Look at that; another chapter! Wow, Hideout must be feeling generous this month. Hope y'all like it!
The team stepped up onto the circles in the deck, and the support wall quickly formed at their back. As it had done with the Flock, several air sacs inflated at key points to protect the people leaning against them from the hardened structure of the support.
The platforms didn't rise.
"You should probably remove your gear, such as radios and guns," Angel suggested, "I doubt the environment in the gene-therapy chambers would have beneficial effects on your equipment." The others saw the wisdom in her words, and removed their gear, stepping back onto the platforms when they had finished.
The pillars rose smoothly into the tubes above, and the sedative agent was released into the occupied chambers.
Angel stopped projecting to them and created a table for their gear to rest on so it was off the ground. That done she projected herself into Atlantis' gate room, where she promptly walked up the flight of stairs, then into Dr. Wier's office.
"Angel?" Dr. Wier asked hesitantly. "John told me you were the Hive ship in orbit."
"And he was right," Angel confirmed, "He's not going to be in radio contact for at least another twenty minutes."
"Why not?" Dr Wier asked.
"Because he's unconscious right now." At Dr. Wier's concerned look, her held up her hand to stop Dr. Wier, "Don't worry, he's safe, I've seen to that. The ship that I have become has incorporated certain design ideas taken from this city, such as genetic access. I'm sure you remember that Teyla Emmagen has a tiny amount of Wraith DNA in her cellar structure?" At Dr. Wier's nod, Angel continued, "Because of that trace amount of DNA, she was able to open doors that would have been closed to her, as I was preoccupied with other, more important matters. Still, the amount she had was not enough, and after thoroughly explaining my offer, Sheppard and his team have agreed to undergo a gene therapy that I have worked up specifically for this purpose."
"What will this gene therapy do to them?" Dr. Wier asked, concerned.
"Aside from allowing access to my systems, it may affect their stamina, life expectancy, sheer strength, as well as allow them to sense Wraith equipment and personnel," Angel replied. "Don't worry, it's not enough that they'll start feeding on the people of Atlantis. I am willing to offer the gene therapy to most of the personnel stationed here on Atlantis, though there may be some who want it that will not get it."
"Why not?" Dr. Wier asked.
"Because I may decide that there are certain people who would be unfit for this. I will vet everyone here on Atlantis, and if I find them worthy, offer them the chance. From there, it is their choice to make."
"And how will we know who has had the therapy and who hasn't?" Dr. Wier asked.
"I will leave a mark on them, a tattoo, as a visual sign to all around them that they are a privileged group.," Angel replied. "Would you like to have the therapy?"
"In all honesty Angel, I don't really leave Atlantis all that much, so I can't really see a viable use for it as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for the offer though."
"Next time you go off-world, trust Sheppard if he says the Wraith are coming. Don't even bother asking how he knows, just go with it. He will be able to sense the Wraith, and dispel their mental projections," Angel said. She appeared to check a watch. "I estimate that you will re-establish radio contact with one John Sheppard in about ten minutes. Now," she said, standing up to leave, "unless you have anything else, I have the population of Atlantis to vet, as well as some explaining to do to Atlantis."
At Dr. Wier's shake of the head, Angel left the office, not bothering to open the door as she left. She was projecting the illusion to everyone who would have been able to see her had she actually been there in person, but Atlantis was a bit of a harder thing to deal with. Her computers couldn't be fooled the same way a human brain could be fooled, and Angel realized she would need a liaison in order to be able to talk with Atlantis. With that realization she headed to the infirmary, where Carson Beckett was just cleaning up in preparation to leave for the day.
"Angel!" he exclaimed, seeing her walk in. "What happened to ye? Where have ye been these past two months?"
"It's a little hard to explain...," Angel warned, "but the long story short is that the Wraith kidnapped me and turned me into a Hive ship. I'm not really here, just projecting a really convincing illusion from orbit."
"They turned you into a ship?" Carson asked incredulously. "Then why project an illusion to us common folk?"
"Because I want to have some semblance of normal conversation with people," Angel explained. "Also, I need your help."
"My help?" Carson asked. "Whatever for?"
"I can make you think that I'm standing here talking to you, and I can even make you think that I'm solid," to prove her point, Angel touched Carson's hand, "but I can't do that to Atlantis. Her computers are too complex for me to mind trick my way through, so I need you to serve as a liaison so she can see me."
"Why me?" Carson asked, sitting down at his workstation.
"Because you have the highest ATA gene of anybody on the city right now, Sheppard is still aboard the ship, where I am re-writing his DNA."
"Ye can't just re-write someone's DNA, lass!" Carson exploded.
"You did it to Rodney McKay," Angel pointed out. "Sheppard won't be changed very much, just some performance upgrades as well as a tattoo."
"Performance upgrades?"
"He will be able to run faster, fight harder and stronger, be able to detect Wraith, not to mention use my systems," Angel said. "I will need a small crew at least if I'm going to do battle with the Wraith on anything more than a very infrequent basis. Now come on." She started to walk out of the sickbay, but Beckett didn't follow her. After several moments, she returned to where he was sitting, and touched her index finger to his temple. "You will follow me..." she commanded.
"Of course, lassie," Beckett said, standing up, "where to?"
"The nearest transporter," she said, walking out. Beckett followed like a well-trained dog on a leash.
When they entered the small room, Angel guided Beckett's finger to a specific point, whereupon the doors closed before opening to a small balcony not far from the mess hall.
Once the door closed, Angel took control of Carson, making him call out into thin air, "Atlantis? Are ye there?"
