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Chapter Text

The membranous doors whooshed shut behind the slender, leather-clad man who surveyed the room with an imperious, critical eye. A new shift was beginning.

He liked being here, in the Genetics Lab, his assigned domain. Good work was being done here. His Queen was a visionary, unencumbered by old prejudice and fiercely devoted to her Hive's well-being. If anyone was to prevail against this plague that was endangering Wraithkind, it would surely be them.

He loved the comforting hums and chirps of lab equipment. The clicking of vials, the muffled noises of the well-trained worshipper attendants and the almost-silent steps of his underlings going about their duties.

Handpicked by Gar'ain himself, they were all ambitious, smart young men no more than three centuries old, burning with the desire to discover, prove themselves, climb the ladder and be noticed, either by him or his Commanders or, those not Hive-born, even by the elusive and much-desired Queen of the Adventure.

His thoughts flew to his progenitor with a surge of affection. For the longest time, she'd been the only notable female presence in his life and his respect for her bordered on reverence. A worthy leader Bel'anna was, to be loved and feared.

But… no longer his true Queen.

Ah, not again. Don't think about it! Don't think about Her…

And there it was. The pressure in his loins was getting unbearable again, churning like fire, making him physically ill. Blasted human. How could she do this to him. Damn her to oblivion. Yes, if only he could forget about her… If only he could feed on her and end this.

Though much good it did you the first time! he mused bitterly.

In his two millennia of existence, he could not remember having felt such urgent, pressing carnal need. Fool that he was, he'd prided himself on his discipline, self-control and "analytical spirit". No, he was not like those who succumbed to desire, not like Mer'ren, who had, scandalously and yet to the secret envy of the rest of the Adventure's Clevermen, resorted to taking a beautiful human lover almost a thousand cycles ago.

Ah, the hubris of a male who hadn't yet been conquered... Blasted Sher'zin had known better. His brother had laughed at him and told him as much. But who could take that one seriously, all he thought about when he wasn't elbow-deep in the ship's hyperdrive was "finding his Queen". At least he wasn't going about mating with humans. Gar'ain felt a hot surge of shame. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

Unfortunately, or perhaps thankfully, Gar'ain could not decide, Sher'zin was far away now, a prisoner of the Tau'ri. And in Her care... With Her all the damn day, a thousand curses upon him.

Worse than hunger in a way, this was. To satiate his hunger, he could take. But for this… Snarling loudly, startling his men and terrifying the scurrying humans, he promised himself he would try. He'd trick her into meeting him again in person, and overpower her, and take her like a wild creature until he could take no more. And then snap her blasted neck. She was, after all, only a frail human.

He'd try to relieve the curse from time to time, at night in his alcove or sometimes in the bath, but it didn't help much. After he found release, the ache returned tenfold, like every darn cell in his body knew that She wasn't there and he was spilling aimlessly that which was Her due.

The only thing that truly helped was holding Her close during that blessed – or cursed? – Tau'ri hour when she had promised she would come to him each day, to keep him from the madness that had gripped him during those first weeks when he was taken from Her.

He drank in the curves of her body and trailed his lips and hands along her soft alabaster skin, caressing her with the touch of his silky hair. If only he could've felt her warmth as well and the intoxicating scent that had first drawn him to her damn hiding place in the City, like a fly into a spider's web. Alas, it was not to be, not like this.

Driven by pure instinct, a couple of evenings ago, he'd started grinding against that maddeningly round backside of hers while she was laying in his alcove next to him, reading to him from her Tau'ri novel of Queens and "musketeers".

It still surprised him that she could make him feel her, though she was physically thousands of lightyears away, probably lying on her strange human bed in the City of the Ancestors, sending the arrows of her mind into the void of space toward him.

She turned to him and angled her head in one of those Wraithy gestures that confused him despite himself. How could this infuriating creature be so alien, and yet so familiar?

She pierced him with those molten lava eyes from behind dark-rimmed glasses and a wicked smile spread across her face. Biting her bottom lip and propping herself on one knee, she dropped her reading tablet, grabbed him roughly by the hair at the nape of his neck and pulled his head back. Her other hand scratched along his chest and abdomen, leaving in its wake marks that healed too soon, then went between his legs and started stroking him through the thin silk of his underpants, as she watched him with rapt attention.

He felt the press of her mind against his again, those warm, electric tendrils that were invading his consciousness, inexorably opening him up to her and making him drift from the rest of the world.

"You are so beautiful, beloved. Yes. So beautiful like this. I want you, Gar'ain," she growled at him.

So hard he thought the skin on his member would split open, he arched his back and ground shamelessly into her hand. She let him feel her, amused, aroused, and touched by his wanton surrender. He'd made her want him too, and that inflamed him even more. She stroked him deftly, body and mind, and he moaned and trembled in pleasure until he felt her gently, yet rapaciously, commanding him to give now.

And that was it, he could not fight it. He cried out and seized, obediently spilling himself and sinking into bliss, with her blunt teeth sinking into his exposed neck.

Then it had been right. He had obeyed. He had done for Her. And he was satisfied, and rode that high for a while, even after her presence vanished as it did every evening and the ever-present longing that was now his life returned.

Chapter Text

"Are you sure, love? I mean it is a damn Wraith, there's no telling what it will do. Besides, I can't imagine Anneke and the guys will be happy to share the lab with it."

"Well, he is a 'native speaker'. And that's what I need right now. I mean we've gained an understanding of written Wraith, but there's still much to be learned, and we know very little about how it actually sounds. They speak damn English, well, Common if you wanna call it that. I'd say we're at a disadvantage for not speaking the language of the enemy, and we could correct that. If I can make him work with us, and I think I might. I'll have him over while Anneke and the guys are taking their lunch break. They may still complain, but they should be okay with it for a little while."

"What did dr. Weir say?"

"I explained everything and I think she agrees, or she wouldn't have authorized it. Plus, some of this is pretty technical stuff. If I am to hand it to your team, it should be a quality translation, or else McKay will eviscerate me. They should be able to use it, and schematics only help so much. This guy is an engineer."

"How do you even know that? I mean he could be, I don't know, an assassin, or a slave driver, or whatever these fuckers do."

"They maintain those ships, Agata. For thousands of years. There's a good chance he's technically savvy."

"I still think it's a shit idea."

Emily hugged her friend. "I know, love, you're looking out for me. But trust me. There will be Marines with huge guns. And I have some helpful gadgets. I'll be alright."

Chapter Text

"Where do you want this, ma'am?"

The young flaxen-haired Marine shoved the angry shackled prisoner roughly through the door, while his colleague poked him in the back with his P-90.

"Thanks, Williams", came the reply, accompanied by a warm smile. "Please uncuff him, then go and wait outside the door."

"Say what, ma'am?"

The air seemed to grow heavier as she spoke again, looking him straight in the eyes, still smiling, and sergeant Williams thought he felt a gentle pressure against the back of his skull.

"Please uncuff him, then go and wait outside the door", she repeated, and suddenly the idea didn't seem preposterous at all. No, it was the natural thing to do. Lieutenant Rath, the second young Marine, nodded and took his position by the open door while his comrade calmly unlocked the confused prisoner's cuffs, then left as well.

Now free, the disheveled, hungry Wraith darted his eyes incredulously around the room, then lunged forward with a triumphant snarl towards the small female in front of him, feeding hand at the ready.

Stopping almost nose to nose with her, he growled menacingly. This was the moment he liked most. Feeling the human's blind panic, the adrenaline coursing through the veins of the prey paralyzed with fear. What an idiot… but he was not about to complain.

His sensory pits flared, expecting the sweet reward. But it didn't come.

The female regarded him with calm interest, strangely impassive on the outside except for slightly twitching hands. Yes, there was adrenaline, there was excitement. But not acrid fear.

Instead, his sensory pits picked up an incredibly alluring aroma that made him dizzy, flowing off her in waves.

He growled again, with a ferocity that he knew would render his prey faint. Instead, she emitted a feral snarl that chilled his bones, the likes of which he had never heard from a human's mouth. That, instinct told him, was the call of a predator, of one who had tasted if not Wraith life, then Wraith flesh.

His pupils dilated in surprise and he almost backed away. But he quicky came back to himself and slammed his hand onto the foolish female's chest. Instead of sweet life, blinding pain flared through his feeding organ. He shouted and staggered back, dazed, cradling his feeding hand.

She regarded him intensely, curiously tilting her head, the medallion on her chest crackling with electricity. The air around her was heavy with that dizzying scent, and he found himself curiously unable to feel anger despite the torture.

This was bad. This was a manner of human he had never encountered. She was at least clearly insane, quite possibly carrying a dangerous pathogen. He'd heard of parasites that would make creatures reckless and rob them of their conservation instincts. He should get rid of her before whatever disease she had would spread to the others and spell trouble for his kind.

"Sit", she ordered pointing towards the chair next to him, and his legs gave way. His hand still ached terribly.

"You will not fool me a second time, woman", he snarled at her.

Her features relaxed and she laughed softly, a musical sound he had not expected. "I know. It was only meant to deter you enough on our first encounter. I have other means of keeping you in line."

"No, you do not. It only takes a moment. And I will have my moment."

"I have no doubt that you will try. And, perhaps, succeed. Though you should curse that day." The sadness in her voice unnerved him.

"Perhaps you mean that you should curse it. I know I surely will not curse a good feeding."

"Perhaps."

She turned and picked up a tablet. "In the meantime, let me tell you why you are here."

She sat on the corner of the desk, crossing her legs.

She wore a long-sleeved black leather dress held together by strange buttons and clasps in the front. Tantalizingly open at a chest that seemed to teem with delicious life, it only came down to the middle of her thighs, leaving a pair of slender, shapely legs on display.

Her feet were encased in strange black shoes with long, pointed heels. He grinned, thinking that it must be difficult to run and escape on those, and, following his gaze, she smiled in response, her reddish-brown eyes lighting up behind dark-rimmed glasses.

"I would not be able to outrun you in flat shoes, that much I know. Fortunately, it's not going to come to that."

"Pity. I love a good chase. I hoped you'd put up a proper fight."

She chuckled.

"I expected nothing less, Cleverman. You are a fine one, and definitely in your prime."

He felt a shiver of pleasure and pride running down his spine. What in the blazes... NO.

"I care nothing of your expectations, human. You will offer good sustenance despite your ramblings," he growled at her again. "And if your insane brain cannot comprehend that I am your death, it will soon enough."

She still managed to look unimpressed, and that impressed him a little, despite himself. And still no fear. This one was nicely schooled. Interesting.

"My God, I swear you guys all have the same script. Do they teach it to you or is it…? Never mind, I'll ask someone else. Now that we got the 'I am your death' routine out of our system, let's get to the work, shall we?"

Her red-tipped index finger, peeking out from fingerless leather gloves, moved deftly across the tablet.

"You are currently in the Translation lab. We have recently come across a vast body of information that we have jokingly dubbed the 'Wraith Encyclopedia'. We've translated part of it and would like some help with checking the accuracy of that translation. Now I know you cannot read the Tau'ri script, yet, though I can teach you if you want. So for now we're going through an intermediary stage, in what we call 'Ancient', the script of the Ancestors. You can read that, right?"

He angled his head and hummed.

"Even if I did, and I am not saying I do, why would I help you, human?" he spat with as much disdain as he could muster. "It is a distasteful endeavour that I am gaining nothing from."

"Oh, but I beg to differ", the woman said, smiling. "You seem a bit grimy as well as hungry. Now I can't help with the latter part, but I can help with the former. The lab has a bathroom that I, and only I, can give you access to. In it, there is a bath that I will show you how to use, and products to clean yourself with, so you can feel human… well, Wraithy, again. I will provide some clean clothes for you to wear while we send these to be cleaned." She pointed at his dirty leathers.

"I would not be caught dead in your ridiculous outfits."

"Chill, dude, it's just a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, some underwear and clean socks. You can change back into your stuff after it's cleaned. But I think you'll find 'our outfits' quite comfortable."

Disconcerted, he took a moment to consider the female's offer. He'd been in prison for a month, since he was caught during the siege, and he was indeed feeling awful and uncomfortable.

People had interrogated and pestered him, especially that Sheppard character, but no one had even considered easing his discomfort in any way, and he had not expected them to.

Perhaps this was not such a bad thing. He could pretend to provide some very minor assistance in exchange for some small, but real comforts…

"You can shower here every day for as long as you offer me assistance. Not to mention that you would be getting out of jail for a couple of hours. You know, move around, stretch your bones, look out the window", she said.

Hm, perhaps he had misjudged the situation. She seemed quite accommodating and not as hostile as the others. Perhaps she'd make a nice worshipper? He wanted to believe that, though the memory of earlier events put him a little on edge.

She may seem nice and smell good, but don't forget she's rabid.

No matter. Bathing first. He'd consider the rest later.

"Well? Do we have a deal?"

"We are agreed."

"Okay, love. Come with me."

She led him to the small bathchamber. There was no tub, just a tiled area in a corner, surrounded by glass panels, where a strangely shaped pipe jutted from the wall.

"So you turn the water on and off from here, like this. Up and down. And if you turn it to the left, the water is colder, to the right, it's hotter. Adjust it to your preferred temperature and pressure. There are the washing products, we call them soap and shampoo. This one, the soap, is for your body, and this one, the shampoo, is for your hair. Some people prefer to use lots of different products, I am content with just the basic stuff. If you don't like the way they smell or if the scent is too strong for you, let me know."

He opened the lid of the shampoo bottle and took a whiff. It smelled delicately like flowers.

"It will do."

"Good. You'll find towels under the sink, this basin right here. I'll find some clean clothes for you until you're done. How tall are you, probably 5'9", 5'10"? Not tall for a Wraith, are you?"

He frowned. She'd touched on one of his insecurities. His brother and closest friend was a bit taller and had always teased him about it.

"And let's see, probably about 170-180 pounds? Oookay. We can work with that. I'll let you clean yourself up. Take as much time as you need. I understand, and we're not in a rush".

She turned and closed the door behind her, leaving him alone.

He took his time examining the curious things humans used to keep themselves clean and groom themselves. He picked up a round brush and ran it through his matted hair. It was surprisingly easy to use and removed the knots without much pain. Hm, he should get one of these.

Once he was done, he divested himself of his leathers and stepped under the pipe, turning on the water. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed this. The grooming, the hot water loosening up stiff muscles... A tub would have been better, but this would do for now. Half an hour later, he was relaxed to the point of drowsiness and smelled thoroughly of flowers.

He shook his hair, wrapped himself in a white towel and opened the door. A pair of faded grey jeans, a black short-sleeved t-shirt with writing on it, a pair of grey underpants and socks waited on a chair right outside the door.

He could have grabbed them and taken them inside... But he felt like playing a little. Some payback was in order for how the female had unnerved him earlier. And if the reactions of the female worshippers on the Adventure were anything to judge by, the sight of him unclothed was both worthy of fear and admiration.

So he stepped out with the small towel around his hips and scowled at her menacingly.

"Woman, are these the garments you promised? They look worn."

Unlike the bashful worshippers, this one leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs and looked him up and down smiling, taking in his toned, tattoo-adorned form. Her eyebrows shot up a little, but she looked like she was eyeing in the most familiar sight in the world.

He could feel the air permeating with that sweet scent again and regretted his choice when he felt himself hardening up.

"You look like a malachite statue. Lovely."

Her compliment was met with a growl.

"I'm sorry, these are the clothes I could get. They're clean and will fit you. If you don't like them, you are, of course, free to stay as you are."

"What is a malachite?"

"A green semi-precious stone from Earth."

"Semi-precious?"

"Well, you have not qualified for precious yet."

He really had to knock this one down a peg. A proper worshipper showed healthy fear and respect for her Wraith betters. But he could hardly do that with just a towel around his hips. Or could he?

With a frustrated hiss, he turned around and went into the bathroom to get dressed.

Chapter Text

"Welcome to my ship, John Sheppard!" the tall Commander greeted with open arms. The small Tau'ri delegation stepped out of the puddle jumper, wary of the Wraith standing before them. John knew that he couldn't trust Todd as far as he could throw him, and considering their size disparity, that would have not been far at all.

The three Wraith led them to a sort of conference room, where an intricately sculpted table lay surrounded by a few chairs, all made out of what looked to be mahogany or some other precious wood. Probably stolen from some human mansion, they liked to do that, John thought.

They sat down around the table and started negotiating. Engrossed in the talks and the Commander's engaging personality, no one paid attention when the small woman in the black leather jacket rose and quietly leaned against one of the ship's walls.

She had convinced Elizabeth Weir to include her in the delegation for "study and cultural exchange" purposes. That made no practical sense, of course, at least not in this particular situation, and John, less sensitive to a little "mental persuasion", had objected. But he couldn't see a downside to it, so he had finally relented. Daniel Jackson was annoying in that way too, maybe they were all like that.

Emily found the thinner pocket in the wall membrane, and tucked her hands behind her back to touch it, closing her eyes. A primal shiver went through her as she lost herself to the ship. YES. This was right. This was what she'd been curious about, what she'd craved, what she came here for.

The Just Fortune called to her, nudging at her, curious and friendly, and told her of her needs. She guided her new acquaintance through the bridge, the crew's quarters, the engine room, the hibernation pods and feeding pens, and then showed her the malfunctioning systems and the gash that had been left in her side by the last battle, that the crew had quite competently fixed, but where the Just Fortune was still hurting.

Emily praised the work and tried to soothe her and give her confidence in her crew and in the future, then directed the maintenance crew to the hidden break in the hibernation pods' fluid circulation conduit that they had been unable to find. She had to be very careful about it, and her featherlight instruction left them confused. They felt the presence, and did not understand it, yet they were compelled to go, so they went. It would not be the first time the Commander temporarily brought a Queen on board that they knew nothing about. He was a strange one for sure, but they trusted him with their lives.

Relaxed and pleased with the connection and the results, she thought of the man who was waiting for her in his own Hive many lightyears away, and, through that connection, her heart contracted painfully. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

She took the Just Fortune to hyperspace.

As expected, it did not take long for a very alarmed Todd to rise from the table, slamming his fist on it and glaring, of course, at John Sheppard.

"Sheppard, I trusted you! Again! What are you doing to my ship?" he bellowed.

"What the fuck, Todd? Are you insane? What the hell would I be doing to your hive, and why would I even want to?"

"My bridge communicated we just went to hyperspace out of the blue, do you dare tell me you had nothing to do with it?"

"Sure I dare! I'm fucking standing right here, as are all my people. What the hell would I have to do with it?"

The Second snatched the tablet out of McKay's hands.

"You had him insert a virus into our systems", Kenny hissed angrily.

"It's not connected to your systems, idiot!" McKay spat back before Kenny's threatening stance and raised feeding hand brought him back to reality.

The Just Fortune dropped out of hyperspace and Todd stormed out to the bridge.

"The ship is powering main cannons, Commander", the young man at the weapons console announced desperately. "I cannot stop it, I am locked out!"

Roaring, the Commander pushed him aside and started working furiously to regain access to the systems.

Two Hives were battling outside and, to his despair, the Just Fortune's cannons started firing at the closest one. Battered by cannon fire from both sides, with her defenses stretched thin, the strange ship soon gave, and the Just Fortune's thrusters engaged, swiftly backing her away as the other Hive exploded.

"Commander, the surviving Hive is hailing us."

"Accept."

The beautiful, angular face of a raven-haired Queen appeared on the screen before them.

"I am Queen Bel'anna of the Adventure. We were attacked by intruders while surveying our feeding grounds. Your assistance was most welcome and we convey our gratitude, but who are you?"

Todd bowed ceremoniously, his visage not giving away his inner confusion.

"My Lady, I am Commander Koreyn of the Just Fortune. Pleased to have been of service."

"Where is your Queen? Does she not deem me worthy of talking to?" she spat at him.

"My Queen is not currently on board. She is on one of our other Hives. But we saw that you required assistance. One of my officers served aboard the Adventure, and he knew you were worthy and within your rights. He advised that we help."

"Who is he?"

"His shortened name is Rennen, my Lady, he was a Blade under your command."

The Queen seemed to telepathically confer with her Commander, who shrugged.

"My Commander does not remember him, and neither do I. But we have seen many come and go over the years. In any case, we give our thanks. What do you require in exchange?"

"Only that you assist us in our time of need, my Lady."

"Fine. But I will discuss the terms with your Queen. Make sure she contacts me when she is available."

