Progenoids." Beckett asked making him self smaller with every pause.
Angelus just stared at the man in front of him. In a flash Beckett was suspended in the air; his legs flailing helplessly and his windpipe being thoroughly crushed by the massive hand of Angelus. Weir's eyes widened in shock as the gentle Doctor clawed at the hand around his neck. Lunging forward she was stopped when the tip of a wooden sword was pointed directly at her throat. "Do not tempt my wrath! You would use the Emperors blessing for a Xeno!? Blasphemy! Kill the Traitor! Burn the Heretic!" Angelus shouted his eyes burning with rage.
"Angelus please we would only need a single cell. Please let Carson go." Weir begged as Beckett's eyes began to roll into the back of his head.
"That is one too many. You remember what we did the Traitors before? Our vengeance would be a hundred fold this time." Angelus his voice low and deadly.
"Let him go." Weir's voice had dropped any pretence of formality and it was as low and deadly as Angelus's.
Beckett thudded to the ground his vision swimming with colors and black spots while his limbs twitched sporadically. "We only need a scan." He said the words slurred and hoarse.
Angelus turned to go back into the room but before the door opened he said. "I will think about this. Now leave before I change my mind." The words were filled with anger just below the surface that threatened to drown them all in blood.
"Thank you." Weir said quietly as she helped Beckett to his feet.
Inside the room a cheer for the start of another spar was followed quickly by a howl of pain as Angelus vented his anger.
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"Easy, easy. Watch the wall. I said watch the wall!" Samuel shouted as he, Davidenko and Sheppard attempted to navigate McKay into the transporter booth.
"Okay Sam hit it." Daniel said with a smirk on his face at the very uncomfortable positions the people in the life had assumed.
They disappeared in a flash of white light and Daniel stepped into the alcove with a sigh. "Again Sam." He said before vanishing form the building.
Two levels below Samantha Carter waited patiently even as the thousand of horrible things that could have gone wrong swam through her head. "Okay, we're all here." Samuel's voice crackled over the vox.
"Right, sir we have a go." Carter shouted down the corridor to the waiting Supreme Command of the Imperium.
"Okay just give us a minute." O'Neil said with his usual level of care. "Teal'c you first." He said motioning for the Jaffa to go.
"No, I believe you should go." Teal'c replied.
"No, jaffa first." O'Neil said confidently.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow before stepping into the alcove and vanishing in a flash of light.
"One small step." O'Neil muttered as he stepped into the machine and was transported away.
"Colonel, its time to leave." Gideon said somberly unplugging him self from the internal network.
"Okay." Carter said putting away the tablet from the Jumper.
They both walked down the corridor to the waiting alcove, in a flash of light all sentient life left the building.
"That was not a fun ride." O'Neil muttered as he tried to get the kinks out of his back.
"Indeed." Teal'c said resting on his staff.
"I warned you that the transporters would not react well to those actions." Vultis said floating over them.
"Come down here and say that." O'Neil muttered taking a clumsy swing at the AI with his P-90.
"Violence will be met with violence." Vultis warned.
"Just get us to that lab." Sheppard moaned.
"By your command." The AI said before shooting off down the corridor.
"Fucking machine, when I catch it I'm going to turn it into a hood ornament." O'Neil muttered as he started after the flying ball of light.
Immediately around the corner they found Vultis floating in front of a massive metal slap with the word "Sealed" in big Ancient letters across the front. The door was held to the wall by four massive screw like things at each corner and a tiny panel in the center.
"These guys didn't kid around." Sheppard muttered.
"Affirmative, blast doors are made from the same material as warships." Vultis said as it continued to stare at the door.
"What do you think its doing?" Carter whispered into Gideon's ear.
"Probably trying to gain access." Gideon replied.
Suddenly two of the screws began turning out with the hiss of escaping gas. Then all was silent again.
"Can we hurry this up?" O'Neil asked impatiently.
"Negative, Kappa encryption is quite hard to overcome." Vultis answered.
"Carter you take a look." O'Neil said losing all patience with the AI.
