"They feed on humans?" Daniel asked. "How did they evolve to feed on humans?"
"They evolved on a world with extremely large insects called araitis. Araitis also feed on humans, well all animals, by draining them. Somehow they gained DNA from the humans they fed on, over time this allowed them to evolve into a human form araitis. They're insect minded. They call their ships hives, they're organic, because they're more comfortable with organic technology and because they form a symbiotic relationship with their hives. Each hive is dominated by a Queen, she has a few males, that serve as her generals and all the rest are drones. Like most insect species, the drones can't reproduce."
"Great, so if we go to Atlantis we risk encountering these Wraith. How long were you at war with them?" Major Carter asked.
"A century, but it was totally unnecessary. Our leaders never truly committed to the war, consequently it was very long and drawn out. We were superior technologically, but numerically they became greater. They reproduce faster then we could. As our lifespan increased, our ability to reproduce decreased." Corda told them. "We were lucky if we could produce two children in our thousand year lifespan. If our leaders had committed in the beginning, before the Wraith had a chance to build up their numbers, I have no doubt we would have won."
"And then, they came back to Terra, what you call Earth and left the humans, humans we seeded the galaxy with, to deal with it themselves. Some were just beginning to achieve spaceflight. Others still used beast of burden for transportation. None of them stood a chance. We forfeited our responsibility to them." Alexander said grimly.
"You truly are a soldier." General Hammond said quietly. "That is a sentiment I hope every soldier in my command holds true too. We have a responsibility to protect those who can not protect themselves. We need to go to Atlantis, it's too valuable an opportunity to waste. But we must do so with the clear understanding that there are humans there as well. And just like the humans that were transported off world and enslaved by the Gou'ald, we have a responsibility to them. After all, if we are in danger, we would hope someone would come to help us. Excuse me, I need to check on the progress of the repairs to the Prometheus. The sooner we can get back, the sooner I can report to the President."
"Well, as much as they resemble vampires, some of your people must have told humans on Earth about them. Like the story of Atlantis and was remembered." Daniel said.
"Their behavior does resemble vampires, true." Alexander said. "But no one needed to tell them any stories about vampires, since humans were already well aware that they existed."
"Vampires don't exist." Major Carter said. "If they did, we'd know about it. There'd be proof and as far as I know, dead bodies don't walk under their own steam. The Gou'ald can revive a dead body using their technology, but that's not the same thing."
"You're right, a dead body can't animate itself. But a microscopic creature from another dimension can."
Again, Alexander's statement was met with silence by Daniel and Major Carter.
"If that's true, then how do we not know about it?" Major Carter asked, confused and not liking the feeling.
"Some in your government do know. Remember back when we first met? Colonel O'Neill mentioned that Riley Finn had been arrested baring an investigation? He was involved with a group that was capturing other creatures from that same dimension, for study. When he was arrested, they shut down their project and left town. We did our own investigation and found a complex they'd built under the University of California, Sunnydale Campus. They killed the ones they'd been studying before they left and left their bodies behind. Eleven out of twelve of them were nonviolent. If you want to come with us back to Sunnydale, we can prove some things to you. And vampires aren't like how they're portrayed in movies and books. In order to survive they need two things, the blood of the living to maintain the body they're animating and negative psychic emotions to sustain themselves. And even though they're stronger then humans, their preferred prey are children and teenagers. Who die screaming in pain and terror."
"You can prove this?" Major Carter asked.
"Yes."
"How?"
"Sitting underneath Sunnydale is a dimensional tear. It was created on purpose a century ago. Back when our people occupied this world, tears first appeared near the end of our time here. Before we left, we suceeded in closing the tears, though we don't know how they did that. It was million year old history by then. At some point, they reopened. They can be opened purposely, the one under Sunnydale certainly was. We haven't yet figured out for ourselves how they were closed. It's one of the reasons we need to quiry a repository or go to Atlantis, the database there may contain the information. But the energy the rifts leak? Creatures that evolved in that dimension, evolved to need it in some way. Consequently they're drawn to it. And the Sunnydale tear is so big, it leaks alot of energy. So creatures that come through other rifts are drawn to it. We started out using Alteran tech to help fight them, then we found out about the aliens endangering Earth. One thing led to another."
After discussing it with General Hammond, who was as stunned by the revelation as Major Carter and Daniel were, it was agreed that they would accompany the Altimah back to Sunnydale and see for themselves what was going on. The Altimah lifted off an hour later with three additional passengers, Major Carter, Daniel Jackson and the silent Teal'C.