And with that, she cut communication, and the Adventure opened a hyperspace window. The Just Fortune reentered hyperspace as well, on her own, as she had done the first time. And a short while later, they were back where they started, with Todd being none the wiser as to what had happened to his ship.

"We have control again, Commander."

Todd snarled. After such a long and eventful existence, he understood and could predict most situations, and so was quite mistrustful of the few things he did not understand. And Sheppard had a habit of undoing him, incredibly so, and incredibly often. Perhaps that was part of his appeal... but it certainly was infuriating.

"Take the bridge", he told the aforementioned Rennen, the young Blade who currently served as his Third in command, and left angrily, coattails fluttering in his wake.

"Well, Sheppard, it seems your little trick, whatever its aim was, did not work", he spat once he rejoined the Lantean delegation.

"Again, I have no idea what the hell you're talking about."

"We prevailed, and got ourselves an alliance out of it."

"I mean, good for you, buddy. Now can we get back to the talks we're actually here for?"

Frustrated, Todd hissed and sat. Sheppard seemed sincere… And why had he done this? It hadn't hurt them, it had helped. Perhaps that is what he'd meant to do, and could not admit it out loud? Koreyn vowed he would get to the bottom of this.

Smiling slightly, with her eyes closed, the small woman was still leaning on the wall of the Just Fortune, caressing and praising her for a job well done.

Chapter Text

“Okay, everyone, saddle up and let’s go,” the major shouted and everyone picked up their gear.

Today, Evan Lorne’s team was tasked with securing the archeological dig on M3R-430, Allara, a mostly temperate planet where the flora – and the fauna, for that matter – around the Gate endearingly seemed to resemble the US Midwest.

The Ancients had established multiple settlements there, and the welcoming planet was still inhabited. A couple of kids playing outside their village had recently uncovered the interesting remains of a subterranean Ancient lab, and after hearing of it during one of Teyla’s trading runs, Atlantis had assigned a multi-disciplinary scientific team to check it out.

Apart from the Marines, the team included Radek and Agata from the Physics lab, Gareth and James from the Archeology lab, Emily from the Translation lab and nurse Marie and dr. Rashid as the on-site medical team. They were joined by Piotr the biologist, very interested in the planet’s horse-like and cow-like creatures, and Katie the botanist, who had developed a profound interest in the flora of M3R-430 since Rodney, regretting his rash decision to break up, had been trying to woo her back.

It was scheduled to be a four-day mission and no trouble was expected. Though no one ever knew how things would turn out in the Pegasus galaxy, so the team had received basic weapons training and those who wanted to had also trained in hand-to-hand combat with John, Evan and Teyla. And all but Katie had wanted to, so they were now sporting some nice bruises in various places to remind them of the experience.

Brimming with excitement, Agata and Emily stepped together through the event horizon. As newer additions to Atlantis’ roster, they had made the three-week journey there on the Daedalus and had never travelled through the Gate before. 

The Gate virgins were, of course, expected to pay for everyone’s drinks at the local tavern later on. Apples and pears, or at least fruit that were very much apple and pear-like, were abundant, and this planet was, apparently, famous for its cider.

“Dude, it’s a bit chillier than I expected,” Agata shivered as she emerged on the other side.

“Nah, that’s just the wormhole, you’ll get used to it,” replied Evan with a dimpled smile that made her blush a little. Since coming to the Pegasus, she’d sorta rekindled her old college fling with Radek, but they’d agreed to keep it light and not committed, so Evan’s attention was not unwelcome to the curvy Czech beauty.

‘A touch shorter and a bunch weirder’ than blonde Agata, at least according to the Marines’ locker-room talk, auburn-haired Emily followed close behind. In addition to the sidearm they were each issued, she had insisted on carrying a couple of intricately wrought knives of uncertain origin and an Athosian-made bullwhip that she was really looking forward to practice cracking in the open air.

Gareth and James pushed each other playfully into the puddle, carrying both their equipment and some of the heavier things the “scrawny physicists” had deemed necessary for the trip. Broad and built, the two archeologists never wasted an opportunity to one-up or throw a good-natured jab at the physicists when those, especially Rodney McKay, commented on the “uselessness” of their field or the “obvious superiority” of the “hard sciences”.

With a cry worthy of Xena, the Warrior Princess, Marie had pushed Rashid, also a Gate virgin, through the blue puddle, and the meek Egyptian tumbled out on the other side disoriented and almost knocking Piotr and Katie over. She followed with a case full of medical equipment, sticking her tongue out at Piotr when he gave her the stink-eye.

The Gate shut down behind her, Radek and the two Marines who were taking the rear of the group, and everyone headed to the village.

*

The lovely village of Tarten was so medieval-looking, it seemed to have stepped out of a Brothers Grimm story.

But there were a couple of modern additions that, as Agata remarked, made it look more like a movie set.

There were all manner of nice houses, shops and taverns with wooden signs and flowers outside. Animal-drawn carriages were travelling the streets. But the street lamps were obviously gas lights, and the clean sidewalks and nice overall smell strongly suggested the existence of indoor plumbing.

They stopped at the “Maiden and the Krall”, the larger inn Teyla had told them to go to, at the far end of the village. The owner, a cheerful, matronly lady who had known Teyla for longer than she cared to admit, knew of their arrival and had already set apart some rooms.

“Welcome, friends from the City of the Ancestors!” she smiled brightly and invited them in. “Come, let’s see if we can house you and feed you something.”

They filed in, greeting her in return.

“I’ve set aside some rooms for you…”

“Good lady, sorry to impose... Would you happen to have a small one-bed with its own bathroom that’s more out of the way?” Emily rushed to ask. “It’s alright if you don’t, I just thought I’d...”

“You weirdo! I thought we’d bunk together”, protested Agata from behind her.

“Hush, you’re bunking with Radek and you know it,” grinned Emily. “I like my privacy and my own bathroom where I can soak for hours, thank-you-very-much”.

Agata made a face at her, but did not protest further.

“I do have a room in the back that would suit you. It’s on the ground floor, facing the courtyard. But it’s a bit drafty because of the two doors, I hope you won’t mind,” the innkeeper said. Emily lit up and extended her gloved hand.

“That would be perfect, thank you so much. I’m Emily.”

“I’m Hana.”

Introductions followed all around, and Agata actually ended up bunking with Radek and Evan in the largest room of the inn, a three-bed with a great view and flowers at the windows.

“You could have stayed here, stupid. But you had to bunk in the back, in a dark hole in the wall, like a fucking spider,” she grinned at a visiting Emily.

“Shut up, my room is awesome. Nice and cozy, and I won’t have to put up with your loud ass all day.”

She poked Agata in the ribs, wiggling her eyebrows lewdly and discreetly gesturing at the two guys. “I hope you brought… protection. Ouch! What? Against the noise! I bet they snore.”

“Fuck off,” retorted a blushing Agata.

“Okay,” said Evan through the comm, “everybody settled in?”

Everyone was, so they gathered their equipment and left to check out the lab.

*

“The architecture of these things will never cease to amaze me. Look at the stained glass! It’s a lab, after all,” Evan whispered, sketching pensively.

“Správně.” Radek pushed his glasses up. “They were a post-industrial society and had done away with scarcity. They worked and studied because they wanted to. Makes sense that they would want to embellish their workplace.”

“Radek, look at this! Am I wrong or does it look like…”

“Yes, it looks like the console of that Ancient time machine we found on Atlantis. You can see the writing on this one. Emily, does this say…”

“It says ‘undecim minutis retro’, ‘back 11 minutes’. Looks like this is supposed to set back time 11 minutes.”

“How the hell did they…? Wow. So it’s not a time travel machine. It’s a second chance device in case you screw things up. Good enough, McKay could sure use it.”

“Yeah, I bet he’d say the same about us.”

“In this galaxy, all our asses could use it.”

“Turn it on, Zelenka, let’s see if it works!”

“You turn it on. What if it blows up in my face like Rodney’s other thingy? Those crystals don’t look great.”

“Speaking of Rodney’s thingy…” Agata pointed to a platform in the corner.

“Oh, my God, that must be a DNA Resequencer. Rodney’s gonna flip.”

“Nah, he’d be afraid to try again. Sheppard’s gonna flip though. I think he called dibs on the thing, he wanted to try his hand at saving the world, Captain America style.”

“For now, he’s saving it Captain Kirk style, one pretty lady at a time,” laughed Agata.

“I’m not saying Rodney would want to try it himself. I think he’d make us do it.”

“Is anyone here burning with the desire to ascend?” laughed Emily. “Look. If we can’t dismantle and transport this thing, although it looks possible, I’ll get Anneke and the boys here, we’ll translate the menus and see if it could be rewired. Maybe we can use it to manipulate DNA without ascending, turn it into a CRISPR-machine.”

“If that works, we’ll need the IOA to approve some more geneticists. I don’t know if Carson could handle all that alone,” Marie said excitedly.

“There’s Jennifer Keller, she could help him.”

“True, she’s very good with lab stuff,” nodded Marie. “Rashid could as well, though he’s more of a field medic.”

“This is a huge minefield,” mused Agata. “We could fuck up majorly. The ethical issues…”

“Guess we’re gonna have to start hunting Genii,” Evan reflected, undeterred. “Or better yet, test it on Wraith.”

Emily’s head shot up from the console.

“How would messing with their DNA help us? Their organisms are not gonna react the same way, right?”

“Carson said they were 94% identical to us. I’d much rather experiment on those fuckers than on humans.”

“Ninety-four is not 100. I mean do they look identical, Evan? Their biological processes are different, how can we predict…”

“You fight those fuckers and then come to me with this bleeding-heart shit. I know you’d rather pat them on the back and send them to the showers.”

“It’s not bleeding-heart shit, there just wouldn’t be any point…”

“Actually,” Marie interjected, “Carson is working on something…”

“Let’s make the machine work first,” said Radek crossly.

“Guys, who wants a personal shield? I found a whole bunch over here!” Gareth cried from the back of the lab. Any disagreements were promptly forgotten.

*

When evening fell and the team returned, dirty and tired, but excited, the innkeeper looked grim.

“Hana, is everything alright?” A concerned major Lorne asked the distraught woman.

“Yes, yes, probably alright.”

“What happened?”

“Well, they said a Wraith fighter came through the Ring of the Ancestors earlier. But it’s been a couple of hours and no one seems to be missing or hurt, so the girl who saw it was probably mistaken…”

“A Dart came through the Gate?”

“Well, so she said, but she’s probably wrong. No one else came through and something would have happened by now…”

“He may be a scout, they could be marking this planet for a culling. Damn it! I thought we’d have one damn quiet day… We have to look for that Dart.”

A murmur of approval went through the team.

“Thank you, guys. But please, don’t leave us alone for long.” Emily looked worried and, touched, Evan nodded.

“Okay, men, we’re going hunting. Williams, LePierre, you stay behind, in case there’s any funny business here. We’ll look around for that fucker. Come on, let’s ask the girl which way he went.”

*

It was almost midnight when the Marines returned, tired, hungry and empty-handed. Hana was waiting for them with some stew and cider.

Few words were spoken. Frustrated, the Marines just took their supper and went to their rooms to rest.

Outside, in the dark, a slender hooded figure crept through the yard.

Chapter Text

Two swift knocks and the door opened. A small white hand pulled the cloaked man into the dimly lit room. The door closed soundlessly behind him.

"My God, what am I going to do with you? The fucking recklessness of this… I must have been insane to agree. They looked for you for four hours, I had to let them."

She pushed him down to his knees and pulled the hood off his head. Grabbing his white hair at the nape of his neck, the way she knew drove him crazy, she leaned in and gave him a long, soft kiss, for the first time in person since that fateful night.

She took in the sight of him, so alien and beautiful. The angular, yet smooth planes of his face, the swirling tattoo that stretched along the left side of his face, the long white lashes hooding strange bicolour, golden and green, cat-like eyes, the straight almost-human nose flanked by two delicate decidedly not-human slits, the thin, beautifully formed dark lips… He'd shaven the hair off his chin, like she'd told him. Good boy.

He smelled incredibly alluring. She'd forgotten how that had almost undone her the first time, when it made her instincts kick in and doomed the poor alien male. What in tarnation did he smell like? Nothing in particular... He smelled like love and fucking, that's all she could tell.

His sensory pits flared and his lips were parted slightly. He breathed in deeply and she knew he could scent her pheromones too.

"Mmm… Are you hard, mi cuor?" she asked, smiling, and her voice felt heavy in her throat.

"Ay, mi Reina. You know what you do to me..."

Get up and take your damn clothes off, take everything off right now, she commanded in his mind.

So imperious. So impatient. Gods, she made him weak.

He started undressing with trembling hands. She watched intently, sitting on the edge of the small white bed in her red and black negligee, touching herself between her legs.

At this rate, I'll spill myself before I touch her, he thought crossly while throwing off his boots and easing off his leather pants, and she laughed.

"Don't worry, love, we have ways of dealing with that."

"Oh, is that so…" he purred menacingly and started towards her.

No. On your knees. Crawl to me, as you should.

His legs gave way, he fell to his knees and closed his eyes, breathing hard.

Ay, mi Reina. As I should.

Oh, my God, you even manage to crawl elegantly, damn you. It was his turn to laugh, and he was swiftly punished for it when she caught him by the hair again and pulled his head between her open legs.

Eat me out. The way I taught you. Make me cum or so help me, I will feed on you.

When he couldn't see her, when she spoke to his mind like that, she was like any Queen and the threat registered with certainty and without delay.

He went to work with all the eagerness he had in him, drunk on her taste and smell, her softness, her moans and her death threats. And not long after, she gifted him with the most delicious sounds and enveloped his brain in her peak of pleasure.

A small puddle had formed between his legs by the time she pulled him on top of her on the bed and ordered him to sink – slowly – into her.

Like most Wraith, Gar'ain had been with his share of men. Such couplings were seen to strengthen bonds between shipmates, and a brotherly connection did not mean the same to Wraith as it did, he had observed, to humans. Although the worshippers soon took to their masters' habits, so the differences faded over time.

He enjoyed fucking and being fucked, who in tarnation wouldn't, it was one of the few pleasures that life offered.

But, also like most Wraith, he had never been with a Queen. And fucking human females had been too base a thing for him. Some were beautiful, and he'd desired them, and he'd certainly envied Mer'ren's brazenness, but couldn't bring himself to follow his example.

So this… was new.

When he and his brother Sher'zin had barely had their first hunger, they'd asked their Sire, Sheyn'ten, the Commander of the Adventure, what being with a Queen felt like.

He had deigned to show them something, and his telepathic reply had left them reeling. They'd chased that overwhelming pleasure ever since and Gar'ain was pretty sure that was the start of Sher'zin's obsession.

And now he knew. And he knew he was well and truly hooked. Never again would he be able to go back and live without this.

When he entered her, stars exploded behind his eyelids. Her warmth, her softness were beyond compare. Her moans felt like songs of desire. He felt himself spilling his seed inside her like in a fever dream, while her mind consumed his greedily in ecstasy like a raging blaze.

No, that meager glimpse could not prepare him for this. And it probably wasn't meant to. In their world of scarcity, such knowledge could have driven a man insane.

When the waves of pleasure subsided, he didn't want to leave her body. It hurt to leave her body.

He raised himself on his palms to look at her, and felt a small wave of revulsion. She closed her eyes. She knew, and he could feel her pain, the hot sting in her heart. He could feel her mentally pushing him away in anger. He panicked, he despaired and suddenly felt out of breath.

"Nej, mi Reina, perdonam! Perdonam, bet dich!"

"Mi cuor, I understand. So many years of conditioning... and I'm not sure it was a bad thing. But I don't like it. It makes me mad. When you look at me, you'll see a human woman. And I will have to change that the hard way. You have to feel. You have to know."

She flipped him onto his back, straddled him, and raised her right hand.

Do not fear, mi cuor. I will give back.

He closed his eyes and nodded. She slammed her hand onto his chest and, with a muffled cry, began to feed.

Chapter Text

Morning had broken and she’d left him alone, locked in the room with her tablet as entertainment, and gone to do her research with her human friends.

Sated and spent, eyes closed, he rested against the white pillows. His body felt like he’d been through the Trial of the Hundred Canes again. Now and then, a shiver of pleasure lit his nerves, an exhilarating fallout of her Gift, a reminder of Her warm mouth on him.

For the first time in a long while, he was at peace.

He’d given and received the Gift during lovemaking before... Such energy exchanges greatly enhanced pleasure and bonding, and so were common. But in small measures. Few men dared take their lovers to the lengths he had withstood, for fear they would forget themselves in the act and kill them.

But Queens didn’t care if they killed you or not.

She’d drunk deeply from him, head thrown back in rapture, full round breasts heaving above him. She brought him to the brink of the abyss before sending his life back to him in waves of delight, and he felt himself soaring, crackling with energy, alive like never before. The ecstasy of climax washed over him in waves.

His Queen’s hand was the furnace of Creation and She was birthing him anew.

And now he was reborn. Himself, and yet not anymore.

He was coldly afraid of and irresistibly attracted to her greed and violence. Yes, Queens were like that, even the kind, level-headed ones. It came to them from an ancestral place within.

He’d seen his proud Commander viciously humbled when he and his Queen thought no one was around, and he’d watched, silent, transfixed and shamefully aroused.

Everything in him screamed that he needed this. But his pride and good sense rose against it, and when Sher’zin or others tried to get rough with him, he fought with all he had. But how he wished to be overpowered... and when it happened, it was the sweetest release.

He’d vowed he’d lure this frail human here and have his way with her, as nature and the Gods intended. Instead, she’d played him like a lyra string, an iron fist in a velvet glove. And he could not stop her. But had he really wanted to?

She made him drink from the fountain of rapture and true surrender. He lost himself in those shimmering, treacherous waters, and he had to drink again.

Chapter Text

“Hana, you are the best cook in the galaxy. Possibly the universe.”

Evan patted his full belly after a hearty breakfast, to hear, hears of unanimous approval.

“Thank you, dear, but I cannot take full credit. This is my daughter Reya, and my son Feyn. They cooked for you today. Following my recipes, of course, save for the spiced Krall eggs, those are Feyn’s invention.”

“Well, it looks like your kitchen is in good hands! Feyn, those were the best Krall eggs I’ve ever had.”

Beaming at the fair-haired teenage boy who blushed and straightened, the major, who hadn’t had the slightest idea what Krall eggs were until that very morning, pushed the plate away and picked up his cider mug.

To be fair, things weren’t too shabby in Atlantis’ mess hall, not after Teyla and Elizabeth had secured a lot of trade agreements with the peoples of Pegasus.

But it was still mess hall food, and this had been as close to home cooking as the New Lanteans had come across in quite a while. This place was definitely worth putting a pin in if the chance for a little R&R came up.

The plentiful cider and a good night’s sleep in the inn’s surprisingly comfortable beds had done wonders for morale, though a shadow of worry still persisted and everyone was on high alert.

Well, almost everyone.

Emily stretched like a cat in the sunlight, feeling all the muscles and sinews of her body. She felt ten years younger and, considering what she’d been up to, she thought with a smile that she might look it as well. This was wrong, but it was fucking glorious.

She’d ridden her alien lover to oblivion until, basking in the afterglow, she literally fell asleep mid-sentence in his arms. When the morning rays woke her, she was surprised to find him sleeping, peacefully nestled next to her, with a delicious morning erection nudging her hip.

Ha. So they do sleep, it’s not just the human side. And look at that thang, mmm…

She traced her fingers and nails lightly across the soft greenish skin, a bit darker than the rest of his body, and again admired the interesting combination of familiar shapes and alien ridges.

Ribbed for her pleasure, she snickered remembering the old Durex ad. I bet the Queens selected for this, God bless them. The damn thing touches aaalll the spots.

Her mouth watered.

‘Dominant’ or not, I’m gonna have a fucking taste.

He was definitely awake by now, although he gave no outward sign of it. But a present consciousness, even a drowsy one, is difficult to hide from one’s mischievous Queen. She resolved to give him a ‘good morning’ he would never forget.

Gently, as if to avoid ‘waking him up’, she lowered herself on the bed. She propped herself on an elbow, stuck out her tongue and wetly licked the underside of his erection. He jolted and gave a small cry. A bead of clear liquid trickled down from his tip, only to be greedily licked away by a practiced tongue.

She pushed him on his back and rested herself between his legs, licking and planting kisses around his coronal ridge. His hips came up with a will of their own, his hands grabbed the sheets and he let out a desperate moan that went straight to her core, drenching her.