Just as Carter took a step forward the last two bolts hissed and screwed outwards. The door fell outwards and landed with a massive bang. It was several inches thick and had been attached directly into the walls.
"Just how bad does a place have to be to get sealed like this?" Daniel asked.
"It was done to prevent the outbreak of any other viral contaminants or other projects the Betrayer had been working on." Vultis answered floating into the dimly lit room.
"So is okay for just your guys stuff to be walking around?" O'Neil asked sarcastically.
"Positive. The Architect did not cause this. The Betrayer did. What drove him to it remains a mystery." Vultis answered flying back from the room and right up to O'Neil's face.
"What ever, lets just find that arm thingy." Sheppard said walking past P-90 at the ready.
"That won't be necessary." The AI said flying over to a massive screen on the left hand side wall. Immediately the place activated and all the light came back on full. The massive screen began to display a massive amount of information and Vultis just absorbed all of it. "Data files indicate the Imitor Artus is located in the primary lab in stasis chamber Alpha along with two ocular implants, a nasal replacement and an audio enhancer and a control system." Vultis said the panel on his side glowing a faint blue against the white of his body.
"This one?" Carter asked pointing to that largest table in the room. It was waist height with a series of blue lines running down its solid sides and into the floor were they disappeared. In the center of the four sides ran a single line of green tinted water like substance that bubbled gently.
"Positive, an Operator just needs to activate it." Vultis replied turning away from the screen and his side panel changing back to the bright white.
"That's my cue." O'Neil muttered and walked towards the black topped table.
"Operator place your hands on the sides." Vultis commanded floating over to Sheppard.
"Here goes." O'Neil said placing his hands on the black table.
Immediately the blue lines turned gold and the green tinted liquid began to bubble faster. The entire table top appeared to shimmer and a series of devices appeared on it. Some were obviously scanners of some kind while other were completely unidentifiable, two were little black balls, a bronze ear and something that looked like a nose but in the center lay a large silver rod about the size and thickness of a human males arm. Off to the side lay a small cube with a interface on the top and hundreds of hexagons wrapping around each other on the sides nest to that lay a clear box with a single piece of metal the thickness of tin foil and the size of a thumb nail suspended in the middle of the clear rectangle by lines from each corner that held it in place.
O'Neil suddenly found it very hard to swallow as he looked at the tiny piece of necrodermis that seemed to glint a faint green as he stared at it, almost like it was mocking him.
"Is this it?" O'Neil asked quietly desperately afraid that his voice would shatter the tiny piece of metal.
"Confirmed. That is the only remaining source of D-396 in existence." Vultis answered.
"Carter use the scanner and the Auspex and get as much information you can. Fairy light, you walk Samuel through how you use this stuff." O'Neil said his momentary wonder lost.
"Alright, Davidenko move him over to the other table." Samuel said moving towards the other black topped table.
He got a single step before McKay's body was almost pulled from his hands looking around he found Davidenko still standing in the exact position she was before staring at the small clear box.
"Gideon!" Samuel shouted pulling McKay's legs free of the Pariah woman's arms.
"So beautiful." Davidenko whispered as she took a step towards O'Neil and the box her eyes burning a ghostly green.
"Wha…" O'Neil tried to ask before a reinforced arm smashed into his side and flung him out of the way.
Before O'Neil even hit the ground Davidenko was trapped in a bear hug by Gideon. The old marine's face was grim as he lifted the screaming and thrashing woman off her feet. Teal'c drew his Zat and fired in a fluid motion, the shot dropping the Russian and paralyzing Gideon's arm servos.
"Thank you. I'd almost forgotten how strong she was." Gideon said his frozen joints keeping the unconscious pinned against his body.
"I haven't." O'Neil said holding his extremely painful arm.
"Interesting, why did the Third react in such a manner?" Vultis asked the room.
"Long story, I tell you some time." Daniel said kindly.
"I don't require your assistance Adherent." Vultis replied coldly.
"Okay how do I get this to work?" Samuel asked holding the long silver rod up.
"Accessing." Vultis said his sides turning blue again. "Place the Imitor Artus no more than three centimeters from the intended location." The AI said staring at a wall off to the side.