The holoform shimmered into existence. "Carson?" she said, obviously puzzled. "What's going on?"
"Angel wanted to speak with ye," he said, "but said she couldn't manipulate your computers like our brains. She said you'll need to see through my eyes to be able to see her."
The holoform appeared to concentrate for several seconds, then straightened, "Angel, what's going on?"
Realizing that Atlantis was now tapped into Carson's senses, she began speaking. "Two months ago, the Wraith took me."
"Yes, I remember that, but what's going on now? What have they done to you?" Atlantis asked through Carson.
"They turned me into a Hive ship. That's why my signal is still in orbit," Angel explained. "I killed the ones who did this to me, but I'm afraid the changes may be permanent."
"Why is Sheppard unconscious?"
"Because I'm giving him the genetic markers required to have as much operational ability inside my halls as he has here. I gave him the option, but did not force the change upon him. He will not be altered enough to cause significant changes in his physiology, but he will be able to operate everything-even my flight controls."
"A jack-of-all genetics," Atlantis said, smiling. "Very clever."
"During my growth, the queen aboard the cruiser from which I was launched attempted to gain access. She failed, and when I was complete I destroyed her and her ship for their insolence. I will not have them aboard, not after what they have done to this galaxy," Angel said. "But in order to continue with the destruction of their race, I will need a crew. I'm in the process of vetting everyone within your halls so that I may offer a select group of individuals the opportunity to have the genetic therapy."
"We need a better way of communicating," Atlantis said, "because if I keep this up, I will irrevocably damage the soul occupying this body. Talk with Sheppard about the Replicator labs in my halls, I think we could give you a Replicator injection that would allow you to communicate more freely than this crude method."
"Agreed," Angel said, nodding. "I'll be going, Sheppard is nearly finished." As she finished speaking, she seemed to simply fade into nothing, leaving no trace.
Atlantis quickly pulled herself out of Carson's mind, so as to not leave any more trauma than necessary. The kindly Scottish doctor sagged sideways slightly before grasping the railing. It took him several moments to recover, while Atlantis stayed nearby out of concern. After about two minutes, he was well enough to get down to the mess hall for a quick dinner before heading to bed.
Aboard the Hive, Sheppard and his team-mates were falling onto their individual beds as the gene-therapy equipment shut down.
Angel projected her illusion into the minds of everyone in the room, and sat down on a lounge recliner to wait for her family to wake up.
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
About three minutes later, Max woke up with a groan. "I hiz bizzle..." she said intelligently, as her mind fought of the lingering effects of the sedative. Realization of her surroundings flooded into her brain, and she was instantly wide awake, the drug being pushed aside by a quick infusion of adrenaline.
"Sit-rep!" she called out.
"Here," Angel said in a bored voice. "Everybody else is still asleep."
The memories of what had happened returned, and Max got up from her bed before walking over to Angel.
Angel merely waved towards an empty section of deck, where a chair quickly grew up. "Sit down," she said gently. "I know you're angry with me, but try to understand, I'm doing what I feel is best for the safety of those I hold dear. I am not the Angel you knew anymore. I am something…more than that. I am the ship, just projected in an illusion in your mind."
"You betrayed my trust," Max said, "Why should I trust you now?"
"Do you know what happens in those chambers?" Angel asked, pointing upwards.
"No…"
"I altered your genetic structure, giving you even more speed, strength, agility…the whole nine, in addition to gaining the ability to sense when the Wraith are coming and the ability to use the controls of this ship. I gave you enough Wraith genes to be able to fly me without tiring quickly, because changed or not, I still need you."
Max blinked, once again stunned. "You…need me?" she asked.
Angel nodded. "You're the key, Max. You and the others I intend to bring aboard. We need to be able to strike at the Wraith, harder than has ever been done before, or they will end the galaxy and move to the Milky
Way. I cannot allow that," she said quietly. "I should have just told you straight up, but I was concerned that you would want nothing to do with the idea, and I didn't want you to say no."
"Oh, Angel..." Max said quietly. She was close to tears. "You have always been, and always will be, my Angel. You could have just explained and I would have understood."
"Really?" Angel asked.
"Really," Max assured her. The two hugged, then broke apart as the other Flock members began to wake up.
"The good news is that you won't ever have to do that again, unless you're really cut up to the point that conventional medicine can't heal you," Angel said brightly, seeming to get over her sadness.
"That's good," Max said, "I don't think it's an experience I'd like to repeat just yet."
"What Mac truck my brain did hit?" Nudge asked, her voice thick and slurred by the sedative agent.
"Truck Number 42," Angel told her. "But I got the plate, so we'll sue, and seek possession of Robert Pattison as punitive damages."
"Really?" Nudge asked, seeming to brighten up.
"Don't encourage her..." Max groaned. After a moment of thinking about though, she decided to help Fang wake up in her own special way.
Angel looked towards Nudge and shrugged with a 'what are you gonna do?' look written all over her face. Her expression changed then, and she walked crisply towards the door.
"Where ya going Angel?" Max asked.
"I need to wake Colonel Bed-Head." Angel called over her shoulder. "I'll be right back."
And that's another chapter done. I may or may not get yet another chapter in before Christmas, but don't hold your breath.
Answers to Readers:
Kumatheawesome: ? ? What?
And now for The Layman's closing remarks.
Well, Angel seems to be preparing everyone for something big. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it will be in the end.
Anyways, leave a good word for Hideout Writer and myself in the form of a review, would ya? Short of coming to visit us and giving us a pat on the back, it's the best Christmas present y'all could give!