And I haven’t even gotten to the main event!

The… main… event? There is a… main… event?

Smiling, humming slightly, she put her lips around him and took him into her warm mouth, working her tongue as she went.

She felt his mind go blank with pleasure and she cradled it in hers, stopping to give him a little time.

Ah, my extensive talents are wasted on you, she laughed inwardly.

She started sucking him gently, caressing him with her lips and tongue and stroking the rest of him with delicate fingers.

He moaned and writhed and pushed into her mouth, all instinct and raw need.

She grazed him with her teeth and pushed her nails into his flesh. His head went back into the pillow and he exploded, shaking and gushing until he collapsed, spent.

I… This… You…

“You will be fucking me into the mattress when I come back. And you will not stop until I tell you to stop. I want to climax until I’m a boneless puddle, is that understood?” she purred, slithering on top of him and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “But for now….”

Ravenous, she slammed her hand into the middle of his chest and drank him up again.

His life filled her in a rush of bliss and she felt the orgasm she had been putting off hitting her like a freight train. She lewdly rubbed herself against him, moaning, using him mercilessly before she finally took pity on the poor male and, just as violently, returned him to the world and to his own pleasure.

“Earth to Emily! Helloooo? Anyone there? Where are you, love?”

Agata was waving her hand in front of her friend’s face and Emily realized that she’d been staring off into the distance for a while.

“What were you thinking about? You had a strange look on your face.”

“Ah, I’m just a bit tired. Don’t mind me. Not a morning person”, Emily smiled.

“Dude, are you fucking kidding. I wish I looked like that when I’m tired. The air on this planet must be agreeing with you or some shit.”

“You do look ‘like that’ when you’re tired. Better than ‘that’. Stop fishing for compliments, you vain b.”

At the far end of the table, Evan stood up and grabbed his backpack.

“Okay, people, we gotta go, that lab ain’t studying itself! If that’s a working genetic splicing machine, like you guys were saying yesterday, McKay will be violently cumming in his pants. And that is something I’d like to take a picture of and send to the IOA.”

Chapter Text

As the reddish Allaran sun descended below the horizon, the New Lanteans were heading back to the Maiden and the Krall, carrying parts of a surprisingly well-preserved Ancient device.

On the main road, a young man with a long stick was igniting the streetlights.

In front of a small tavern where patrons were starting to gather for the evening, a hungry black and white cat-like creature was rubbing against people’s legs for a few scraps. A couple of kids seemed to be rushing home for dinner.

The spice shop, the carpet shop, the jeweller’s, the tailor's and the chemist’s were already closed. But a small place with a beautifully painted sign that said "Antiques and Divination" seemed to still be open. A warm light was shining from within.

"Hey, a fortune teller! I haven't been to one since college. Guys, let's get our fortunes told in another galaxy," Marie quipped excitedly.

"Yeah, let's see if she can tell us if James is ever going to propose."

"Don't be a rotten Krall egg, Gareth."

"Well, if she gives us a group discount, I'm up for some fun."

A chime accompanied their entrance through the low door. A quiet woman with graying hair, but the taut features of one still young, was knitting in a rocking chair. She smiled at the dusty customers.

"Ah, a party of nonbelievers. And you would like a reduced price."

"She's good, guys. I told you this would be fun."

"Young one, I just know people,” the woman smiled. “Very well. I will tell you each a couple of things for a silver piece. You will get your entertainment and I will get to relieve my boredom. And in the meantime, please look around, see if you like something."

The diviner extended her small hand. "Give me your left palm, young lady."

Marie did so and the lady looked at it pensively.

“So, when am I getting married?”

"You will not be wedded in a white dress. I am sorry if that is your wish. But for all intents and purposes, you will be ‘married’ no more than sixty cycles from now. You will have a loving partner and live a very long life.”

She eyed the young nurse with a wistful smile and an air of strange understanding.

“You will birth warriors and be honoured by another name."

"Yikes on the marriage part... But yippee on the long life! Guess not many people can say that in this galaxy, especially in our line of work. So how long are we talking?" Marie asked with a big grin.

"Longer than you expect. Cherish his love and his Gift. You," she turned and pointed at Agata, before Marie could reply. "Show me your left palm."

Agata did so.

"You will get married in a white dress, in a tall building with painted windows. But your marriage will be an unusual one. You are a powerful woman between two powerful men."

"Hey, marriage is Marie's thing," Agata laughed. "What about work stuff?"

"Together with one of your men and under the eye of the other, you will discover wonders, write about them and talk about them in front of many people. The very device you are carrying is the start of your journey.” A shadow passed over the woman’s handsome features. “But there is an illness in your loins and you will bear no children."

"She’s right, I have endo...” Agata whispered.

"You," she pointed at Emily.

"Oh, I'm not hoping to discover wonders. But knock yourself out." Emily took off her left glove and extended her palm.

The woman blanched and fell to her knees.

"Whoa! Ma'am, no offense, but your silver piece is guaranteed. Theatrics not needed."

"Perdonam, mi Reina. You will live a long life, and woe to your enemies. Stories will be told about you, and you will lead many men in victory. You will change them and take them to Earth. You try to escape your destiny, but you cannot."

She took the Lantean woman's hands in hers and cradled her cheek in Emily gloved palm. "I pray someday you will make me worthy of your Gift."

"Holy shit," murmured Evan. "She said no theatrics, dude. Speaking in tongues, and the creepy Earth thing... I'll have a word with Teyla about pranking us like that."

"Nice, but I won’t outlive Marie," laughed Emily. "And what about them kids and hunky husband? Apart from victory in my battles against Ancient inscriptions."

"You have birthed two, and they are powerful. But you will birth more."

"Yikes! I don’t think so, I'm kinda old for that. I was just kidding..."

"Yet you will bear more offspring, by your five men."

"Five?? Holy shit!"

"Hey, I'm the polygamous one!" laughed Agata. "Don't steal my thunder!"

"My friend, you can have the multiples. I won’t live long if I have to juggle five men.”

She wiggled her eyebrows at Agata.

“But thanks, ma’am, you made an old lady feel desirable. You're getting an extra silver for that. Stand up."

The woman rose, head bowed, and fell silent.

"Okay, this is getting creepy, do him," Emily pointed at Evan, who stuck out his hand.

The woman eyed it curiously and then grabbed and turned the other. "Young Commander... there is so much more to you than meets the eye. And what does meet the eye is very pleasant to behold," she purred. "Your path was to paint the world brighter. But you lost a dear one and stepped in their place. You fight to protect the City of the Ancestors and you will lead it one day. Remember me then, warrior with the heart of a poet."

"Hehe, so I'm going to lead Atlantis? Doubt it, the IOA don't like me much. The way things are going, I’m content if I live to see 50."

“Your years will be many. As many as she grants you,” she said pointing to Emily. Grimacing, Lorne side-eyed Emily and she stuck out her tongue at him.

“Rashid, come on! Don’t you wanna know if you’ll discover the cure for cancer?”

“Allah is merciful and if He grants it…” laughed Rashid. “It’s haram to have my fortunes told. But I found this pendant for my wife.” He held up a beautiful, intricately woven silver pendant with a stone in the middle that resembled a tiger’s eye. "Emily, you know all sorts of weird scripts. What do these cuneiforms say?"

"Wow, this thing looks great for its age. I wonder what they alloy the silver with… It's a blessing of good fortune and fertility for a young woman of high standing."

"How much for it, good woman?" asked Rashid, impressed.

“Fifteen pieces, healer. And not all it is worth. May it bring you luck and good health to your offspring.”

"Do me," said Radek excitedly. "Will I have many victories?"

"Against McKay at chess, maybe!"

The woman traced her finger along Radek’s palm. "I am blessed today," she beamed. "You, Cleverman, will aid in many. You will take the place of a man with a woman's name and your clock will be turned back. A battle action will be named after you here and a place of learning in the city you come from."

"Yikes, Zelenka, guess you're turning on that Ancient machine," laughed Marie.

"Who else would be doing it? He's our resident hapless physicist," Piotr cracked up.

"Well, Agata could," snickered Evan. "Except she doesn't fuck up nearly as much."

"Don't be sexist, major. I fuck up just as much as the boys."

"Yes, sir. Roger that."

“Ma’am, you’re giving the little guy a big head. We already have one of those in the city,” Gareth laughed and extended his palm to be read.

“You and your beloved will be asked to return to the place you come from not twenty cycles from now, to work with one who was once Ascended. Yes, your lover will ask for your hand. You will have offspring of your loins together, though how that is possible with two men I have yet to understand. You will live together in a place fit for a prince, that you do not yet know of. You will come back when you are older and wiser, but they will not join you then.”

“Nah, mate”, James patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I don’t want kids. And I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“James, are you some kind of royalty or something, dude?”

“No, don’t worry about it. I mean we’re not exactly poor, but…”

“Do you or do you not own a castle, like the lady said?”

“It’s more of a manor. I’m next in line as Earl of Hardwicke. But we’re not princes...”

“Holy shit, we’ve been together for two years, when were you gonna tell me?”

“Well, I figured you’d find out when I proposed. I’m not on very good terms with my family anyway. So living at Wimpole Hall is not very likely.” He turned to the woman and laughed. “Nice job, ma’am, you really threw a spanner in my works. Now tell Piotr and Katie they’re getting married and you’ve got us all.”

Shily, Katie extended her hand. The woman looked at it and smiled.

“Your soul is like a passionflower, and it will bloom, but not in this place. You will be wedded and have offspring, and you will put off your work for a time to care for them. Your man will be strong and loving and he will make a home for you in a place wide and green, with many animals and flowers.” She looked at Piotr, her eyebrow raised, and the biologist went beet-red.

“Well, I guess Katie takes the jackpot after all, as usual!” laughed Agata. “She’s always beating us at poker, ma’am.”

“Doesn’t that mean that I should be un-lucky in love?” giggled Katie.

“It should, but it seems life ain’t fair, is it now? I’m baptizing your kids and they’re calling me Auntie Agata, or so help me I’ll steal your poodle and breed her to one of those Pegasus wolves. And piss in your flowerbeds.”

With Katie’s bucolic news, everyone’s cheer returned. Best to end things on a high note, thought Evan...

“Come on, guys, pay the lady and let’s go have dinner. My stomach’s growling and if I don’t put some meat in it soon, I swear I’m gonna eat one of you.”

The silver pieces came out and people filed rowdily for the exit. Last in line, Emily let the door close in front of her and turned to the diviner with a smile.

“Thank you for the encouragement.”

“I will pray for your health and happiness, mi Reina. Thank you for giving me a glimpse of a future brighter than I thought.”

“The war’s not over.”

“It is not. But now I have hope of a new home.”

“I don't know how you do it and I'm not one for fortune telling. But I think I could use someone with your talents. And I want those two dagger pendants that you have there. Yes, the Wraith silver.”

The woman’s longing gaze followed her as she paid and left to join her friends.

“Dude, how weird was that?” a shaken Gareth asked, eyeing James accusingly.

“I know… especially her part, about the five men and ‘leading them to Earth’. And the kneeling... That was creepy.”

“Oh, don’t throw me under the bus to save your hide!” laughed Emily. “She knew about us from Teyla, otherwise where would she get the Earth thing from? And she’s good at her job, she knows how to hook her customers. I’ll grant you, the worshipper act was unnerving, but we are in Pegasus, there was bound to be some of that. What about Marie with ‘his Gift’?”

“Marie, you vixen. You’re marrying Todd, aren’t you?”

“Wouldn’t put it past her wild ass.”

“Taming Todd, more like. She’ll be gifting him the chancla in no time! Is there even a Korean chancla? There must be, you’re real hard-asses over there.”

“Stop it, guys! I’m not marrying a damn Wraith. Though, I mean… they aren’t exactly unappealing. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought, in the dark of night…”

The ladies shrieked with laughter and James teasingly elbowed Marie.

“Come on,” she went on. “The guy in Atlantis cleaned up nicely! That Killers t-shirt fits him just so, and I’m sure whoever picked those jeans considered the way his green ass would look in them.”

“Dude! I’m telling him!”

“Shut the fuck up, Emily, or I’ll have my guy feed on you when we get married.”

Chapter Text

“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine! Do you always keep your door locked? Emmy, what the fuck.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Just open this damn door, I gotta pee!”

“What? Why didn’t you pee in your room?”

“The guys took too long in the bathroom. I thought I could go here.”

“Wait a minu… No, let go. Dammit, not now. Stop…” Emily purred quietly, breathlessly.

A second later, she cracked opened the door.

“Agata, please go in your own bathroom today. You can pee in here tomorrow.”

"Holy shit, you’ve got someone in there. That’s why you wanted a room in the back! You deceitful minx. Is he hot? How much younger is he? I know you like ‘em young. Spill everything."

“Yes, he is hot. No, he’s not younger.”

Only about two thousand years older, she smirked to herself.

"Come on, I’m your best friend. Let me peek a little. I wanna see your Pegasus hunk. Or is he one of ours?"

"Stop it, dude, I’m not ready yet. You’ll be the first to know anything. Okay? Please, go pee in your room and don’t tell anyone. People won’t understand."

Agata nodded and started to turn around.

But before Emily closed the door, she glimpsed with the corner of her eye a curtain of long, white hair.

Chapter Text

"Just once more before you go, mi Reina,” he rasped, slithering against her back.

He started planting kisses on her spine and shoulders, and his feeding hand snaked around her to cup a breast and tease her nipple.

Arching her back, Emily moaned despite herself. Enzyme trickled down her breasts to the already ruined sheets.

She reached behind her with her own feeding hand and started stroking him, running her palm across his tip and underside.

Intoxicated, he pushed into her hand, moaning shamelessly, and sneaked his other hand under her waist to reach between her legs.

"You demon, how can you be so fucking tempting… it’s not fair. You’ve got me addicted, I swear. You’re gonna make me late and get me in trouble."

"Once more, like this, from behind,” he purred. “The way you like it. Slowly. Come on… You’ve turned me into a rutting animal, give me something to think about all day…"

"Oh, fuck", she moaned, guiding him to her. "Yes… God, yes. What have you got on this infernal thing? Like that, yes, touch me, fuck…"

Outside the door, Agata was barely breathing.

She felt a surge of guilt for being there, but curiosity was winning over shame and good sense. She flattened herself against the wall.

Inside, breathless little curses and passionate moans interspersed with the grunts, sighs and encouragements of lovemaking and the small creaks of the wooden bed.

Ah, the lengths we go to for science, the young woman mused. Not to mention the lack of porn in this damn galaxy.

"Ay, fuck me love, fuck, harder, ay, you feel so gooood," her friend moaned in rapture, and a male cry of release the likes of which she'd never heard soon followed, heating her blood and chilling her bones at the same time.

Primal instinct told her to run. Without thinking, she bolted, as quietly and quickly as she could.

Chapter Text

"You have to talk to your friend, mi Reina."

"I know, she was outside... Not sure what I'm gonna tell her."

"It was… familiar, being witnessed. Hot, as you say," he smirked.

He traced the contour of her body through the white sheet. "You do not want to tell them about us. Understandable."

"How can I, love? They'll crucify me."

"What is 'crucify'?"

She laughed. "Oh, my God, this is so endearing. You're so deliciously alien. Anyone on Earth would know, and the fact that you don't is... somehow more enticing."

"Then I do not want to know, and I will not ask again."

She gave a wistful smile.

"Did I say something wrong? Why are you sad?"

"Because… Nothing. I’m just afraid you’ll break my heart, warrior. I think it could be more… warm and tender than others’. I’m not a full-blooded…” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Does that repel you?"

He laughed, and the raspy sound sent a shiver through her.

"You think other Queens do not have a heart? It is true that they lead harsh lives. They have to be strong for everyone, and that hardens a person. But some at least start out with 'tender hearts'. No, it does not repel me. It is, as you say... endearing. A reminder that you are young, and not jaded."

He traced a slender finger along her cheek.

"You think that if you let yourself care for me, I will hurt you. Please, do not... Maybe I will, but not on purpose. I would rather rip out my own heart.

I am afraid as well. That you will break my heart. That someday you will see me as I am, and you will leave again and take with you my reason.”

"Mi cuor, I know you as you are. My eyes are open, I have no illusions.”

“You do not…”

“Oh, I do, more than you think. I've been inside your head. And I'm not put off. That’s what scares me the most. It's not normal. But it's true.”

He took her in his arms and started planting small kisses on her shoulder.

"When you came to me that evening… you said you would keep me company… till I grow cross with your human ways. Then you could go… and I would live on as before. And I agreed,” he sighed. “In part because I was mad at you for making me need you so. And I wanted it to be true. And in part because I was desperate to have you. But...”

He drew a shaky breath and swallowed.

“You should know that it has not happened. And I doubt that it will. Forgive me!

You let me know you in so many ways, understand you, make love to you... My heart could not…

I could not want you less, I need... To me you are one of a kind, mi Reina. Do not keep me away! Open your heart, let me be yours, bet dich."

He closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip, and she watched a little dark blood trickle down his chin before the bite wounds closed.

She leaned forward and licked it off with the tip of her tongue. Her nerves lit up and she felt heat rising through her.

“Damn you, Gar’ain… you're turning me into a race traitor."

He chuckled softly. "And which race would that be?"

"The only one I knew I belonged to before you tried to feed on me."

"Ah, but that you are no longer. You think your friends would hate you if they knew?"

A loud, imperative knock startled her before she could reply.

"Emmy, turn on your damn comm! It's ten past nine, the guys left! I told them you were just hung over and I'd get you. Didn’t think you’d want Lorne at your door, considering what you’ve got in there."

"I'm coming! Sorry, I lost track of time. Do you still want to come in?"

"I'm not sure. Will you tell him not to eat me?"

"Your friend is perceptive," Gar’ain laughed.

"Yup, smart woman."

She got up and reached for her clothes. "Okay! Let me get dressed and I’ll open. You'll be fine, I promise."

"If I get fed on, it's your fault. I'll fucking haunt you!"

"I am not a wild animal, Agata of the Tau'ri."

Emily cracked open the door and beckoned her friend in.

Agata stared at the half-dressed, sculpted, lithe male and blinked slowly. "Holy shit… you're dating Wraith Brad Pitt."

"What is a Bradpitt?"

The women burst out laughing.

"She means you're very handsome. Remember that movie about the Trojan War we saw? The blond guy who played Achilles is Brad Pitt. He's sorta the epitome of 'handsome' on Earth."

"Hm. I am better looking than that."

A new peal of laughter followed.

"And humble, love, very humble."

"You showed him movies?"

"And books, poetry, paintings... Though we barely scratched the surface, obviously. We had to start slow, he doesn't get many references. But he's a really fast learner. He's the Carson of his Hive, in a way, you know. Their head geneticist."

"Carson is... Your chief physician, am I right?" he asked. “Carson Beckett.”

"Yup."

Agata frowned. "Dude, what else have you told him?"

"About my life, in general terms... About you, actually, you came up a lot."

"I'm at a disadvantage, then. I don't know squat about him."

"What would you wish to ask me, my Lady?"

"Wowwie, he's polite..."

"They are, yes. Rather more deferential to women than to men."

"I see your Queens teach you well," Agata laughed, and was surprised to see him smile in turn.

"They do. They would feed upon us for being disrespectful."

"Whoa, let’s not overreact. What should I call you? Oh, my God, Emmy, this is so fucking weird."

"You humans are head-blind. So I would not be able to convey my name to you, at least not yet. Wraith names are complex. But a shortened version of it, as sometimes those are necessary, would be Gar'ain del Bel'anna. In your language, FrostLight of FairMorning."

"FairMorning is your Queen?"

"My progenitor, yes. And the leader of the Hive I serve on. And if I join Atlantis one day, I will be FrostLight of Firebird."

"Dr. Weir is 'Firebird'? Cool!"

"No. My chosen Queen is Firebird. Or Fenix, in Wraith."

"I don't get it, wasn't she FairMorning? Oooh! Oh, my God! You're Firebird. Holy shit, you're his Queen? You guys can do that, you can choose a human...?"

"I have never heard of such. Though perhaps in the future, if she is worthy... One never knows, as I have come to learn."

"But she..."

He angled his head and looked at her, raising a brow ridge. Realization struck and, paling, Agata grabbed Emily's right hand and turned it over.