"Okay." Samuel said placing the silver rod next to the blood red bandages wrapped around McKay's shoulder.
"Remove all clothing from the entirety of the location and half a meter around." Vultis said.
Samuel carefully peeled back McKay's blood soaked uniform until it hung around his waist and left shoulder leaving his chest and back bare. Then he gently pulled away the blood soaked bandages revealing the deep red of barely clotted blood and dying flesh. "Done." The Apothecary said quietly.
"Next, type in the correct program sequence for what you desire into control system." Vultis said.
"How do I do that?" Samuel asked staring at the jumble of Ancient labeled keys.
"I will do it Oddity; you are not authorized to manage such equipment." Vultis said floating over to the small box on the table. A second latter the keypad on the top began flashing faster and faster. The suddenly it stopped and rear sides hexagons slid over each other to reveal a long probe. "Programming done, unit will resemble Operators original limb in shape and size. Unit will have: camouflage capabilities, mild metamorphic abilities, interface capability and automatic self repair system. Is this acceptable?" Vultis asked looking over at Sheppard.
"Sure, sounds good. Just what else could we shove into it?" Sheppard asked leaning forward in interest.
"A multitude of capabilities and devices. Bioelectric amplification, poison secretion, weapon emplacements, acid secretion, stealth capabilities, energy amplification and several more." Vultis answered happily.
"Shit, no I don't think we want any of that on McKay." Sheppard said leaning back down into his seat.
"Agreed, from his body form I have concluded that unlike the Oddities he isn't engineered towards combat." Vultis said getting a snort from Sheppard.
"May we continue?" Samuel asked nodding towards the unconscious man.
"Positive, insert probe into Imitor Artus then allow time for download of programming." Vultis said floating over to the still body of McKay.
"Okay." Samuel said pressing the metal spike into the surprisingly soft necrodermis.
"Now leave until programming is complete." Vultis commanded.
Samuel took a stead back wards and watched as the smooth rod began to writhe and bulge.
"Carter, any luck on that piece of tin foil?" O'Neil asked as he watched the metal twist and turn with morbid fascination, while keeping a close eye on the unconscious woman at his feet.
"No sir, not even an energy spike. It seems to be dead." Carter said her voice full of lost hope.
"Nothing new on what we got off the Asgard?" O'Neil asked again.
"A little but not much. I don't know but it's definably a step in the right direction." Carter answered with a sigh returning the clear box to the table.
"It's stopped. What now?" Samuel asked looking down on the silver replica of McKay's arm before it was shredded.
"Scanning… insert activation key." Vultis said rolling slightly to the right.
"A what?" Samuel asked looking around.
"I do not know. The record speaks of a 'Whispering Ghost'." Vultis said still leaning slightly to the right.
"What the hell does that mean?" Sheppard asked.
"I don't have the correct information." Vultis answered almost sounding upset.
"I have a theory." Gideon said.
"Share with us then." O'Neil said waving his arm over the assembled room.
"Its that piece of necrodermis Jack." Daniel said getting a nod from Gideon.
"But why would they need that." Carter asked.
"Much Goa'uld technology only works when a certain condition is met. It is possible that this works on the same principle." Teal'c said looking between the small clear box and McKay.
"Like needing Naqahdah in you blood." Carter said.
"Yes, it is possible that the people who made this material encoded a similar restriction." Teal'c concluded.
"Okay, say I buy this, we lose the only piece of C'tan dead or other wise we've ever found." O'Neil said glancing at everyone in the room.
"Sam has already said it's useless and we still have two more planets." Daniel said.
"Fine. What ever, lets use it." O'Neil said with a sigh.
"Okay how can I do this?" Samuel asked holding the clear box over McKay.
"Insert the control key into the Imitor Artus at any point." Vultis said floating closer to Samuel.
Samuel snapped the box open with ease, the small piece of necrodermis falling silently into his hand. He took a deep breath and pressed it down into McKay's new palm. The metal sunk in like it was being pressed into syrup but when his finger reached the metal it was harder than steel.
