A/N: These next couple of chapters might be a bit confusing. I had a hard time writing them, and I let poor Jennifer and Guide go off on a tangent, but I promise there's a purpose! Thanks again to everyone who has been reviewing! I am about halfway through my photography season, so things should be settling down after the end of July which means more updates, yay!

Alarms sounded suddenly from the west wing of the Hive, and Guide's attention quickly shifted from the glyphs scrolling across the console to the window overlooking the planet around which they were orbiting. He saw nothing of the approaching vessel the alarms were screaming about, but it wouldn't be the first time a cloak had been used in the Hive's vicinity. Sighing, he swiped his fingertips across the console again and brought up a short range scanner. Sure enough, a very non-invisible red dot appeared before him, and he looked out the window again just in time to see a small rock strike the vessel's shield. It flickered, revealing the shape of the ship, and Guide felt his body tense.

"Impossible!" the commander growled as he ran a more detailed sweep with the scanner. The energy readings told all. It was an Atlantean puddle jumper.

"What is it?"

Looking sharply over his shoulder so that his white hair fanned out, the Wraith's rigid stance frightened Jennifer, who had approached upon hearing the alarms.

"Saboteurs," he snapped back, taking control of the Hive from his console. Bonewhite appeared in the doorway moments later.

"Who?" Jennifer asked, anxious.

"Return to the bedroom, and stay away from the windows!" Guide barked, ignoring her question. The urgency in his voice let her know the situation was serious. Without another word, she did as he ordered, but not before catching Bonewhite's eye as she turned. He raised an eyebrow at her and she dropped her own eyes in submission. Just as she reached the entrance to the bedroom area, the ship pitched sharply to one side, throwing her against the damp walls with a thud.

An immense Wraith feeding hand wrapped its fingers around her upper arm, and as Guide drew her upwards, the Hive did the same with Bonewhite now at the controls. He kept hold of her arm with a quivering, bruising force.

"We must go to the bridge, Commander," Bonewhite directed from a few feet away, his voice harsh like the alarms. "We cannot maintain the Hive's course with the intruders on our tail."

Guide agreed, releasing Jennifer and thumping his fist against the entrance to the bedroom. It opened, far more slowly than either of them liked. He shoved her unceremoniously inside and let the door close behind her while he returned to Bonewhite. The pounding on the wall coming from inside the bedroom indicated Jennifer was not pleased with her containment, but Guide ignored it. He left his quarters with Bonewhite at his side, the pair of them striding down the corridors in perfect rhythm, black trench coats flowing behind them.

"I don't understand," Guide spoke as they walked, his lips lifting into an irritated snarl at the strange turn of events. "I myself watched the Replicators destroy the city. There were no survivors."

"The Atlantean female indicated to you that her team was off-world at the time the Replicators attacked," Bonewhite observed as they neared the bridge. "You told me this."

As they stepped onto the bridge, Guide looked at him.

"And this I do understand, Bonewhite, however, I find it very unlikely John Sheppard would be able to find my Hive so quickly and easily."

Bonewhite stepped up to his post beside Guide's, while the other crew shifted their own positions to make room for their superiors.

"You have also indicated to me that John Sheppard's team is...diverse...in its skills. Could they not have placed a tracking device in the female?"

"They would have no reason to do so."

"Perhaps a standard procedure?" the Wraith Second suggested.

Guide considered him.

"It is worth investigating, but first we must rid ourselves of this...situation."

Guide placed both hands on either side of the console before him, breathing deeply. His body quivered at the thrill of the chase, a part of him delighted to be able to think about something besides the Atlanteans and their destroyed city. Something besides the gene therapy that might mean the end of the human-Wraith war. Something besides Jennifer Keller and how much he had enjoyed their...mutual display of affection. His gut twisted, his body suddenly longing to go to her once more. To deposit her in his bed and take in her alien beauty. To strip her bare and stake his claim upon her to fulfill his most basic needs.

"Commander?"

Bonewhite's voice jerked him from his musing, and he scowled at him.

"What is it?" Guide snapped.

"The Atlantean vessel...our high-sensitivity scanners are not detecting any readings. They appear to have left the area." Bonewhite's narrowed eyes betrayed his skepticism even in his own declaration. Guide, evidently, felt that same skepticism.

"Increase the sensitivity of the scanners to maximum levels and keep looking!" the commander snapped, slamming his fist upon his console. His attention turned to another Wraith—his third-level officer—and the poor brute practically shriveled under his commander's gaze. "Have the Drones search the Hive. I'll not have any unwelcome guests gallivanting around my ship."

The Wraith Third nodded and then disappeared through a doorway. Bonewhite met Guide's eye and then shifted uncomfortably.

"Do you really think they could have gotten on board, Commander?" Bonewhite asked.

Guide bared his teeth momentarily and looked back out the window of the bridge.

"If John Sheppard has anything to do with this sighting, then I believe it is a strong possibility that he could find a way on board."

"If John Sheppard had anything to do with this, Commander, why not hail you and ask for permission to come aboard instead?"

Guide considered him, and then responded.

"Because, Bonewhite, as far as he is concerned, it may as well have been the Wraith that destroyed Atlantis. He knows Doctor Keller and I worked together on the Hoffan drug. If he also managed to gather intel regarding the Doctor's presence here with us, it is likely he assumes we took her hostage in an attempt to continue development of the drug for our own purposes."

"Even so, why not make contact and demand an exchange?"

"The destruction of Atlantis is unforgivable in his eyes. I doubt Sheppard and I are on speaking terms at this point." Guide sighed and looked around at his crew.

"Those would be false assumptions—surely he would see reason upon speaking with the Doctor...would she not vouch for you Guide?" Bonewhite's expression jested faintly.

"I cannot fully anticipate Doctor Keller's ultimate reaction to her situation were she to come upon the Atlanteans again," Guide admitted, more to himself than to his second-in-command. "Faced with the chance to return to her own kind...I fear it would be much the same as was my own end to human captivity. Any sympathy I might have felt for the humans during my imprisonment vanished the moment I was free of my cell."

Surprised that Guide was speaking so openly about his own capture, Bonewhite slid a finger along his console and increased the shield stability in preparation for a hyperspace jump. Silently, Guide gave him the go-ahead to make the jump. The ship shuddered briefly and then settled into the steady reverberating hum signaling their presence in hyperspace. Guide spoke.

"Inform me when we are nearing the next planet. The Doctor's presence will be required for this trip, and I wish to give her as much time to prepare as possible."