"Holy fucking shit. Hoooly... Oh, my God, you've got a... So that's the deal with the gloves. But you didn’t have it!" She turned to him accusingly. "What have you done to her?"

"I have done nothing. Her kallar opened after... Well, she will explain."

"Her what?"

"Her handmouth."

"But how..."

"Long story short: I'm part Wraith, descended from a Queen who came to Earth at the end of the Lantean War, with her Lantean lover and her seven men."

"Holy Moly, there are Wraith on Earth? Ha, she's got you beaten there, you’re only supposed to..." Agata stopped, suddenly unable to get the words out.

"Come on”, urged Emily, “Lorne will freak. I'll let you digest everything, and then we can talk some more, if you want. Something about Lorne as well, by the way.

Maybe we'll go for a short walk tonight. Poor Gar'ain has been getting cabin fever all cooped up in here. I'll explain what cabin fever is tonight, mi cuor."

"Is that 'my heart' in Wraith?"

"Yes."

"And mi Reina is 'my Queen'?"

"Yes."

"That fortune teller figured you out? She was a worshipper for real?"

"Used to be one. Probably lost her Hive, and she misses it. She certainly does miss the Gift, it’s hard to live without it once you’ve had it."

"Do you think Sheppard misses it…? Hey, you’ve met Todd, what's his name?"

Emily kissed her lover and locked the door behind her.

"Todd is Koreyn. It means Guide. Or, more accurately... Shepherd."

"Todd's name is... Sheppard? Holy bananas," Agata laughed. "Does Sheppard know?"

"Nope. But Todd does, obviously. And he finds it hilarious. He's got a great sense of humour, by the way, and he's by no means the only one."

"And the guy we've got in the brig? The one you're working with? Does he know that you're..."

"He can feel something. Dollars to doughnuts he can scent me. He's... somewhat attracted to me, or so his pheromones say, don’t tell Gar’ain that. But he can't get his head around it. Neither could Gar'ain at first. He scents a Wraith, but sees a human. And I’ve done my best to keep him confused."

"Wow. Un-fucking..."

"His name's Sher'zin. PineShadow. And he's actually Gar'ain's brother. Like blood brother, born of the same Queen and the same Sire.

Gar'ain asked if I could look after him… and that’s how he came to work with me. He doesn’t know that either."

"And he really is an engineer?"

"Yup. Hyperdrives. Agata…"

She stopped abruptly and turned to her friend.

“What? You forgot something? Did something happen?”

“No. Everything’s fine. Just…

Thank you for not freaking out. I don’t mean any harm to anyone. But somehow I got roped up into all of this and... I'm trying to manage it.

I know this is so problematic. And trust me, it’s even more complicated than you think. It’s gonna be a bitch to navigate.

So… thank you. Thank you for helping. And thank you for being my friend.”

Chapter Text

The afternoon was too balmy and lovely to waste in a lab. So Emily and Agata fished their lunch out of their backpacks and took it outside.

“Man, I’ve missed picnics,” Agata mused. “I can’t requisition a jumper and go to the mainland to eat my lunch on the grass, surrounded by birdsong, like some people, ahem, Sheppard and Weir, ahem.”

“I don’t know, dude,” laughed Emily. “That’s great and all, but I think there’s something to be said about picnics on the pier. Every time I try to have a picnic on the grass, some bug has to bite me. It swells like a motherfucker, too. Been like that since I was a kid.”

“Oh, come on. Don't do me like that,” Agata grinned.

“I’m serious, Agata, that really happens.”

“Oh, I’m sure it does! Occasionally. And sometimes, you bite him.”

Emily punched her in the ribs.

"Ouch! What? This is gonna happen a lot, dude, get used to it,” grinned her friend.

“Oh, I’m gonna get you too. Just you wait. You'll do something. You’re in for it.”

“So how did you guys… you know, get together?"

"Aww, are you asking about how we lovebirds met?" Emily cracked up. "Boy, are you in for a treat. But you like horror stories, so..."

"It was romantic, wasn't it? Was he hiding in the grass near a picnic basket? Did he woo you under the moonlight?"

"Yeah, so romantic. Under the moonlight and everything. Except I couldn't see the moon through all the fighting. And instead of wooing me, he tried to feed on me. But otherwise, spot on."

"Holy shit. How are you still alive? Did our guys come? Did you beg for your life? Wait. Did you promise him a blowjob?"

Emily burst out laughing. “Oh, my God, you fucking clown!”

Catching her breath, she sat down on the grass and patted the spot next to her.

"Buckle up, buttercup!

You remember when we got separated that night, right? You guys went ahead to the Archeology lab and I lost you on the way, around the medical storage unit."

"Yeah, I kinda shat my breeches. I was so relieved when you showed up!"

"A bit tattered, wasn't I..."

"Now that I think of it... Oh, my God. I was too terrified to really take notice. It was my first time seeing these guys up close. I mean your guy is kinda hot, but I honestly don't know how you can... Never mind."

"Well... De gustibus."

"Dude!"

"Okay, okay. So I was trying to sneak around as quietly as possible to get to you guys, when I saw this dark figure moving cautiously across the room.

I flattened myself to the wall and held my breath, but he sensed me. And let me tell you, they are fast.

I thought the pistol would make a difference, but Agata... don't kid yourself. He knocked it out of my hand like it was nothing. And then... Well, you may like this part. He choked me with one hand and tore my shirt with the other."

"Oh, my."

"Yup, but you can guess the next part."

"I think so, but not entirely, obviously..."

"So he grabs me by the throat, hard. Rips my shirt and slams his feeding hand on me. Shit hurt."

Agata winced.

"Just stop me when it’s enough. Anyway.

You know my fight-or-flight response. Plus the delayed emotions thing from autism... I didn't have time to chicken out, I went into fight mode.

That stinger went in, I felt a sort of suction and something opened in the middle of my chest.

I don't know what he did then... but it didn't hurt.

Something unlocked and I felt a burst of pleasure in my head and down my spine. I felt… powerful, ravenous. He smelled so good up close. I wanted to radiate that pleasure into him, to pour myself into his body.

He was warm inside, welcoming, like hot chocolate on Christmas morning. And all mine.

I stroked every fiber of him. Lit up his blood. Played with his synapses. Caressed him, fucked him from the inside.

I didn't care about anything. We were floating in Nirvana.

When I came to my senses, he was on his knees, barely conscious, and I was leaning over him, holding him by the hair. My chest wasn't bleeding anymore.

And I felt such a surge of affection for that damn life-sucker, all hot and helpless, kneeling there for my pleasure. I kissed him. He tasted sweet... And still smelled like Grandma's cookies.

I dragged him to the wall and leaned him against it, so people would think him dead and wouldn't shoot him.

And I left to find you guys. The rest you know.

I went back after things calmed down. He wasn't there anymore. I thought 'okay, if you came to and survived, good for you. If not, good riddance, fucking hot vampire. It serves you right'.

And I didn't give it another thought until the pain started.

So... There you have it. That's how I met my friendly neighbourhood Wraith."

"Fuck meee..."

"Yeah."

Chapter Text

The fighter touched ground almost soundlessly in the landing bay.

Its canopy opened, but Gar’ain remained seated inside, eyes closed, immobile, trying to soothe the agony of separation that was tearing through him.

The Queen is asking for you, he heard the harsh mental voice of the Flight Master, an old, skilled, short-tempered Blade. See her immediately.

Once his rest day had ended, he’d been expected back in the lab. But he had been missing for three days, with no news and no trace. He knew he would be punished.

But he was resolved. That was what his Queen had wished, for him to return.

He had begged her to come with him. And she’d held him and comforted him, but she would not come.

“There’s no place for two Queens on a Hive unless they’re of the same blood,” she laughed. “We must rule, and will eventually fight for primacy. I cannot submit to her and she likely won’t be able to tolerate that. And one of the women you love will get hurt.”

He had then begged her to take him to Atlantis.

“You’ll be a prisoner there. You’ll be mistreated. You’ll leave behind everything you know and love, and will have to forgo your work. And that work is important. That cannot happen now, Gar’ain,” she said resolutely. “For now, you will go back, and I’ll come to you as before. We'll meet again as soon as I can. I promise. And we’ll think very carefully about our next steps.”

Away from her once more, his insides were churning. But there was purpose and wisdom behind it.

So he composed himself, stepped off the fighter and headed for the Bel’anna’s chambers.

*

He called to her mind to let her know that he was there. The doors opened and he stepped in.

The Queen was alone with Sheyn’ten, her Commander. A good sign, he thought, and felt encouraged. She did not mean to make an example out of him.

He knelt at her feet, head bowed in deference, projecting remorse, love and respect.

“We thought you had deserted,” Bel’anna said crossly.

“I have not. But you will not like the story I have to tell.”

“Oh? How so?”

“I was with the Lanteans.”

“The what??”

“I… am involved with one of them, and I left to see her,” he told her truthfully. There was no point in hiding, he knew he would be mentally interrogated anyway.

“A human? I know such aberrations happen, and I have even tolerated them, out of compassion for my sons. But I have not known you to resort to such. To desert for a human?”

"I have not deserted. And she is… different."

"The Tau'ri are, or so I have heard," Sheyn'ten interjected, "but not that different."

"No, my Commander. She is a Queen."

"A what?" growled Bel'anna.

"He means a human queen, they do have those, as we know," her Commander appeased.

Somewhat calmer, Bel'anna still pierced Gar'ain with a look that cut through his skull.

"No, my Lady," he whispered. "A true Queen. She is a daughter of Nuvo."

"Cloud died at the end of the War. Have you taken leave of your senses?"

"Sometimes I think so," he said softly.

“And how did you get ‘involved’ with this human?”

“We met during the siege, my Lady.”

"Show me!" she commanded.

In his memory, he was walking the corridors of Atlantis, stunner at the ready, ahead of his small team.

They came across a barricade erected at the end of a corridor, and crept forward along the wall. The place was silent, and in battle that was not a good thing. Suddenly, from behind the barricade, black weapons appeared and deadly projectiles started raining down.

On instinct, Gar’ain ducked into the first opening he saw. He backed away into the room until he saw a door that opened to the side. He would emerge behind the enemy line, and he meant to take full advantage of it.

But along with the gunpowder, the blood, adrenaline and fear, his sensory pits flared to an incredible scent coming from somewhere behind him. Somewhere close, calling to him. A scent so sweet his kallar leaked. But this was not the time… or perhaps it was. He was bone-tired and a harsh trial lay ahead. An easy meal would not be unwelcome.

In the dark, behind a cabinet, a human female was silently slithering along the wall, gun in hand. In a flash, he was upon her. He knocked the gun out of her hand and pinned her by the throat against the wall. He ripped the uniform off her chest and slammed down his feeding hand.

His kallar opened hungrily and the stinger pierced her chest.

He felt a wave of pleasure hit his brain, and then... not life.

But something was permeating him, invading him. Something warm, like tendrils of bliss releasing warm molecules into his blood, swirling through his brain and his body, consuming him, setting his nerves alight.

He closed his eyes to the pleasure and the outside world lost meaning. It was just them, the only two people left in the universe, standing face to face, his hand on her warm skin, connected.

He felt different, like he was made not out of flesh, but of something light and airy, something wonderful he had no name for.

He vaguely felt her material hand on the back of his head, guiding him to his knees, and he floated, incorporeal, enveloped in love, in a place where time had no meaning.

And then he woke.

He was lying in his alcove and saw in front of him the familiar, concerned visages of Mer'ren and Mond’ain, his brothers.

Home! What happened? Where was the fighting? Was it over? Had it all been a dream?

He felt his brothers' relief. They had thought him lost, and he was not.

But something was lost. Something important. Where was it? Where was she?

He asked about her aloud, mouth dry, and the two men looked utterly confused. There was no one with him when they'd found him unconscious, slumped against the wall, and had taken him back to the safety of the Hive.

He took some comfort in the wave of gratitude he felt and in the embrace of the Hivemind.

But the painful emptiness would not go away.

And as the hours and days went by, it got worse and worse. Nothing would soothe it. He would writhe in his alcove, to his brothers’ dismay, covered in sweat, asking for water and for someone to bring her to him. Hating her and then craving her, sometimes in the same breath.

Bel'anna felt his pain, then felt him coming to the realization that he should stop asking and keep himself together, lest he be thought insane and unfit for duty. She felt his desperate efforts to draw back into himself, to cover that place where a piece of him was now missing and anchor himself back into his reality.

Shocked, she came to herself.

Silent, she watched Gar'ain on his knees, trembling slightly, reminded of the ordeal he had faced.

“Will you allow me more?” she whispered, and he nodded.

He took refuge in the memory that, after calling to the woman for days on end, she had relented and had come to him in spirit. And in the memories of the subsequent hours they had spent together, one each day.

It was never enough, and it always hurt when the connection broke, but it was something.

It was an hour of jokes and laughter, music and stories, the stories of Cloud and of her daughters that she could draw from genetic memory and the stories of Earth. And affectionate touching and sometimes, when she felt she could concentrate enough, a little physical pleasure within the confines of a strange, as she called it, "long-distance relationship".

After a while, he had taught her to spar in the Wraith way and she picked it up unusually quickly.

The truly physical element was missing, they both knew, and he would still be able to seriously hurt her human body in hand-to-hand combat. But she laughed it off, explaining that this was the life of a human female and one learned to deal with it.

She mostly wanted him to teach her evasion techniques and how to use an adversary's superior force against him. The Tau’ri had a fighting style like that, she called it "Aikido", but she wanted to learn the Wraith way.

She was interested in his work, although there was much she could not understand yet. But she was very eager to learn, listened to him with great pleasure and, although ashamed of her ignorance, asked many questions.

She told him of her work, about the Wraith Encyclopedia, as she called it laughing, and asked a lot of questions about the contents of that.

She talked about Agata, her best friend on the base, and he talked about his closest friend and brother that he had lost during the siege. And they figured out he was not lost!

Relief flooded him and he begged that she take care of Sher'zin so he would not meet with the same grim fate as the others who had ended up in the Lantean prison.

That, on her part, was not a promise. She'd try. But she was not the leader of the base, so there was not much she could do.

She did manage to take Sher’zin under her wing somehow, and she would gift him small humorous stories about that one’s antics. He was an unruly man, for sure, and having him in the lab comfortable and uncuffed was bound to lead to some trouble.

“Ah, so that’s where Sher’zin is,” Bel’anna murmured. “And you… you got yourself into a right mess.”

“I could not have known.”

“That is true,” she conceded. “I had thought this knowledge lost, but apparently some still live who remember the old ways. She bound you to her, you poor creature.”

“I… She later told me so, yes.”

“It is one of the cruelest things a Queen can do, it dooms the bound man to great suffering in her absence. Why did she not just rebuke you and feed on you instead? You must have angered her beyond measure if she thought bringing you to order was needed.”

“No, she said she did not know. And she could not have fed, her kallar wasn’t open yet.”

“So young? Before her First Feeding? And a mongrel?” Bel’anna asked incredulously, and felt a wave of anger hit her with unexpected force.

“She calls herself ‘mixed’. But she is in all things a Queen. And I will not have her disrespected. By you or anyone, here or anywhere. Kill me if you so wish, but that is my last word,” he snarled.

“Hm,” she relented, a little impressed by his devotion. “I will meet this ‘Queen’ of yours. See how she fares against one such as myself.”

Chapter Text

“Agata, are you okay in there? You didn’t come to lunch.”

“I’m fine. Go away.”

“Please, come out. I know you’re not working today, but we could go for a picnic on the pier, it’s a nice day.”

“Go have a picnic with your mate, or whatever he is. Have fun, ‘share a meal’! You seemed to enjoy the idea before he graciously ‘gifted’ him to you.”

Emily closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the wall.

“At least open the door. We can’t talk like this.

I haven't hurt you so far, and I never will. Think about it, please. You’re like a sister to me. And even if you weren’t, I want to see Earth again. I want to see my daughters. Please, talk to me.”

There was a long silence, then the door cracked open.

Haggard-looking, dark circles under her eyes, Agata sat down on the couch. Emily took a chair and sat down in front of her.

“I understand how you feel. I didn’t do it for myself.”

“Yes, you did it for yourself. You liked it. What the hell happened to you, Emily?”

“Nothing happened that wasn’t… You know I’m dealing with some stuff, have been for all my life. I haven’t hidden that from you, the thing about the whips and chains... But it doesn’t matter, this was not about that.

I’m really sorry. I begged you to go.”

“Where would I have gone, dude? Should I have walked back alone? What if there were more of those robbers around? Or more of you guys?

It’s one thing to know about the whips and chains and another to actually see it. Worse, actually. I saw you kill someone, dude. You’d rot in jail for that on Earth, self-defense of not.”

“I know. And I know what a huge burden that is. I’m so, so sorry to have put that on your shoulders. Whatever you need...

I had to, please understand. Sher’zin would have died otherwise. And no one else would care.”

“No, you didn’t have to. You could have, I don’t know, eaten the other one up and fed him to his brother or something. Then he could go do whatever they do somewhere where I can’t see it.”

“He needed his strength and wits to get back to his Hive, Agata. They were far away, he had to fly a while, go through several gates on hostile planets, it was a dangerous journey for a lone man. He had no one to rely on. He needed to be all there.”

“Okay, he could’ve fed on that guy after we left.”

“And how would he have caught him if he was half-dead? They’re not Superman, they’re regular aliens.”

“Would he be half-dead though?”

“Yes, I need to restore Sher’zin properly this time.”

“This time? What the fuck?"

“Yes, this time. For real, has no one asked themselves how that guy was able to survive in the brig until now?”

“What the fuck did you do, kill someone on the mainland?”

“I didn’t kill anyone. I healed someone.”

“How the fuck does that work?”

“Nekka, one of Jinto’s friends, has cancer. Had cancer. A high-grade glioma, Agata. Carson wanted to try radiation, but wasn’t hopeful. I talked to her mother. She was desperate. I told her I could try to help her daughter, but she needed to trust me.”

“So her mom knows about you?”

“Yes, her dad as well. But I made them swear to take the secret to their grave. They cared less about their moral objections and their hatred of the Wraith than about their child. I took from Kira and her husband and gave to Nekka, and kept a little for Sher’zin.”

“You said he didn’t know about you. How doesn’t he know when…”

“He doesn’t. I had Williams stun him unconscious because he was ‘giving me trouble’. Not that Williams needs a reason. I’m gonna do the same thing now.”

She sighed.

“Please look at me. Nekka’s all right now. The tumor shrank to almost nothing. Radiation will take care of the rest. It’s amazing what ‘thoughts and prayers’ can achieve in the Pegasus galaxy.”

“Don’t get jokey with me now. I’m not in the mood.”

“I didn’t mean for you to see anything. I would have asked Gar’ain to stun you if we weren’t so far away. But he had to go before morning and we had to get back before morning. There was no time for him to come back with me and I couldn’t have carried you back alone.”

She leaned forward and put her off-hand on her friend’s. To her relief, Agata didn’t pull away.

“Tell me, please, what difference would it have made if I’d fed on Gar’ain instead of that outlaw guy? Isn’t his life worth anything? And I care about him.

Just because the other guy is human, his life would matter and the Wraith’s wouldn’t?

And people would have died anyway. You just wouldn’t have seen it.

We have to live, so we eat. A chicken dies so you can have a sandwich. The Wraith have to live, too. You can hate them, and you can certainly, and should certainly, defend yourself. But they can’t eat anything else.

And that’s what we did with the robber guys. Defended ourselves. They attacked us, and we happened to be the wrong people, and it happened to be their last day.

Do you think they would’ve left us alone if we’d asked nicely? Would have stopped robbing, beating and raping us?

If Gar’ain hadn’t come out of the woods, I would have killed my guy anyway, Agata. I would’ve killed all three of them, because he wouldn’t have scared off the other guys. I have a weapon in my hand, and I won’t just sit around and sob helplessly while a scumbag rapes me. And you.”

They looked at each other in silence and Emily squeezed Agata's hand.

“So Nekka is fine now,” Agata said, looking away.

“Yes.”

“I can't believe I'm saying this, but... Promise me you won’t kill anyone unless you absolutely have to. And they'll only be scumbags. And you will heal people in return.”

“I promise.

I don’t have to sustain myself like that. I can just have lunch with you, at our table by the stained-glass window.

I brought you a banana, by the way.”

Chapter Text

"You, rooted in your world profane

Are bound by Fortune's hold;

While I, among the stars, remain

Eternal, far and cold."