All was silent for a second before the metal at the top began to writhe. In an instant tendrils of necrodermis, moving like it was liquid not solid, shot out into and around the wound. Fresh blood squirted from the wreckage of McKay's shoulder as the whipping metal burrowed into him. The tentacle like growths on his chest pulled them selves along sealing the metal arm to flesh and digging them selves into his chest and Samuel could only guess his back. With a final burst a jet of blood the arm sealed around the wound and a faint green light shone from the thin line that slowly closed into nothing. McKay and his new arm were officially one.
"Well that was fucked up." O'Neil said poking one of spindly tendrils that ran over McKay's chest.
"What are these things?" Samuel asked rounding on the AI.
"Sensor probes, they allow the Imitor Artus to react like the organic flesh and monitor vital signs. It has also completely infiltrated his nervous system and blood vesicles." Vultis said floating down to McKay's level.
"How long till rescue arrives?" Carter asked O'Neil.
"About another hour, maybe more." O'Neil said glancing at his watch.
"We must continue then." Gideon said nodding towards the table.
"Okay, now talk me through these eye things." Samuel commanded.
"The ocular implant is standardized. Is the ocular cavity clear and the nerve exposed." Vultis questioned.
"Yes I made sure of that a while ago." Samuel said, reminding him self not to get angry at the AI for questioning his competence.
"Excellent, the procedure will be quick then. Take one of the implants and place it in the socket then press it down slightly to begin the connective sequence." Vultis said.
Samuel picked up the two black balls and looked at them. One had three evenly spaced red rings around a black center, making it look like a strange darts board made with red and black, and the other was a golden four pointed star with a black interior.
"What's the difference?" Samuel asked holding up the two implants.
"Accessing… The ringed variant is designed for Ground forces concentrating on better range, focus, detail, recognition speed and multi-tracking. The star variant is designed for Fleet personnel with a wider spectrum, larger peripherals and lower light intensity abilities." Vultis said its sides once again turning a faint blue.
"McKay doesn't do any flying right?" O'Neil asked.
"No, he's a little unsure behind the wheel." Sheppard answered with a grimace.
"And you guys normally end up waist deep in shit on a weekly basis right?" O'Neil continued.
"Yeah." Sheppard muttered.
"Okay, decisions made. The first one." O'Neil said quiet happy with his reasoning.
"I don't know. Rodney might like being able to see in x-ray." Sheppard said quite liking the idea himself.
"That would not help in the battles to come." Teal'c said wisely.
"Agreed. Samuel said and put the star eye back down.
What Samuel hadn't noted until now was that the red wasn't a light or paint. It was a metal of some kind with thousands of tiny white lines running over it making it look like some blood red marble set in obsidian.
"Jack!" Daniel shouted as Davidenko began to awaken.
"What happened?" Davidenko asked from the floor.
"Tell me, you having any weird urges to hit me." O'Neil asked while Teal'c kept the Zat trained on her back.
"Not more than usual." Davidenko answered quietly forcing Daniel to smother his laugh.
"You find something funny Daniel?" O'Neil asked sending a threatening look at the archeologist.
"No, not at all." Daniel replied smiling politely.
"All ready." Samuel said stepping back from McKay.
"Rodney." Davidenko muttered and flew to his side.
"Sheppard you want to wake him now or latter?" Samuel asked.
"Can you take all the information about those things?" Sheppard asked Vultis.
"Negative, I could store a small report about the Imitor Artus." Vultis answered floating over to Sheppard.
"Okay, wake him up here when we have the information we need." Sheppard said.
"Very well." Samuel said and injected a small dose of stimulants into McKay's remaining organic arm.
The effect was immediate and startling. McKay attempted to sit up right but the dead weight of his false arm dragged him back down. His eyes ringed and normal stared frantically out at every one.
"Where am I?" McKay asked through short gasps.
"It's okay Rodney your safe." Sheppard said soothingly.
"But, but that thing bit me. Oh God! I can't feel my arm! I can't feel my arm!" McKay shouted frantically flailing around.
Vultis floated in front of him and McKay stopped shouting. "Operator concentrate on moving your right arm."
"Oh god I'm dead." McKay said his body visibly relaxing.
"Rodney you not dead. That's a little, um, friend we picked up." Sheppard said shooing Vultis away with his hands.
"Just try and slowly move your right arm." Samuel said gently.
McKay closed his eyes and his silver arm began to slowly rise. Suddenly a loud screech echoed down the hallway and the fake limb thudded back down.
"When we arrived did we lock this place down?" O'Neil asked quietly.
"No." Teal'c answered leveling his staff weapon at the door.
"God we're dumb." O'Neil muttered.
"Indeed." Teal'c said with a small smile.
"This is the Fenrir. We have received your transmission, please reply." A distorted and faded voice whispered over the radios.
"This is O'Neil. Lock onto all power sources and transponders." O'Neil said into his radio most of his attention focused on the slowly approaching sound of talons on metal.
"Negative too much interference." The voice responded.
"Blow a hole in the surface and get us out." O'Neil hissed into the radio.
A second later the entire world shook as three lance strikes tried to melt through the glass ceiling. O'Neil looked at his group and nodded as another blast tore open the ceiling the atmosphere that had been trapped inside the bubble for millennium being sucked out into the low pressure of the dead world. The wind tore at the group but they hunkered down clinging to the tables or the marines who were magnetically locked to the ground. As the air rushed passed them O'Neil took a deep breath and held it even as people and things went soaring past the windows he stayed rooted to the spot defiant to the end.
"We have locks beaming." The voice whispered in to the storm of escaping air and O'Neil's world became a white wash.
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Angelus sighed as he stared at the ceiling of is room. Maybe has was a bit to harsh on Weir and Beckett, but the Wraith weren't helping humanities fledgling Empire claw its way up nor were they allowing humanity to gain access to better weapons and facilities. The only problem that Angelus had failed to mention was that only two marines had their Progenoids left. Baltus and Vanem were not the most Wraith friendly, they had spent days picking apart the dead Hive ships and Wraith Cruisers only to brand them abominations and then plasma scorch them from existence. Turning over in his bed again Angelus sighed again as he ran over a way to placate Weir before she began one of her silent wars that he had seen crush most opposition when violence wasn't allowed. The Wraith was a good source of information and the Asgard had proven that a non-human view on the world could be quiet useful, Angelus sighed again and made his choice.
"Accursed woman." Angelus muttered as he got up and searched for his vox caster. Finding the device he began his speech. "Weir, you can scan one of Vanem's Progenoids. But if you misuse this information then, well you know the laws. There is only one condition. The Xeno must swear allegiance to us like the Asgard but if it steps out of line then I'm blasting it out an airlock." Angelus said sternly leaving no room for argument.
"Thank you Angelus." Weir said stifling a yawn.
The line was cut and Angelus returned to his bed. "I preferred things when they were simple." He muttered before he closed his eyes and trying to get some sleep.
"Carson, get Vanem and the Asgard. You have work to do." Weir said into her radio before turning it off ignoring the protests from Beckett about the time.
"Bloody great." Beckett muttered rubbing his eyes. Across the table Thor, Nana and Ve were arguing about quantum physics having long abandoned what they were supposed to be doing. "Thor and Ve you go get Vanem. He'll be in the control chair room. Nana you come with me and set up the scanner." Beckett said.
The two Asgard disappeared and not three minutes later returned having lured Vanem away with the promise of helping him dissect the control chair one circuit at a time.
"Lie down." Beckett ordered the bags under his eyes making him look very old.
"What for?" Vanem asked as he lay down on the table.
"A quick scan." Beckett said covering his mouth to hide his yawning.
The yellow light washed over Vanem a couple of times before Beckett got the information he wanted and then the Asgard whisked him away making sure he didn't see the read out on a small gland in his neck and a larger one in his chest.
"That's an impressive mass of genetic programming." Thor said from Beckett's elbow.
"Aye, now my little friend lets find what we're looking for." Beckett said as they began to dissect the virtual Progenoid in search from one or two organs that could be easily manipulated into producing what they needed.