She paused with a faraway look.

"A human wrote this?" he asked softly.

"Interesting, right? It seems that, in some ways, left to our own devices, we are more alike than we are different.

This work was not written in English, in Common, I mean, like Shakespeare’s sonnets. People create beautiful things all across the world.

It’s even more impressive in the original version. This is just my translation, one of many possible ones. I could probably do better," she laughed.

"But,” she went on, “I thought you'd relate to it. It could be about a worshipper and her master, from your point of view.

Catalina... is loving, but shallow. Beautiful, but ephemeral. She aims to feel the depths of her master's love, but it hurts her and she cannot grasp it, she lacks the proper senses for it.

He’s too much for her, and in the end, heartbroken, he comes to understand it.

She busies herself and will eventually fade away in her small world, with her human lover, while he lives on among the stars."

"Eternal, far and cold."

"Yes," she smiled wistfully.

"But I am not him, and you are not her," he said in a strangled voice. "I am not eternal, just long living. And I am not cold.

As for you... It seems that in many things you are my teacher, not I yours. Perhaps you are EveningStar and I am the one who calls to you, with a need I cannot fully comprehend."

He turned and looked out the window. The sky had grown reddish and orange around the horizon. Lantea’s sun was setting into the ocean, painting the water with a crimson glow.

"Does your master not mind the time you spend with me?" he said, turning back to her.

"My master?"

"Yes. You are a worshipper, are you not? You are very comfortable around Wraith."

"No, my 'master' doesn't mind," she laughed. "In fact, he's the one who asked me to take care of you."

"He is very lucky to have one such as you," he said, head tilted, staring at her. “I hope he knows it.”

"I don't know about that, dude. I'm a lot of trouble."

"Yes, that I can see. But he can handle you, I am sure. Why does he not Gift you? Where is your feeding mark? And why has he not given you a mark of ownership?"

"Well… I can't go around Atlantis looking 'owned', now can I?"

"Tell him I wish to challenge him," he said abruptly.

"Challenge? You mean fight him? What..."

"That is not your concern."

"He can't meet you, Sher'zin."

"He will find a way. Or I will claim you."

"Claim me?" she laughed. "Has hunger driven you out of your wits?"

"I have had time to think these past days. And I need to do this. If he will not mark you, I will. Then he will meet me if he wants to keep you."

"Wait just a second. Let me... You want to... take me from him."

"Yes."

"Get a grip, Cleverman. You're not in any condition to fight."

"Do not concern yourself with my condition, woman. Mind your own things and let us deal with ours."

"So... In all of this, where's my input? Where’s my agency?"

"What?"

"What about what I want? What if I don't want to 'change owners'?"

"You will adjust. Most do."

"Oh, you think so? My 'master' and I are pretty close. He's very good to me and pleases me greatly."

"Others can do that too. If he loses you, he was not worthy of keeping you. You must know that."

"And if you lose?"

"Let me concern myself about that. Who is he? What ship does he serve on?"

"That is not your concern."

He met her with an impatient growl.

"You will need an attitude adjustment. He has been too lenient with you. But that is a good thing. His weakness gives me hope."

"Aren't you being a little ungrateful? I mean he has asked me to care for you."

"I am grateful. I will grant him a quick death."

She looked at him as if he had two heads.

"What in the blazes has gotten into you?"

"You left me alone in prison for a long time. And during that time, I have come to understand that... I must have you. I have never done this before, but there is a first time for everything. I have brothers who have taken worshippers, such things happen."

"What? Find yourself another! There are better options for you on your ship, for sure."

"There are some who are beautiful. That is not rare among humans.

But they are not... I like a little spirit. Not many are as spirited as you. Not many have your knowledge and perception.

I do not know how others feel, but I would like to be able to have a conversation once physical needs are met.

I understand what he sees in you. But perhaps you can do better. I would protect you, I would mark you. I would not leave you like this."

He swallowed and turned back to the window.

"We shall discuss this no further. Tell him what I said."

"Are you not right in the head? You're half dead and you’re thinking of fighting another man for a woman?"

"Yes! I have to. Enough."

"No. Not enough. Talk to me or I will tell him nothing."

"Do not anger me, woman!"

"Oh, I don’t give a rat’s ass about your anger. You like spirit, right? That's what a spirited woman looks like. Don’t dismiss me or there will be no challenge."

"You are insufferable! Perhaps too much trouble, after all. You are disrespectful, unruly and not properly broken in."

"Just the way you like them, Sher'zin. Isn't it?" she purred, grinning at him like a Cheshire cat.

"Is that why you haven't taken a worshipper? It's not that you find human women unattractive. It's that they're too meek and fearful for you, am I right? 'Properly broken in.'

And yet... this is how it should be, you can’t have it any other way. That would make you look weak, it would expose you. And you haven't survived this long by leaving yourself exposed.

What kind of man is he who cannot command proper respect from his worshipper?

And there's another consideration. Will she not choose another if you cannot fulfill her need to be conquered and protected? All human females have this need, or so they say.

Quite a dilemma... I truly understand," she smiled, gently touching his shoulder. "And behind closed doors, your pride..."

"I care nothing for my pride."

"Let's say you don't. Say you command her to behave a certain way behind closed doors. To be less compliant. And she would... comply. But she would depend on you, in more ways than one, so she’d always look for signs that she’s 'doing it right' and to your satisfaction. And that would ruin everything, wouldn't it?

You're not searching for a worshipper, Sher'zin. You are searching for a Queen.

So stop bothering with the likes of me and search for her."

"I have been searching for a long time. Longer than you can conceive of," he sighed. "The ones who liked me were too shallow for my taste. Or I did not like their appearance, or their scent. And the ones I could have knelt to have not wanted me. And even those...

I am tired of searching, of being alone. Perhaps that is not for me, few men are lucky..."

"And so, out of desperation, you’d settle for a worshipper? You, 'the luckiest man in the Wraith fleet'? That won't do, my friend. If I can give you confidence and new hope..."

"How do you know all these... Who is your master?"

"Someone you would not kill."

"Ah! Someone I care for."

"Okay," she smiled and shook her head. "Enough of this nonsense. Let's get back to work, it’s getting late."

"No," he said turning up his chin.

"No? Are you certain? Let me call for Williams."

"If that is what... No. Do not,” he sighed and his shoulders slumped a little. “I will... comply. We are not on my Hive. Perhaps here it does not matter, I can just be...

I do not wish to anger you. It hurts me when I feel you pull away.

Is this what you wanted to hear?

That I cannot stop thinking about you? That it pains me to be away from you? That you put fire in me?

That each time you send me back, I just sit and wait for the morning so I can feel your touch again, see your eyes sparkling, hear your laughter? Talk to you about stories and poems and listen to your music?

Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Oh, my God, what is it with you guys? Maybe we should stop, this has gone... I'll give you a couple of days to reset and think better of it."

"No! Please. What do you want? I do not know what you want..."

"Don't do this. Believe me, you are biting more than you can chew."

"You think I cannot handle you? Would you like me to demonstrate?"

"Oh, no," she laughed. "Don’t do that. I would not trust myself."

"You would not trust yourself to refuse me?" he rasped, leaning closer.

"I'll be honest with you, you deserve that. You're a very desirable man.

But... I've already fucked up your brother's life, and I won't do that to you. And I don't trust myself not to if you challenge me. Not because you're not attractive, but because you are."

"My brother?” he asked peering at her askance. "Which one of them?"

"Venture a guess."

"The one I’m thinking of has never taken a worshipper, he despises it. It must be..."

"I'm not his worshipper, Sher'zin. I'm not anyone's worshipper, and woe to the man who tries,” she growled. “But yes, it is Gar’ain."

"But he does not..."

"Well, it seems like he does."

"Ah…” he swallowed sharply and bit his lip. “Do you care much for him?"

"Yes,” she smiled warmly. “Very much."

"Then it seems I am far from the luckiest man in the fleet..." he whispered, crestfallen.

"Oh, believe me, you are lucky."

"How so? Is it luck to live in pain and frustration?"

"Pain and frustration are temporary. They will go away. And then you will be free. Which is more than he can say."

"He would want to be free of you? Have lab fumes damaged his brain?" he smiled bitterly.

"Please, Sher'zin. You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me!"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just can't. Let's just... Williams!"

The Marine stepped in, waiting for instructions.

“Yes, ma’am.”

"I need you to stun the gentleman a little."

"Sure thing, ma'am," he grinned.

"No, wait..."

The stunner fired and the world went black.

And Sher'zin dreamed that he was flying, enveloped in bliss, on the wings of a bird of fire.

Chapter Text

“Mi Reina, when are we meeting?" he growled miserably, pacing around his room like a caged lion. "Come to me! I cannot feel you properly like this. It is not enough anymore. I must be inside you, this is killing me!”

It's frustrating as fuck, and it's all your fault. You are getting punished for this.”

He stopped and closed his eyes.

“By the Gods, do not talk like that... You are making it worse...”

“Ah, is that so?" she grinned. "Take off your underpants. Come here and lie down with me," she commanded and made room for him on the bed. He was with her in a flash, hardening already.

"Take yourself in hand. No. The feeding hand. Yes, love, like that. Get it all slick for me.”

He worked his hand, head thrown back, all muscles in his body tight, and groaned with pleasure. Rubbing herself against his strong thigh, she trailed kisses and little bites along his neck, his shoulder and his chest, teasing a nipple with her soft lips and tongue, then going to the other, making him shiver and moan.

He stroked faster and, attuned to him, she felt the build-up of his orgasm.

“Stop.”

His hand stilled and he threw her a worried look. But she was smiling.

“Your pleasure belongs to me. You are not to finish until I tell you to,” she cooed with a devilish smirk. “If you spill one drop, you won’t see me for days. Is that understood?”

Breathing ragged, he nodded and closed his eyes.

“Again, mi cuor.”

Half an hour later, he was realizing how badly he had underestimated this small, innocuous game. Few tortures were worse, in this universe or the next.

He was a sweaty, trembling mess, a couple of tears running down his face, enzyme and precum running down his length, an absolute disgrace to the proud officers of the Adventure. He was gripping the sheets convulsively with his free hand and could no longer contain his desperate moans.

“Ah, you are so cruel! Mi Reina, mi omnia…" he breathed in a strangled voice. "Please, release me, I cannot bear this.”

“You know I can't do that," she laughed darkly. "You’re so hot like this, all aroused and frustrated. If I make you see yourself through my eyes…”

She paused and raised her head. “Come in, darling, let the door close.”

Snarling, feeding hand twitching, Gar’ain raised himself on one elbow to see what absolute fool had dared disturb his private time.

A fine-featured young man with a light, almost white complexion and long, silky hair adorned with two thin braids in the front was standing in front of the door.

“Gar’ain, try being louder, they could not hear you on the planet below,” he purred mockingly. “And who is this? I do not remember seeing you around, lovely. You must be new. And something else indeed, if you have convinced my brother to lie with you so passionately.”

Her eyes sparkled and she laughed softly. “Come closer, Mond’ain. Sit on Sher’zin’s bed.”

Mond’ain's smirk disappeared. Astonished and confused, the young Wraith felt his legs doing her bidding and sat down in the empty alcove next to Gar’ain’s own.

“Ah, look how beautiful he is,” she smiled, nestled in Gar’ain’s arms, rubbing her cheek against her lover’s flushed skin. “Pale and alluring like moonlight indeed. Have you fucked him yet, mi cuor?”

Gar’ain laughed huskily. “A couple of times, mi Reina.”

Mond’ain stared silently, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, at the incredible scene before him.

“Take off your clothes, I want to see you,” she ordered, and again, to his amazement, he rose and his hands obeyed.

She looked him up and down and licked her lips.

“Oh, yes. I think I have a temporary solution for our sensory predicament, mi cuor. Come here, beautiful. Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” she smiled with deceptive friendliness. “Actually, that’s a shameless lie. I bite. But you’ll enjoy it.”

Mesmerized, he approached, and she scooted closer to Gar’ain to make space for him to lie down next to them. She trailed the fingers of her right hand along his chest, pinching a nipple, and down to his groin, where his body had again betrayed him.

Wrapping her small, soft hand around him, she let her feeding slit open and caress his tip. He gasped at the touch, familiar but so unexpected from a human hand.

She reached inside his mind with persistent, sensual pressure and ordered him to tie Gar’ain’s hands above his head with his shirt and move between his legs.

I must be dreaming, the young man thought. But by all the Queens, what a dream!

“You have the oil there. Fuck him, beautiful. He needs it, see?”

He moaned and took Gar’ain slowly while she traced her fingers on his shoulder blades, along his spine and down his round ass, teasing his own opening, making him arch and writhe with the pleasure.

She toyed with him as if he were a living doll, effortlessly, mercilessly. What she commanded, he could not refuse. This was beyond belief, the hottest dream he'd ever had, the most erotic game he’d ever played.

“Touch him,” she purred silkily. “Play with him. Like that, yes love, like that."

Breathing hard, stroking between her own legs, she hungrily watched the two men’s tight bodies, entwined in their sensual dance. She unbuttoned her dress and played with her pebbled nipples, pinching and teasing them, then she leaned over, feeding them to Gar’ain’s eager tongue.

“Mi Reina… bet dich…” pleaded Gar’ain desperately.

He licked and kissed her, almost out of his mind, while his brother was moaning, enraptured by the spectacle, moving his hips with wild abandon.

Ay! Her mind called amongst waves of pleasure. Ay, mi cuor, join me!

Gar’ain cried out, shaking, dissolving in pleasure so long awaited, and his brother soon followed suit, consumed by his climax.

She lied down, stretched and growled softly, her hunger satisfied for a time. Undulating next to her lover's body, seeking his touch, she kissed him deeply, then reached over to caress his brother’s cheek and hair.

"Ah, you have done so well... I am so pleased," she purred and Gar'ain thought he would come again with pride and satisfaction. Eyes closed, beaming, his brother leaned his head against his shoulder.

They lay next to each other, enjoying each other's warmth and presence, for a long, silent moment.

“Mi cuor," she whispered finally, breaking the spell, "I have to go, my love. Tomorrow, right?”

“Tomorrow,” Gar’ain sighed, and her presence dissolved, leaving in its wake a man forlorn and another bewildered.

Chapter Text

“So… I have to ask you something.”

“Sure, ask away,” Emily smiled and took a sip of her warm coffee, in which she had added, as Agata put it, ‘a gallon of milk’.

It was a stormy, cloudy morning and they were sitting in the mess hall at their usual table, killing time and watching the rain and the waves through the stained-glass window.

“You said you had to tell me something about Evan Lorne.”

“Ah, it’s not a big deal. I actually forgot about it.”

“When you say that, it usually is a big deal,” Agata said. “You always try to downplay shit. And honestly, I don’t blame you. So, about Evan...” she repeated, and leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand.

“Are you sure? ‘Cause it’s a long and complicated story.”

“Yup. Got time, am very interested.”

“Okay, here goes!

Two nights after the siege, I woke up in the middle of the night, covered in sweat.

I felt like something was eating me up from the inside. A weird sensation of something gnawing at you, plus burning alive, like the blood running through your veins is hot, plus the sensation of withering away, like the panic you feel when you’re under water and unable to breathe.

My right hand ached like a motherfucker. The whole arm did, actually. I got up and turned on my desk light and I freaked out. I thought I’d ripped my scar on a nail in the bed frame or something. You know, where I ‘cut myself with a knife’ when I was little. It was bleeding.

I didn’t know what to deal with first, the fucking gash in my hand or the terrible burning.

I felt a terrible need to go out and hunt something. Someone. I wanted to eat a person. With my teeth. I imagine that’s how rabid people feel. It crossed my mind that Gar’ain injected some sort of late-acting neurotoxin in my body because I interrupted his feeding process, and I was gonna die anyway.

Do I go on? You asked about Lorne. I’m telling you this because it makes sense for the story, but I can skip to that part.”

“No, dude, go on. It’s fucking fascinating in a really creepy way. What next?” Agata whispered.

“I tried to get a grip on myself and searched for something else to eat. Fucking fortunately, I had two chocolate powerbars in my backpack that I’d stolen from you guys. Sue me,” she said and stuck out her tongue at Agata.

“That night they may have saved me from being sent home and to the nuthouse like freaking Renfield, or they may have saved a life.

I ate them, and thank Jesus, I felt better. Then I ate the two bananas I had on the coffee table, and the apple. And I felt… human again. I could think.

I sat down and cried and thanked all the Powers that be, I will be honest with you. Huge fucking relief. The horrible burning sensation was manageable now. My hand had stopped hurting.

I went to the bathroom to clean up. The gash had closed somewhat and wasn’t leaking anymore, but it was still wet and itched a little.

I licked at it and realized the thing dripping from it wasn’t blood. It didn’t taste like iron and was a little more pinkish. It tasted tangy and, I don’t know, like fruit bubblegum?

I took a look at the thing and I knew it was no wound. I remember wanting to see it better and it… responded to me. It opened again, and there were folds of pink skin and a sort of stinger inside. It looked a bit like the inside of a mouth, and the stinger was like the tongue. I’ll show you, if you think you can stomach it.”

“I’ll probably puke, but I definitely wanna see it. And touch it.”

“Ah, no, you don’t wanna do that. It’s kinda… sensitive,” Emily blushed.

“What? Dude… you feel pleasure if…”

“If someone touches it gently, or licks it… yeah. But it can hurt if you touch it roughly, and I don’t like to touch cold stuff with it.”

“Holy shit, you think they…”

“Um, I know they…” Emily laughed. “Anyway. Let’s go back to the SFW stuff.”

“That was SFW?”

“Well, it is in the Pegasus, right? I mean it’s not safe, but it’s related to work, right?” Emily laughed. “So. I… realized what it most likely was. And I felt cold dread inside. What the fuck did he do to me? What the fuck was gonna happen to me when they found out? Was I ever gonna see Earth again, my home, my family, my fucking cats? Honestly, I still freak out about it sometimes.

I didn’t know what to do. But it was there and wasn’t going anywhere, so I decided I would just keep it to myself, make sure I had food close by, find out more about this new situation and just… not hurt anyone.

Let me tell you, that last part was hard when I had to deal with Kavanagh, Rodney and a couple of others. The first time Kavanagh started with his shit I saw red and felt this overwhelming urge to snap my hand onto his chest and drain him dry.”

“You wanted to feed on Kavanagh?” Agata whispered with a muffled laugh.

“Yup. At least he would have served some worthy purpose. Come on, don't tell me you didn't want to feed on Kavanagh,” Emily laughed.

“I fucking did! Holy bananas. Oh, now I’m connecting the banana stuff…” Agata snickered again, then caught herself and threw Emily a concerned look. “Is it wrong that I’m laughing? I don’t want you to think that I’m taking this lightly, or that I’m laughing at you, dude. I swear I’m not…”

“I understand. Don’t sweat it. Laughter is a common enough response to stressful situations,” Emily smiled and touched her hand.

“So this is, I assume, when you decided to wear the gloves.”

“Yeah. I knew I had some fingerless gloves in a drawer. They’re leather, thin, pretty comfortable and they look cool. And they fully cover my palm. I mean full gloves would have looked weird, but I would have still preferred them to the alternative.

But this way… I just started to wear more leather and, you know, adopted a more punk rock style. People mentioned them, but didn’t find it that weird. Except McKay, who scrunched his nose at me because ‘Miss Leather Breeches thinks the Atlantis uniform is too plain for her’.”

“Yeah, I bet he jerks it furiously to the thought of you in leather behind closed doors though.”

“You know… he does," smiled Emily. "I’ve… sorta read his mind a couple of times, though it’s quite hard with humans, they’re very closed off. Rodney is much easier than others, actually. Sheppard is a right nightmare.”

“You read his mind?”

“A few times. He’s not a bad guy, actually! Surprisingly scatterbrained. I think he’s been bullied a lot or his parents were shit, I don’t know, and he developed this persona. Plus he’s an envious, insecure sort and he’s got an ego the size of Mount Everest. But… he’s kinda soft inside, and not really a misogynist, which is what surprised me the most. He’s actually got a bit of a femdom thing going on and he’s terrified of people sensing it, which Sheppard and Zelenka, of course, have.”

“What? McKay?”

“Yeah. So don’t sweat the stuff he says anymore. He doesn’t believe it, or there are other reasons he says it. Some of the women he’s worked with were genuinely incompetent, and that is not wrong to acknowledge. But I'm fairly sure he's on the spectrum too, so he hasn't got a filter and he blurts out shit he shouldn't be saying.

Speaking of McKay, my coffee’s getting cold! Now let me eat something, or Imma eat you,” she said sticking her tongue at her friend, who responded in kind.

They ate their buttered toast and jam in silence for a while, until Agata started fidgeting again.

“What?”

“Um, have you ever eaten in front of your guy?”

“Yup.”

“And… how did he react?”

“They do eat, Agata, it’s not so foreign.”

“They can eat? Food? Fucking assholes!”

“They eat fruit and stuff when they’re young. And even as adults, they can eat and enjoy the taste of things. Chocolate was a huge favourite, obviously... He ate all my chocolate. It just doesn’t help with the hunger at all, I think they don’t absorb the nutrients.”

“Oh, okay, then it makes sense. So he didn’t care.”

“No, actually, he… likes to see me eat. With my hands. As messily as possible. Bonus points if there are juices dripping, fillings or stuff. He gets turned on.”

“What? Oh, my God…”

“It’s the primal aspect of it. Like watching me feed, consume stuff. A bit like watching porn? And he goes wild if I lick my fingers.”

Agata burst out laughing. “Oh, my God, men. They really are the same everywhere, aren’t they. I take it you’ve… you know… sucked other things…”

“Well…”

“Oh, my… What do they… taste like?”

“Agata, seriously? That morbid curiosity will get you in trouble.”

“Shut up, mommy said that’s why I became a scientist.”

“That is probably why,” Emily laughed. “So back to Lorne…”

“Nah, this first. What does it taste like?”

“I will be honest, it’s more pleasant than the human guys I’ve been with. But similar. Salty, a tad bitter, maybe a little sweeter? You know, I probably wouldn’t die if I was trapped somewhere with him and a bottle of water.

I’d give him the water to keep him hydrated, and I’d drink that and his blood and totally survive for a while. Actually, fuck, that’s hot. I’m gonna roleplay that with him next time. He’ll get a major kick out of it.”

“Oh, my God, you’re insane. And isn’t he supposed to eat you?”

“He would be, yeah… Except ours is a particular case… so he defaults to the other mode.”

“Oh, they’re different with their Queens, yeah, that makes sense…”

“Yes. With their own females, they’re instinctively submissive. I mean they will be forceful if you tell them to, it’s an instinct that’s not foreign to them, obviously. But they mostly do it to please you, like a service top. They want to be… taken over and overwhelmed, and they’re desperate to serve and please.”

“Oh, dear. Right up your alley…” Agata laughed.

“Well, my dear, nature does speak, I guess. All the guys I’ve been with said I was ‘too aggressive’ and ‘emasculating’ until I learned to fucking turn it down. I guess now I know why I’ve always been such a freak.”

“Cause you’re a fucking alien bitch,” Agata laughed.

Emily laughed too. “Cause of that, yeah… I guess. You know, you kinda feel alien, but you don’t think of it seriously, obviously. Anyway, back to Evan Lorne…

As I said, I was gonna investigate the thing. So one night, I got Marie drunk and asked her to teach me how to use the DNA sequencer thing in the lab. And when she fell asleep on the desk… I know, that was irresponsible of me. I didn’t do it again, and I stayed around to make sure nothing happened that required her attention while she was out.

I fed a DNA sample from my mouth in the thing and ran a comparison with the Wraith DNA we have on file.”

“And let me guess…”

“Yeah, 99.2% match.”

“Holy shit, you’re practically…”

“Well, it seems the 0.8% makes a hell of a difference though. I mean, if you think about it, chimps share 98% of their DNA with us. And the Wraith, while we’re at it, at least 94%.”

“Yeah, I remember Lorne mentioning that in the lab.”

“Yeah, I wonder if he… Anyway, I got curious and I ran analyses on the people I knew. Looked up their DNA. Most people were in the 94-95% range. Teyla’s match is 97.4%. And Evan Lorne’s… 98.7%.”

“What? Lorne is closer to them than Teyla? He’s got the… thing?”

“He’s got… something. And he either doesn’t know, or it manifests differently in him, since he’s male, or he doesn’t want to tell anyone.”

“So he’s like a kind of closeted gay bigot, with the Wraith hatred and everything?”

“A bit, yeah. Here’s why I think he doesn’t know. He didn’t freak when the diviner woman turned his right palm up and called him Commander, he just seemed a little creeped out.”

“Fucking hell… she did, didn’t she… And got all flirty with him too.”

“Yup,” Emily laughed. “Good-looking Commander, heh? I bet she was like ‘Mmmm, I could work with this one…’”

Agata snickered loudly.

“Shh! Okay. So, from what I could see… he apparently ‘cut his hand with a knife’ when he was little too.”

“What??”

“He’s got a closed kallar. A handmouth, but still fused. What I know from SingingRain’s memories…”

“Who?”

“Cloud’s great-great-great-great-granddaughter, an ancestor of mine. Genetic memory is passed on from one Queen to another. We can… remember shit.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cool! Cloud is the Queen who came to Earth, right?”

“Sorta, yeah. Except for the many gory parts… And yes, she is the one who came to Earth with the Lantean. I’ll tell you that story too, some other time.

I entertained Gar’ain with it, he was fascinated. They listen to stories about the Queens of old like we listen to legends and stuff about real heroes.

Anyway. So, by the time of SingingRain, because of the continued cross-breeding, a kallar would not open on its own anymore. It required input from another Queen, or a Wraith man. They had to gift you when you ‘came of age’, probably around 35 to 50 in human years. Otherwise, it would just stay shut and you’d just die of old age with it in your palm. There wasn’t enough energy in the body for it to open on its own.

And slowly, those other Wraith were killed by the humans. And Cloud’s descendants started resembling humans almost perfectly, and living and dying as such, without ever knowing.

I guess not many had they right hands CT-ed in the few years CT and MRI have been around, so the anomalies would be found. There’s the dormant enzyme sack, the lymphatic vessels in that arm are different… Or maybe these were seen and written off somehow.

Genetic memory is only accessible after one’s First Feeding, so… that was gone too.”

“First Feeding, ew!”

“So Lorne, if males even get it, though I highly suspect not, would not feel anything like that. But he would be more sensitive to the environment than others, and even slightly telepathic. Which he is, he just calls it ‘intuition’.”

“So Evan’s a Wraith too!”

“That’s what I was getting at. Yes. We’re likely distantly related.”

“Think there are others?”

“Well… remember when the fortune teller said she was lucky and called Zelenka ‘Cleverman’? Clevermen are the Wraith scientists.”

“What the fuck? Radek?”

“98.2%. And also very intuitive. I was getting there.”

“I’m fucking two half-Wraith guys?”

“Whoa there! You’re really fucking Lorne? Since when? You Fibbing Fanny, how could you hide that very juicy piece of gossip from me!”

“I was gonna tell you… Today, actually. It's a new development. We've been dancing around each other for a while, but...”

“So that's why you asked about him... It’s your turn to spill! How is he in the sack?”

“Excellent. Dude, I came so hard. Four times. He’s strong and so good with his mouth. Very eager to please. And I swear his dick is something else. It’s extra-veiny and it feels…”

Emily burst out laughing.

“Yeah, that would be the… well…” she said when she caught her breath.

“Holy shit. Really? They’ve got…”

“Ridges and everything, it’s… nice. It’s a little wrong to say that, isn’t it.”

“It’s a bit gross, to be fair… Not to you tho, I guess.”

“I will be very honest, not to me. But we’re discussing you now! Isn’t Radek the same?”

“Now that you mention it, he is… big for his stature,” Agata laughed. “And yeah, he’s also... Oh, my God. Think that’s why they’re good…?”

“Probably not, dude,” Emily laughed. “They’re just genuinely nice men. They’re smart and care about their partners. I mean there are a lot of guys on Earth, human guys, who are good in bed and focused on the woman’s pleasure. Or… maybe it is that, a little.”

“Is your guy… I mean does he make you...”

“Well... You know that ‘once you go Black’ thing? It’s green in the Pegasus galaxy.”

Chapter Text

“Again?” asked Anneke, not bothering to hide her annoyance. “Must you have him in here again?”

“Oh, come on,” Emily laughed. “Just till you guys come back from Rodney’s lab.

He’s helped quite a bit. More than I thought he would, actually. We’ve talked and he’s even gonna give me audio samples of spoken Wraith, how about that?

It’s a net positive, admit it. And it’s not like you run into him all the time.”

“He bothers me anyway. He leaves water and wet towels on the floor in the bathroom, and I keep picking white hair off my brush. I don’t want him touching my stuff. And I don’t like the look he gives me. It creeps me out that you keep him here uncuffed.”

Emily frowned. “What look? Is he bothering you? Tell me and I’ll set him straight!”

“See, that's another thing. ‘I’ll set him straight’… It’s not natural, the way you interact with him. Sheppard doesn’t even boss Todd around like that.

The gossip mill is abuzz. They’ve started to mock you, they call you ‘the Wraith Whisperer’ at poker nights when you’re not there. They say you listen to music together, that you read him poetry.

And last week I tripped over that guitar. Was zur Hölle, Emily?”

“Well, Todd’s a bit of a force of nature. No one bosses him around. And they could be calling me worse things, like Wraith Worshipper, right? I’m quite surprised - and grateful - it isn’t that.

I think I’m gonna take Wraith Whisperer and own it with pride,” she laughed heartily.

She set the tablet down on her desk.

“Look. I got him the guitar as an experiment. He seemed to appreciate rock music, I wanted to find out if they had… musical inclinations along with musical taste, you know.

I showed him some YouTube tutorials I’d downloaded for Agata. And let me tell you, when they study, they study. They aren’t top dogs in this galaxy for nothing. He’s actually gotten pretty decent! He’s almost got the intro to Nothing Else Matters down pat.”

“Really?"

"Yup!"

"And the leather jacket and the pants? Are those for ‘musical inclinations’ too?”

“He’s got the instrument, now we gotta give him the look, innit?” Emily laughed. “Stick around, Anneke. You’re gonna see a leather-clad Wraith playing the electric guitar. I’ll record him and make a YouTube channel for him, we’re gonna make a killing. If I could get them together for a jam session…”

“Him and Todd?”

“Yeah… him and Todd.”

Anneke leaned closer. “Can you teach him the riff from Army of the Night?”

“Powerwolf? Yeah, he already loves them, listens to them on repeat. And Army of the Night would be quite… fitting,” laughed Emily.

“Or the one from Prayer in the Dark.”

“Let him develop, dude. He learned Redemption Song and some Metallica, he’s not a rock musician yet. First you’re annoyed by his guitar, now you want him playing Powerwolf, make up your mind.”

“I don’t want anything, I don’t want him here at all. I tolerate him for you. Emily, it’s weird, just keep him in cuffs or something. Williams says he’s attacked you multiple times, yet you don’t seem all that bothered and you let him roam free. He’s gonna ring your bell one day!”

Emily burst out laughing. “Oh, my God, girl. Freud called, he wants his slip back. Perhaps you meant toll my bell…”

“Yeah, whatever,” Anneke blushed. “People are saying it’s the first one, too. Alicia swore she saw him sitting on the floor between your legs one evening. And you were playing with his hair. Um Gottes Willen!

People are wondering if you’re insane. At the very least, ‘cause there are other rumours going around. If this gets to Weir, I’m not sure how she’ll react.”

“Weir is aware of my work. I have her approval, so far she’s been quite pleased with the results. And if she has any objections, I’ll discuss them with her.

But thank you, Anneke, I really appreciate it. I get it, seriously, I’ll tune it down. No more playing with his hair.”

She leaned forward and gave Anneke an impish look. “I’ll call Alicia in so she can play with it.”

Chapter Text

“What an enchanting melody,” exclaimed Teyla.

“Yes! I think I know this one, it’s by a Spanish composer,” Elizabeth replied excitedly. “Joaquin something. But what an interesting rendition! Unlike anything I've heard so far. Come on, let’s see.”

They reached the Translation lab and froze in the doorway between the two Marines.

The darkening room was host to just two people.

Emily was leaning against her desk in a red sundress. In front of her, head bowed and on his knees, a slim man in black leather was playing an electric guitar. His white hair was falling on his shoulders, hiding his face.

The music was flowing from his instrument in a slow caress, like the cry of a lover’s yearning heart.

Elizabeth listened, mesmerized, reminded of the fragrant summer evenings she had spent in Spain in Simon's company.

Suddenly, the tempo intensified and the room exploded in passion. The man’s slender fingers were flying on the fretboard. The fervent, vibrant notes seemed to consume him, making the air dance around him. What if this was a mirror into the inner world of a Wraith? Elizabeth could not help wondering.

Then, just as suddenly, the dulcet, melancholic tones were back, and the music trickled down, fading into silence.

“Per dich, mi Reina,” he spoke in his strange, melodic voice, and Elizabeth felt a shiver down her spine.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered almost inaudibly, unaware that she had spoken out loud. Teyla shot her a puzzled look.

“You have improved immensely, Sher'zin,” Emily praised. A smile warmed her face and crinkled the corners of her eyes. “I expected you to advance quickly, you're talented and dedicated, but the Concierto de Aranjuez is a very difficult piece. I’m impressed.”

“Gratias, mi Reina," he said, bowing deeper. "It spoke to my heart, of my heart. And I wanted to gift it to you. From a man who would do so much more for you, a song is but a small token.”

She came closer and held out her hand, stroking his cheek and tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. She grabbed his chin and pulled his head upwards.

“Look at me. You played wonderfully. You’re a bona fide musician! You deserve a reward,” she said in a low voice.

"You know the only reward I seek," he replied, looking up at her longingly.

Elizabeth coughed in the doorway. Emily started and, taken by surprise, Sher'zin snarled menacingly, poised to spring up. A calming hand on the shoulder kept him in place and Emily shook her head.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "I'm afraid the reward you seek is off-limits."

"And I am afraid, respectfully," he replied, "that it is not your decision."

"Your presence in this lab very much hangs on my decision," said Elizabeth.

He bowed his head in submission.

"I understand."

"I've heard some rumours," she addressed Emily, "about the way you're dealing with our prisoner. Interesting rumours. People are... unnerved."

"Ah, well," Emily smiled sadly, "I'm used to unnerving people. I dance to my own drum and that..." she sighed.

"Nothing untoward happens here," she went on, "but of course what really goes on would not feed the rumour mill. We listen to music together. We read poetry, look at art and discuss philosophy. But mostly, we work, quite productively, as you know.

And I generally... treat him like a human being. I'm sure I have your full approval in this. And in my place, I believe you would've done the same. Which would unnerve some. And I suppose that's alright."

"I think I would’ve kept him cuffed," said Elizabeth with a raised eyebrow.

"That would have been a wise idea," laughed Emily. "However, it seems we were able to manage."

"He's not a human being, Emily. I wouldn't treat him as such."

"Yes, Elizabeth, you would."

"Regardless, I hope you realize that the reward he 'seeks' is not something that can happen."

"The reward was this," said Emily, and held up a silver pendant in the form of a dagger, strung on a leather cord. "But whatever it was, my personal life is my own business as long as I’m not endangering our base and the people in it. I’m aware of the many... difficulties and barriers. But I do reserve the right to make my own decisions."

"We all make our decisions, that's true. I just want you to be aware that some would be endangering your position here."

"I'm very much aware, Elizabeth. As I said, I understand the implications. He's a prisoner from an enemy race. We won't defy the cruel world and elope together. If he were not a prisoner, however, say, like Todd..."

"Todd is an ally. And I trust that John isn't... inappropriate with him."

"Do you, doctor Weir?" laughed the Wraith.

"Our culture is a bit different than yours. And yes, I believe that John Sheppard and the Commander are just friends."

"Ah. But you could not be sure. Could you? You simply decide to trust in John Sheppard."

"I know him..."

"I'm a member of your team, Elizabeth," smiled Emily. "You chose me. Trust my judgement. If nothing else, because I haven't given you reason not to. I know what I'm doing."

"He's... courting you very... insistently. It's... unnerving," she blushed.

Teyla's face scrunched in disgust.

"He's bored, he's occupying his time,” Emily replied. “And he hasn't been around women much. You can forgive him for getting a bit ahead of himself. He'll be alright, he'll forget about me the second he's out of here. I'm not a naive spring chicken, Elizabeth. I've been promised the moon and the stars by men before, a number of times," she laughed.

Sher'zin sighed, lowering his eyes.

"Of course you have been, one such as you," he murmured.

Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously.

"I'll be honest, I did not expect Wraith to be so... courteous. I mean Todd is polite, but..."

"What did you expect, dr. Weir? Do you believe we are mindless brutes?"

"Of all the people on this base, with the exception of 'your Queen', of course, I am one of the few who don't."

"Then why do you object to me pursuing her?"

"I would think that was obvious. I'm protecting her. You're a member of an enemy race, that eats people."

“But my Hive is not an enemy of Atlantis. Same as the old Commander's. We have been forced to participate in an attack because we were part of an alliance, and we honour our promises. But that alliance no longer exists, and left to our own devices, we do not seek your destruction. Not all Wraith are the same and seek the same things.

As for myself... Look at me. I have not hurt anyone in Atlantis, although I could have. I cannot help what I am, however distasteful that may be to you. But I can exercise judgement. And I am praying with all my heart that she does not share your distaste."

Elizabeth fell silent. She looked at the man kneeling in front of her and wondered. Was Todd right?

Emily motioned him to stand up, and he obeyed.

"I'm curious, how did you come to, um, like her? I thought your kind despised ours," Elizabeth asked.

"You thought wrong. I personally had not met a human woman I could desire, but that is not because of physical distaste. But the women from Earth are unlike any others that I have seen. She most of all.

That being said, I have brothers who have taken human partners from here. Does that explain it a little?"

"Brothers who forced worshippers to bed them, you mean," Teyla frowned.

"I do not agree with everything that goes on in Wraith society, Teyla Emmagan, and I am not saying terrible things do not happen. When one has unchecked power, one is tempted to abuse it," he said darkly. "But you should know that the worshippers on our ship are not forcibly converted, and none are forced to serve us or lie with us. I am Hive-born and that is one of the reasons I stayed. On the contrary, sometimes those worshippers pursue us."

"To gain safety and a better life," she replied bitterly.

"And is that so bad? They are getting those things. They are enjoying safety, good health and a long life. My brother's companion has been with him for a thousand cycles, almost a hundred of your years. He is very fond of her, and she of him."

"I doubt that," Teyla said, but her conviction seemed to wane.

"That is an interesting discussion, for sure," Emily intervened. "But perhaps we should get back to the reason we are here. Our work. Crushes or cultural disagreements can wait."

"Slavery is not a cultural disagreement," said Teyla sharply.

"Of course not. I misspoke. Apologies, Ste... Teyla," Emily bowed her head slightly.

Somewhat appeased, Teyla responded in kind.

Sher'zin watched them, fascinated. He'd seen a number of interactions between two Queens, but never two human women behaving the very same way, unprompted. His breath hitched, he felt himself hardening up and forced himself to look away.

As if they’d felt his predicament, the two women turned to look at him.

One annoyed and one with a mischievous little smile.

“Elizabeth, we should indeed go,” said Teyla with a small shrug.

“You're still a prisoner of Atlantis. Don’t forget it. I know you’re not a stupid man,” Elizabeth warned, looking straight at him.

Sher’zin bowed and closed his eyes, doing his best to shield himself with neutral thoughts. The Athosian woman was not head-blind, he was sure. And he was now truly starting to wonder about the other one.

Chapter Text

“Unscheduled Gate activation. It’s Colonel Sheppard’s team, ma’am.”

“Lower the shield,” Elizabeth ordered, as the Marines took defensive positions around the Gate.

Sheppard and McKay came through, followed by Teyla, walking backwards with her gun at the ready, and Ronon, who had his pistol firmly lodged between the shoulder blades of a Wraith.

The Gate shut down and Elizabeth watched as Ronon pushed the Wraith to his knees in the middle of the Gate Room.

The alien hissed in annoyance, but didn’t display any otherwise aggressive behaviour. He just looked around, curiously calm, taking in all the details he could while Elizabeth descended the stairs to the Gate, stopping in front of them at a safe distance.

“What’s going on?” she asked John.

“Well… search me,” he replied. “I think we’ve got ourselves a spy or a kamikaze. He just came to us from the forest, knelt down in front of Teyla and said ‘I surrender to Atlantis’.”

“What??”

“Yeah. Exactly like that.”

Elizabeth threw the alien a curious look. He regarded her impassively, shoulders straight, bicolour, cat-like eyes shining slightly.

“I am doctor Elizabeth Weir, the head of this base,” she said.

He bowed his head in deference, but said nothing in return.

“You… surrendered to us.”

A slight nod, but otherwise no reply.

“Why?”

The Wraith remained silent. His eyes darted discreetly around the room.

“Have you searched him for explosive devices? Any other weapons? Any comm devices?”

“He had this stunner on him. Nothing else we could find. No strange gizmos, no comm devices. We couldn’t scan him properly though, he could have something implanted.”

“I’m going to ask again,” said Elizabeth, looking straight into the Wraith’s eyes. “Why did you surrender? What do you want?”

Her inquiry was again met with silence.

“Take him to Carson, have him CT scanned. Let’s see if he’s booby trapped or anything.”

“Upsy-daisy! Let’s go,” said Sheppard and the alien rose in a fluid motion.

Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously.

“Strike that. John, take him to the brig. Have Carson there with a portable scanner first. He could have something inside that’s rigged to explode in our machines. He seems strangely unbothered,” she said.

The alien… smiled slightly.

“No, doctor Weir,” he said in a richly layered voice. “I just know Carson Beckett will not hurt me.”

“How do you know about Beckett?” growled Ronon, poking him with his gun again.

“Dr. Beckett is well-known among the Wraith. As are you, Runner,” answered the alien and fell silent again.

Angry, Ronon cocked his gun and the Wraith drew a sharp breath and briefly closed his eyes. John shook his head.

“I still think we should shoot him now. We should have shot him back there! I don’t understand why you’d bring him here,” growled Ronon.

“I was… intrigued, sue me,” John replied. “Come on, have any of them ‘surrendered’ before?”

“Yeah. Steve.”

“Nope. We stunned that one.”

By now, AR-1’s strange acquisition had drawn a curious crowd into the Control Room.

The Wraith’s shoulders relaxed and he moved his head from side to side, as if to crack his spine. He bowed slightly and remained so, still, looking down silently. Pain flickered on his face as he opened and closed his eyes.

Among the curious scientists, a small bespectacled woman in a red dress regarded him intensely, mouth pursed, nostrils flaring.

Chapter Text

She stood in front of his cell, her anger piercing him like hot irons.

“What were you thinking, fool? No, do not kneel! We’re being watched.”

“Perdonam, mi omnia, I could not bear it anymore. I was there, so far away, and you were here, with him... And now he is gifting you songs and keeping you company.

I know I have done a foolish thing. I know I disobeyed. Punish me however you want. Singe me alive. It would not be worse torture.”

“Do you even realize the position you’ve put me in?”

“Yes.”

“And yet, you came.”

“Yes.”

“How could you do such a…”

“I know my brother. And I could not lose you. There is no point… If I lost you, I could not…”

He grabbed the bars and let the force field electrocute him. He felt the pain centering him and her anger lessening.

“I am happy to see you, mi cuor. But you really put me on the spot. I don’t know what to do, how to protect you. I’ll try to find out what they’re planning, but I’m not sure I can stop them.

Did you at least have the good sense to feed before you came, have you given me some time to find a solution for that?”

“Yes. And someone knows where I am.”

“Who?”

“Mond’ain. I didn’t dare tell the Queen.”

“You should have. You could have trusted her. She would have understood.”

“Perhaps. Or she would have prevented me.”

“For good reason!”

“Perhaps. I thought about this. Do not think that I have not. I thought about it day and night, for a long time. I tried to convince myself not to do it. And there were a lot of reasons. I just... could not listen to them. The heart was louder.”

“You mean jealousy was louder. Ah, men... Gar’ain, Sher’zin doesn’t know. Anything. I hid everything I could from him. He thought he was entertaining himself by pursuing a Tau’ri woman, playing a role he could not have openly played on your ship.

He thought I was your worshipper at first. Other Tau’ri women are brave and brazen too, but I was ‘comfortable around Wraith’,” smiled Emily.

“He would not have brought gifts to another man’s worshipper. He is an honourable man. He would have challenged him first.”

“He wanted to. He told me to ‘let you know’.”

“And you did not.”

“I did not. I thought of you. It was a stupid notion, and I didn’t want to torment you. You’d have done something foolish had you known. And lo and behold, you have. So I managed him without worrying you.”

“As I said, I know my brother. If he has done these things... This is not a trinket he picked for you in a market. I have not told you this, but he is a peculiar sort. Most of us have ambitions, I know I do. But all he ever wanted was to serve his Queen. And I fear very much that he has found her.

I do not know what to do either. He is my nest brother, my closest friend. I could not lose him, mi Reina. I could not let him die. But I cannot lose you to him either.”

“I know your mind, and I know his. I know what he means to you. And I’ve kept him safe. I’ve kept all the hounds away from him, although God knows he didn’t make it easy with his antics. And now you’ve made my task so much harder.”

“I have tried. I have really tried.”

“Fuck. This is how love dooms us. It makes us do irrational things,” she laughed.

“Whatever happens now, I am with you. And… you are with me. Does that matter?”

“It matters, mi cuor. But it’s more complicated than that. I need you to trust me. Do you understand? I need you to trust in everything I do. Even if you don’t like it or don’t understand it. Even if you’re mad at me or jealous. I don’t want to compel you. I want you to understand and trust me. Can you do that?”

“Ay, mi Reina. I owe you this.”

She smiled and sighed.

“Oh, God, what a mess. Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve just stayed silent when you called. Or… just let you kill me that night.”

“I have wondered about it too. What could have been. And I think I know.”

“What do you think you know?”

“We would both be dead. I would have drained you of your life, then gone out to fight your people. I would have killed some. And then, they would have killed me. And, like in your old movies, ‘The end’.”

“So we live. Then let’s make this worth it, shall we?” She paused suddenly. “Hush. Clear your mind.”

*

“What’s she doing?” asked Sheppard.

“Just standing there, looking at him.”

“What about him?”

“Just standing there, looking at her. He smiled at one point. Lunged at the bars at another.”

“How long has she been there?”

“I don’t know, ten minutes?”

“Get Teyla in here ASAP. She’s off her comm, she must be in the gym.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Marine ran off.

“Why?” scoffed Rodney.

“So she can listen in! They’re talking, idiot!”

“No, they’re not. She’s not… whatever Teyla is.”

“I’m telling you, Rodney, there’s something wrong with that woman.”

“Sheppard, you’re being paranoid.”

“Maybe. But no one stands there just to look at a Wraith for ten minutes.”

“Maybe that’s how you intimidate them.”

“Yeah, ‘cause she’s really intimidating in that red dress and heels.”

“Eh…”

“Rodney, use your other brain.”

“No, seriously, Sheppard, I read that’s an interrogation technique or something, just standing there, not saying anything. It makes the target uneasy and they start talking to break the silence.”

“Yes, John, what is it?” asked Teyla breathlessly.

“Try to tune in to that guy. Tell me if he’s talking to her.”

“He is… not talking. He is thinking… of a green meadow. And birds. And hearing music.”

“What?”

“He is hearing music in his head. Like the songs you play sometimes, Rodney. It is the same instrument.”

“He’s playing the piano in his head?”

“Yes, John.”

“So he’s not talking to her?”

“Not that I can hear.”

“Maybe he hypnotized her, Sheppard. Look at Teyla, she’s a bit shaken. I wonder what he’s playing.”

“Then let’s get her out of there.”

*

“Okay, buddy, music hour’s over. Emily, please go.”

“Ah, how mundane. I thought you would appreciate Chopin. Or perhaps dr. McKay would.”

“What?”

“So the Athosian Queen is the only one who is not head-blind. My bad, as you Tau’ri say.”

“Don’t call her that,” Sheppard growled.

“Why are you cross? She is your mate? Do not worry, I have no interest in her. She is missing some… essential things,” the Wraith smiled. “But you should not be offended. I am honouring her.”

“Honour her less and talk to us more.”

“What is it that you wish to know?”

“Who sent you here and why?”

“No one sent me and the why does not concern you.”

“Oh, I’d very much like to know what you’re spying for. Or what you think you’re spying for, ‘cause you won’t get to see much from the brig. So it was pretty stupid to just surrender, wasn’t it.”

“Yes, John Sheppard, if I was a spy, that would have been pretty stupid. I can think of better points of ingress. You are catching on.”

“So you’re not a spy. That’s what you’re saying.”

“Yes, that is what I am saying.”

“Then why?”

“As I said, the why is not your business.”

“You’re seeking refuge here? Sanctuary? Are you a Wraith outlaw or something?”

“How interesting,” the alien laughed. “I suppose so, in a way. I think my Queen is pretty mad at me. Both of them, actually.”

“I don’t get what the fuck is so funny.”

“Well, I am going to be here for a while, am I not? I do not plan on giving you any reason to shoot me. So I might as well amuse myself. Thank you. I shall imagine myself as a Wraith outlaw in the Old West. Perhaps fighting Wyatt Earp. And then feeding on him.”

Sheppard looked at him for a second, open-mouthed. Then he turned and left. This was no ordinary Wraith. He needed to think.

Chapter Text

Resting cross-legged on the floor of his cell, Sher’zin was happy to sense one of his kind. Finally, after all this time, he was no longer alone. He relaxed and basked in the comfort of the other’s presence.

He reached out warmly and was warmly received, and recognized the other’s mental signature. His brother!

“What are you doing here? Are you well?” he caressed.

“It is a long story. I am well, do not concern yourself. I am happy to see that you are, too. She has cared well for you.”

Oh, no… Emily… the image of her looking down at him smiling, touching his face, flooded his mind. A spike of anxiety stabbed at him.

"What are you doing with my woman, Sher’zin?" purred his brother menacingly.

"She is not your woman. She said so," came the hostile reply.

"Did she now?"

"She said she was not your worshipper."

"The Tau'ri have other ways. That does not mean..."

"So I have seen. If you are afraid she will not choose you, why have you not enticed her and compelled her to be yours?” He felt Gar’ain’s amusement and grew annoyed. “What is so funny? She would not even know."

"Oh, she would know," replied his brother, laughing.

"And you fear that it would upset her."

"You are hoping so. But probably not."

"She will not mind? Being compelled? Humans do not take kindly..."

"She may be amused at my efforts. But enough of it."

"Have you lost your touch? You cannot compel a human?” Intrigued, he probed deeper, but found the door closed. "What are you shielding from me?" he asked, suspicious.

"Leave it! And leave her alone."

"She will decide that, not you."

"She has decided."

"No, she has not. Gar'ain, can you not have another? You are handsome. Many would have you."

"I cannot. But you can."

"I do not want..."

"She tells me their Queen has taken a liking to you. You would not want her? Her attentions would bring you great advantage. Were you not searching for your Queen? What are you doing? You will reject another and settle for a common woman instead?"

"Perhaps she is Queen of my heart."

"Oh, come on," laughed Gar'ain. "You are not naive. Your heart can find another."

"Their Queen is beautiful, that is true. But I do not care for her scent. She smells... human. She leaves me indifferent,” he sighed. "And she could not even take me against my will. They are incapable, and it is not their way. The other one is a bit better, the Athosian. She is not head-blind, either."

"I have noticed that. Very interesting."

"I believe she is Touched. But she hates that part of her, and she hates us. And she does not like me, in particular."

"What about the other one?"

"What other one?"

"The pretty one with the blond hair and the large... feminine attributes."

"Ah, Emily's friend. She is pretty, yes. How do you know of her?"

"So, try her. Ask to work with her. Is she afraid of you?"

"She... I think so. I do not know. But her scent..."

"Again with the scent!” growled Gar’ain. “Are you sure you are not using that as a pretext to reject everyone? Perhaps you do not like women after all?"

"I have thought about it. And it is not true. Even these, the commoners, they do arouse me. But they would just be for one time."

"But when you think of a man, he could be more?"

"No. You got it backwards. A man is merely convenient. And he can offer me pleasures a human cannot."

"Then why have you not taken a female worshi..."

"For the last time, I do not like worshippers!" Sher'zin growled. "I do not want one. If I can choose, I want a woman. But one that will command me!"

"So court their Queen, she will command you."

"She is not the same in intimacy, I do not think. Leadership is different for them. A 'job', like yours or mine. I am not an engineer in bed, and neither is she a Queen with her man. I want one that is."

"And the Athosian could be."

"I believe so. But she is too... None have Emily's ways, Gar'ain."

"Surely there are others who desire dominion over their men, even among these!"

"Perhaps, but... None have her ways. None have her scent! You do not feel it? It is so alluring and arousing. You feel it, do you not? That is why you like her too.”

He sighed. “I am not trying to give you a hard time. I cannot help what I am attracted to! But you know this. And there is something you are keeping from me. Let me in, Gar’ain! What are you hiding?”

"I am not 'hiding' anything. That part of my life is just private."

"What gives you dominion over her?"

"I found her first! She is mine. Mine! Find yourself another, surely Cloud had other daughters."

"What?"

"I mean humans have many offspring. Her ancestors would have had others that..."

"What of it? They are not here, and I am not going to Earth any time soon, am I? Why are you not searching for another?"

"You do not understand. I told you already that I cannot. She has... I am her man."

Gar’ain felt his brother shiver with abject need.

“I. Was. First!” he growled furiously and shut his brother out.

Chapter Text

Flushed, she set down her tablet and ran a shaky hand through her hair, breathing deeply.

"Could you please open a window?"

"What is it? You are not feeling well? 'Time of the month' again?"

"No, I'm fine,” she laughed and shook her head. "It's nothing. It's quite funny, actually. It's just been a while and I really fucking need to... I don't know why I'm so... It's probably your fucking smell. And that damned fool got himself locked up." She exhaled shakily. “Nevermind."

The sweet, slightly spicy scent that she always gave off was growing more and more intense. It was surrounding her like a blanket now, thick and intoxicating, and he felt it hypnotizing him, overwhelming his reason.

"Hello? Can you hear me? Earth to Sher'zin?"

He started at the mention of Earth and came to. "Huh? I..."

"I said perhaps it would be best to call it a day. I'm just not up to..."

"No, what is it that you need? I really want to help you, please."

She laughed ominously.

"Oh, you do, huh? You want to help?" she purred.

She turned up the music in the lab and circled him, humming slightly, her hands brushing across his spine, his lower back, his hips, his thighs... Warmth was radiating off her, along with an imperative calling that made him shiver with anxiety, and yet crave to be consumed and just exist inside her. His body felt open, instinctively following her touch, melting under it.

This was his purpose, what he was made for, he felt it to the marrow of his bones. And she was calling him to fulfill it. Ay, mi Reina, I am for you, he thought in response.

"Oh, my God! Shut up. How can you be so... Holy fuck, this is getting out of hand. I have to get away."

She opened her mouth to call for him to be taken away, but couldn't bring herself to. The words would just not come out.

"Fuck, hold on," she whispered. "Just a little..."

The man watched her pleadingly, his pupils dilated, breathing hard, leaning towards her.

"What are you asking for, fool?" she growled at him. "Are you craving for your own destruction? Because I want to take you apart. I want your life, your seed and your essence. Run, idiot, get away! Resist me, what are you doing?"

He moaned and fell to his knees, arching his back and presenting himself to her whims.

She stroked his chest and felt her juices trickling down her legs. I had to choose today of all days to go commando... she thought, annoyed.

She wiped the inside of her thigh, slapped him and rougly smeared the moisture on his lips and face.

"Is this what you want? This?"

She grabbed him by the hair at his nape and pulled his head between her thighs, lifting her dress.

"Lick!" she ordered quietly. "Lick it off! Now," she snarled, "all of it."

She leaned back against her desk and draped a shapely leg over his shoulder, pulling him closer, pushing the spiky heel of her shoe into his flesh. 

He grabbed her thighs and stuck out his tongue, tasting the clear liquid. No, nectar. Sustenance! Sensory pits flaring, he began to lick if off greedily as it was dripping from her, frantic with lust.

"Yes!" she moaned, and he licked higher at the silky skin on the inside of her thighs and then at the opening of her sex and around it, wherever he could reach.

He felt her mind like warm tendrils in his head, guiding him to the spots where she liked to be touched. And he went eagerly, listening to the music of her moans, awash in the buzz of her pleasure running down his spine and spreading through his body.

He traced her opening with his middle finger and then pushed it gently into the slick, warm velvet, stroking in and out, then added his index, curving them the same way he liked to touch himself inside. Her body arched, welcoming his touch, and she let out a strangled moan.

Working her over with his fingers, he licked around the pink folds and then at the hardened little knob where she had led him. He caressed it with his lips and gently sucked it into his mouth, circling and teasing it wetly with the tip of his tongue. 

She shuddered, stifled a cry and contracted around his fingers, her juices coating his hand. He felt the rush of her ecstasy filling him and felt himself throbbing and spilling, shaking with pleasure. He knew that she could feel it too and that it pleased her, as she contracted and climaxed once more, flooding him with bliss again.

Sit there, she ordered silently, looking at the chair. Unbutton your jeans.

Still hard, past questioning her and indeed past any conscious thought, he obeyed. She guided him into her, then sank down slowly, holding onto his shoulders, driving her nails into the taut muscle. He gasped with this new pleasure and grabbed her round ass with both hands, holding her and pushing himself deeper. Yes, more...

More, she agreed, undulating her hips faster. She unbuttoned her dress, revealing a pair of full white breasts topped by dusky nipples, and started playing with them, teasing and pinching. Shivering, he begged silently for a taste, and she obliged.

"Suck on them gently," she whispered. Ah, yes, like that, yes! He started pushing harder and faster into her. Smiling wildly, she slammed her hand on his chest and he felt her flowing into him as she pulsated around him again, soft and warm and ah, everything! He surrendered to their shared pleasure, floating in paradise.

Catching her breath, with him still inside her, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, content.

What do you know, it seems you did help after all, she laughed inwardly, kissing his neck softly, and he put his arms around her, holding her close. His chest ached, but it hurt so, so good.

Mi Reina... I am never letting you go.

Chapter Text

Elizabeth raised her eyes from the report and peeked out of her office. Something was wrong. Unsettled, she stood and came out to the control room.

“What is going on, Rodney?”

“Nothing good. But when is it ever good in this place? I was about to call you. Our long-range sensors have picked up a Hiveship and we’ve been plotting its course. It’s currently in hyperspace, but it’s definitely heading to Atlantis. Unless there are other tasty snacks floating nearby, in which case I hope it’s heading for those.”

“When are they getting here?”

“They seem to be in a hurry. I’d say a day, at most.”

“Do we have shields?”

“Yeah, but our ZPM isn’t in the best condition, as you know. We’ve been looking for another, but no luck so far.”

“It could be Todd.”

“Yeah, we’re hoping so.”

The doors opened and John walked into the control room with Evan.

“What’s up?”

“We’ve picked up a Hive. We’re hoping it’s your pal, maybe he missed your enchanting company,” snapped Rodney.

“Um, Rodney…”

“What, Zelenka?”

“There’s another one.”

“Oh, fuck. Now one of these is definitely not Todd.”

“Maybe neither of them is,” said Elizabeth, glumly.

“Think we’ve got another siege on our hands?” asked John.

“That looks likely. Where’s the Daedalus?”

“En route,” replied Rodney. “But they won’t be here for another three days, at best.”

“Well, raise the shields when they get to us,” Elizabeth frowned. “And let’s do our best to stay alive and in one piece until the Daedalus gets here. Is the chair functional, do we have drones?”

“I think we’re good on that front,” said John. “We still have ammunition, we’ve got enough working puddle jumpers… We should be able to hold our ground.”

“Contact the SGC, let them know.”

*

“What now, Rath?” asked Lorne.

“Well, sir, someone thought it was a good idea to get the Wraith out of the brig and take them to the gym,” mumbled the young lieutenant.

“What??”

“So, um, they’re in there, fighting. Thought you should know.”

“With who? Ronon? He got them out?”

“Um, each other, sir. They haven’t bothered anyone else, but they’re really having a go at each other.”

“Maybe we’re lucky and one of them kills the other. Or even better. Who gave the order? Sheppard?”

“No, sir. I don’t know who it was, honestly. Williams just got the order and carried it out, sir.”

“Well, who did he get it from??”

“I don’t know, sir.”

Lorne picked up the pace. They stood in the doorway to the gym and watched, wide-eyed, what was going on inside.

The two Wraith were on the mat, circling, snarling and throwing punches and roundhouse kicks at each other, surrounded by six Marines led by sergeant Williams. The spectacular fight had drawn a bit of a crowd, and Evan watched as money was being passed around.

“So who’s winning, boys?” asked Lorne conspiratorially.

“Well, the guy with the longer hair has got a bit of an upper hand over the guy with the pendant, but they’re pretty evenly matched. They’ve been going at it for over half an hour, and so far it’s anyone’s guess. It’s kinda awesome, the way they jump and throw each other around and shit, but if they hurt each other they heal, so that’s no fun,” answered sergeant Williams. “Oh, shit! Major Lorne! Sorry, sir, we were just examining the moves…”

Growling, covered in sweat and yet unhealed scratch marks and bruises, the two men were now tumbling around on the mat like two large, angry felines, each trying to hold the other’s feeding hand down and get on top of him.

Suddenly, one of them managed to pry his left hand free and furiously scratched deep into the other's cheek and chest, tearing his shirt and leaving a nasty gash. In a fluid motion, the other drove his knee into his stomach and jumped up. Doubling over, his opponent grunted, but quickly followed suit. They lunged at each other with inhuman speed, panting, pupils dilated and feeding hands poised, and the deadly dance began anew.

“Williams?”

“Huh?”

“Who ordered you to take them out of the brig?”

“I… I thought it was you, sir.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW?”

“Um, I do, sir. It was you. I was told you said to get them out to the gym so they can ‘blow off some steam and work things out like guys’.”

“Who told you? Work what out?”

“Um, I think it was… I can’t remember who it was, sir,” replied a very pale Williams. “But the order definitely came from you.”

“It didn’t fucking come from me. Stun them and take them back!”

Sensing that something was up, even through the thick fog of anger, the two Wraith came together and stood back to back, snarling menacingly, turning their anger towards their human captors.

A couple of stunners fired once, twice, and the Marines grabbed the unconscious men to carry them back to the brig, among grumbles of “oh, great, another bet fucked", "can’t catch a break" and "these fucking wet blankets”.

“The major said to throw them in the same cell,” ordered Williams in the brig. “Maybe they’ll kill each other in there and save us the trouble.”

Of course, Lorne had said no such thing.

Chapter Text

“Are they awake yet, sergeant?”

“Not yet, ma’am,” answered Williams.

“Who’s on surveillance duty?”

“Rath, ma’am.”

“Good. Open.”

Obediently, the young man opened the heavy door leading to the brig. The two Wraith were lying unconscious on the floor of a force-field protected cell.

“Open.”

He entered the code and the cell door slid open. Emily stepped in and turned to look at him. The bars swung shut behind her.

“Go tell Rath to cut the recording on the video feed and come back to wait outside,” she ordered quietly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She gave him a moment, taking in the sight of her two men together.

“Up!" she ordered silently, sending out a shockwave to shake the two men awake. Disoriented, they jumped up, snarling. They set eyes on each other and lunged forward, only to fall to their knees.

“I will have no more fighting.”

Both men’s attention turned to her and she could feel their elation sparkling in the air.

“Ah, you look so good on your knees. Quite an arousing sight. But you may stand up. Come to me,” she said huskily, extending her hands.

They were at her sides in a flash and she grabbed their shirts, pulling them down to their knees again. She stroked their hair, holding them close.

“You need a bath and a bit of grooming, mi cuor,” she laughed softly at Gar'ain. “Your hair is tangled and bloody.”

He leaned into her touch greedily, feeling her scent and the warmth of her body, so long denied to him.

“You may touch,” she drawled. His breath hitched and his hands went up her thigh. He snaked his feeding hand under her dress, caressing her bare ass and feeling the moisture between her legs. He moaned with pent-up need and kissed the inside of her thigh.

“Ahhhh…” she sighed. “Don’t start anything you can’t finish, mi cuor.”

She grabbed both men’s hair and pulled their heads back.

“You sure went at each other. Look what you did to your brother,” she said, nodding at the not yet healed gash on the man’s cheek. “He hasn’t fed in three weeks, you shouldn’t have been so forceful.”

“I did nothing he did not deserve,” growled Gar’ain and was met in kind by his brother.

“I have not fed in…” Sher'zin eyes widened as he counted and realization dawned. “You! You have sustained me. How? Why did you not say?”

"Like this," she said, taking off her glove and stroking his cheek with her feeding hand. Feeling the slit, he shivered. He took her hand and stared at it in amazement. "You have permission," she whispered, and he took her hand to his lips, kissing the palm reverently and tasting the enzyme with the tip of his tongue.

“We didn’t want you to know,” she sighed with pleasure.

“He did not want me to know,” Sher'zin accused.

“Actually, it was my idea. Honestly, I didn’t want the complication.”

“I am a ‘complication’?” he asked, vexed.

Emily cupped his cheek and kissed him slowly, savouring the salt and caked blood mixed with his natural taste.

“Yes, you are a bit of a complication. As I am to you, both of you. Tell me, who needed this thing with the enemy, that got more serious than any of us intended?

Gar’ain just wanted a meal. I wanted an exotic friend with benefits. And you wanted to play-act being with a Queen.”

“I did not.”

“What did you want, then?”

“I was just drawn to you, so badly. From that first time, when I growled at you and you growled back. I felt something change in me then.”

“Traitorous snake, I will end you,” spat Gar’ain.

“Enough!” she snapped, and the men recoiled, struck by a hot wave of angry determination. “I let you fight it out so you could release your anger. But do not imagine that either of you controls me, my decisions, my body or my desires. I am not your worshipper, Gar’ain. I do not belong to you.”

“But… mi Reina…” he pleaded. “Am I not enough? I can be enough, tell me what you need.”

“You are enough. As is he. But this is not about one of you 'being enough' to monopolize a resource. That is one thing I had an incredibly hard time tolerating about Tau’ri men,” she sighed.

“But…”

“This is who I am, mi cuor. If you think you cannot do it, you are at liberty to choose another. You may be Wraith, but believe me, you will find Tau’ri women willing to bed you.”

“Why did you make me your man, then? You know I cannot leave.”

“And you know full well I did not mean to. And I did not seek you out. You attacked me, and then you begged me to stay, and not just once. But... I have fallen in love with you, mi cuor. And if we find a way to help you leave, it will break my heart. But I want you to be happy.”

“So you will not give him up. You would rather see me leave,” he replied bitterly.

“No, my heart. I won’t give me up.”

Sighing contentedly, Sher’zin rubbed his cheek against her like a big cat.

“Do not gloat,” she warned. “You will feel what he's feeling one day. I am to have five of you, or so I've been told.”

“Five??” they asked in unison, alarmed.

“I don’t see it happening. But I don’t dismiss it either.”

The two brothers glued themselves to her sides, growling.

“Ah, you've found common ground. Good,” she laughed. “Now we can go to work. Be diligent and good, or I shall be fired and I’ll be forced to find myself a Hive. Come!”

Faced with the prospect of sharing her with a Hive full of desperate men in search of a Queen, they did not need to be told twice.

Chapter Text

Elizabeth frowned as the two Wraith closed their eyes, tensed and threw their heads back in unison. Todd was gripping the edge of the table and his companion drove his nails through the palm of his left hand.

She looked at John questioningly and he shrugged, looking to Teyla for an answer. Eyes closed and hands clenched tightly in her lap, she was breathing hard.

“What the fuck…” whispered John to an equally stunned Elizabeth.

Teyla was the first to open her eyes. She saw John eyeing her curiously and she blushed deeply, looking away.

Todd and his lieutenant opened their eyes too. Nonchalantly, Todd leaned back in his chair.

“So, John Sheppard,” he drawled. “We are back to playing games.”

John glared at him, unwilling to disclose his confusion.

“Where are you hiding my kin?”

“Ah, so that’s what this was about? That’s no game and certainly no secret. We’ve got two of your brethren in our brig. And get this,” John grinned, “one of them surrendered.”

“Ah, he would,” nodded Todd knowingly.

“I didn’t know Wraith were in the habit of doing that,” laughed Elizabeth.

“We would rather slit our own throats than surrender to the enemy. It is a great indignity,” said Todd’s companion.

“So this guy is… particularly undignified?” smirked John. “You know him?”

Todd hummed. “Far from it, I would say. He is a proud man, and so is his brother. But they are very intelligent and know an unmissable opportunity when they come across it.”

Todd’s companion studied one of the light fixtures, a corner of his mouth slightly upturned.

“Well, tough luck for him, I guess. As I’ve told him, it would be hard for him to spy anything from the brig.”

John leaned back in his chair.

“Do you never take a break from your toils, John Sheppard?” grinned Todd. “Is work all the Tau’ri know?”

“In this wretched galaxy, pretty much,” John lied serenely.

“Well, it is not so for Wraith. Sometimes, we engage in… other pursuits.”

“Are you saying he’s here for leisure? What, he wants to do some sightseeing in the City of the Ancients?”

“What is ‘sightseeing’?” smirked Todd’s companion. “Are sight and seeing not the same?”

“It’s an Earth term,” explained Elizabeth with a smile. “We like to travel and see interesting things in various places. We call those ‘sights’ or ‘attractions’. So, sightseeing.”

“I think we are similar in that. So… are there many ‘sights’ on Earth that we might find interesting?” Todd’s friend leaned forward with a grin.

“There won’t be if you blast them off from orbit,” replied Elizabeth.

“Ah, she does have a point, Commander,” Ember smirked at Todd. “Perhaps we should refrain from doing that before we get to ‘sightsee’.”

“Happy dreaming, pal,” scoffed John. “So this guy didn’t come for work. Don’t tell me I was right and he’s an actual refugee.”

“A refugee? An outcast, you mean?” asked Todd.

“Yeah, you know him, apparently. Who did he piss off? What did he do wrong?”

“Nothing whatsoever. To my knowledge he is, or was before this stunt, highly favoured by his Queen.”

“Then why…” Elizabeth started to ask.

“Which brings me to the reason we are here,” Todd continued. “I am to act as a sort of emissary. A mediator, if you will.”

“Mediator for what?” asked John, puzzled.

“I am to negotiate the release of your prisoners on behalf of my allies. They are on their way and will be here shortly, but I was able to convince this Queen that an attempt at diplomacy was a better option than outright violence. Interesting woman, that one. Sadly, she is very bonded to her present Commander,” he smiled wistfully.

“So we’re dealing with a ‘reasonable’ Queen?” asked John mockingly. “That’s good news, I guess.”

“Your derision is unwarranted, John Sheppard. Better and worse exist among our kind too. Yes, she is a particularly reasonable, though, dare I say, fiery one. So I would advise against angering her. She does not revel in violence, but when she strikes, you will feel it with interest.”

Elizabeth leaned forward. “And she wants you to negotiate the release of this man. Is he the Commander you’re referring to?”

“No. Her Commander would have no reason to leave her side like this. He is one of her progeny.”

“You mean her son?” Elizabeth was intrigued.

“Her sons, in fact,” replied Todd with a small smile.

“The other one, too? They’re brothers?”

“Well, the term ’brother’, as I have come to know, carries a different meaning among Wraith than among humans. But yes, in your sense, they are brothers, by blood.”

“So she’s come to pick up her wayward sons? I didn’t know Queens cared so much. Is she gonna spank them?” laughed John.

“Of course they care. We are not that different, as I have been trying, unsuccessfully it seems, to explain. As for punishment… I believe he will be punished, yes, although that is not for me to say. His brother, however, has done nothing wrong and will probably speak for him.”

“What’s she offering in return?”

“Your lives.”

“How gracious of her.”

“I would say so. Her Hive is powerful and healthy, and she has a number of allies among Wraith. Including myself. Which is why I am sitting here.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be our ally? Or did it suit you to switch allegiances again?”

“I have made no promises to you, Sheppard! And may I remind you that it is you who keeps betraying me!” bellowed Todd.

“We’ve made no promises either,” said Elizabeth coolly.

“This Queen is doing you a great favour. As a show of good faith, she has decided to come here with one Hive, give you advance warning and send me to negotiate on her behalf. She is being exceptionally reasonable and accommodating. Dr. Weir, I do not think I need to suggest to you that you reply with equal benevolence."

"She would need to offer something apart from 'our lives', I'm sure you understand that," Elizabeth replied. "This is a negotiation, not an extortion."

"I have been authorized to suggest an alliance," smirked Todd.

"Aha, now he's talking," replied Sheppard. "I'm sure you were authorized to suggest that before."

Todd shrugged.

“We want a proper alliance, not a flimsy will-they, won’t-they,” said Elizabeth decisively. “We want a written document with the terms outlined.”

“That is not the Wraith way. She will object and be offended that her word is not enough.”

“Her word isn’t enough,” said John. “No Wraith’s word is enough.”

Seeing red despite his considerable restraint, Koreyn rose from the table.

“I see that I am dealing with foolish, mindless creatures,” he growled at John. “Very well. Have it your way.”

“Sit down, Todd,” Elizabeth intervened. “Please.”

“Shut him up, dr. Weir.”

“John, please. Let’s talk. Todd, that may not be the Wraith way, but it is the Tau’ri way. That is how we do things. We sign treaties with clear, outlined terms, that all parties stick to thereafter. It’s not an offense at all, just a confirmation of one’s word. Some of these treaties are quite extensive and complicated and it helps when parties can refer to a common document to see what has been agreed.”

“I understand. Very well. I will convey your request. But I cannot negotiate further. You will have to receive her so we can all discuss this directly.”

“Tell her to hail us when she arrives.”

*

“Teyla, what the fuck was that about?” John whispered on the way out of the Conference Room.

“What do you mean, John?”

“The… thing, with the… reactions and everything,” John gestured.

Teyla sighed. After everything else, she had hoped to get out of it.

“Well, it is a little embarrassing. I felt… it was the strangest climax I have ever had.”

“You came? In our Conference Room? Out of the blue?”

“A couple of times. I do not know what happened.”

“Well, it wasn’t just you, let me tell you that.”

“Yes,” Teyla replied curtly. “All I know was that I was struck by waves of pleasure so intense I could not contain myself. I do not understand how that is possible, or where they came from, and from what I could ascertain, our ‘guests’ were also confused.”

“Why didn’t we feel anything?”

“It would appear that it was limited to the… Wraith among us. And Wraith-kin.”

“So it could have been one of those guys, through their network thing? That’s fucking disturbing, Teyla, ew!”

“Perhaps. But no male that I know of can do such a thing,” said Teyla darkly, and John felt a coldness creeping up his spine.

*

The Queen’s scout ship landed on the South pier, where Elizabeth together with AR-1 and a team of Marines led by Major Lorne were waiting.

The hatch opened and a small delegation stepped out: the Queen, her Commander and three others, the Weapons Master, the Master of Sciences Biological and the Communications Officer, as Todd explained in a whisper.

The diminutive size of the delegation was, again according to Todd, a sign of the Queen’s benevolence towards the New Lanteans and of the trust she was willing to extend to them.

“Welcome,” said Elizabeth with a slight bow, and the Queen responded in kind. “Please,” she extended her hand and led the Wraith delegation towards Atlantis’ Conference Room.

Awed, the dark-haired Queen stopped in front of the Gate and looked around. Few Wraith had seen the Ancient city from up close, and even fewer had lived to tell the tale. She wondered what her sons had been allowed to see. Not much, if Koreyn’s account was to be believed.

“Before we talk, I wish to see my progeny. I want to see how you have treated them. My answers will depend on that,” she demanded.

Elizabeth stopped on the stairs and turned. Behind the Queen, Sheppard made an “uh-oh” face. But Elizabeth’s smiling face showed no trepidation.

“Sergeant Williams, lieutenant Rath, please escort the Wraith to the Conference Room, if they are able,” she called calmly through the comm.

“Um, ma’am, they’re not in the brig,” responded Williams, and Elizabeth steadied herself on the handrail.

“Very well, then where should we come?” she asked, praying to all the Gods she knew that her people hadn’t fucked up that badly now.

“I think they’re in the Translation lab, ma’am.”

You “think”? Elizabeth wanted to scream. But she kept her cool and turned to the Queen with a smile.

“It seems you will have to come with us. Your sons are in one of our labs, working with our personnel.”

“I see,” the Queen replied placidly. She did not seem surprised in the slightest. That was strange, and Elizabeth resolved to find out why.

*

Briskly, humans and Wraith turned around and made their way to the Translation lab.

Wonderful, flowing music was permeating the corridor and Koreyn let it seep into him. Ah, these Tau’ri had brought some good things with them too.

Good morrow, Valloran, protector of all Wraith, he heard a smiling, warm voice in his mind.

And with that familiar greeting, in an instant, he felt ten millennia of pain dissolve.

He was no longer the scarred Commander bearing on his shoulders an eternity of struggle, the pain of so many lives lost and so many lives taken.

He was her protege again, a young man by her side, full of vigour and hope, looking at her as if she were a rising sun.

He stopped in his tracks and just stood there, eyes closed, lost to the world around him, letting the warmth and shelter of her mind envelop him in an embrace long-forgotten.

It was her… and yet, it wasn’t.

There was a flame that the old Queen didn’t have. The passion, the impatience of one much younger. But one who shared so much with Cloud, and who certainly knew him, at least as he was.

“Todd? Hey, Todd? You okay there, buddy?” Sheppard asked.

Shaking his head, blinking the spell away, Koreyn came back to himself.

“Yes, Sheppard, I am fine. I just… remembered something.”

Could she be the Queen from earlier, the one Gar’ain had rightly defected for? Sheppard was going to reveal her at last?

In the small room lit by the last afternoon rays, the small leather-clad woman he recognized from his ship was at work, flanked by two Wraith dressed in t-shirts and dark jeans.

They looked well and freshly groomed, and Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. For once, she was grateful for this strange woman’s insubordination.

Standing uncomfortably close, the two men leaned over her shoulders in a way that raised the hair on Sheppard’s arms, watching her tablet and checking the data against their own. No words were spoken.

“Where is…” Koreyn started to ask.

Quiet, Koreyn, he heard a sharp command in his mind, and words left him.

Emily raised her eyes and smiled warmly at her guests.

Chapter Text

The Queen regarded her intensely with Gar'ain's hypnotic, bicolour eyes, and Emily felt behind her brow the heavy pressure of a much older, experienced and powerful mind. One, unlike hers, free of doubts and inhibitions, used to ruling and taking without asking permission.

Her heart fluttered and a cold shiver went through her. Her hands trembled and contracted nervously and her mouth grew dry. She set the tablet down, biting her lip, and swallowed hard. I'm not ready for this, she thought. Fuck.

She contemplated fleeing, but her legs felt like jelly.

The Queen knew it, of course she did. She sensed weakness and hesitation and pushed in again, rudely and imperatively, trying to break the other mind open.

Emily's head was aching, but she felt her hackles rising. Oh, no, you don't.

It seemed like the terrible stubbornness, that honey badger determination that had given her so much trouble in her life on Earth, was welcome for once.

She could use it to bolster her shields. She'd practiced those against Teyla when Teyla was probing around for the vague Wraith presence she'd sometimes be feeling, and against the men when they had tried to play with her in their early days of innocence.

Those were not comparable foes, by any measure. The men by virtue of the limitations of their sex, though as sons of Night they were more proficient than many. And Teyla because, despite her considerable strength, she kept refusing her heritage and denying her potential.

But here she was. And this was happening, as she had known it would. When one has joined the choir, one must eventually sing.

I could materialize on a Hive 2,000 light years away enough to jerk off a guy and spar with him. I can do this.

She drew herself up, called upon Cloud for strength and guidance and resolved not to go down without a fight.

Her breathing steadied. She envisioned sealing herself behind an impenetrable wall and projected onto it her favourite joke, the painting that had befuddled Sher'zin when he'd attempted to manipulate her.

“What is that image?” Bel’anna asked in curious frustration.

“Do you like it?” Emily smiled.

“It is annoyingly confusing. So many humans. Even an animal of some kind. What are they...”

“It’s called The Night Watch. It’s a work of art from Earth, a painting by a famous artist called Rembrandt.”

The Queen sneered and shook her head slightly to chase away the beautiful distraction.

“Your defenses are adequate, for a human. But you know I will overcome them.”

“Quite possibly. I invite you to try."

She felt strangely calm now, and felt that she was not alone behind the wall. She could sense the Queens of her lineage standing beside her, and she was encouraged.

She may be just "a human", but perhaps she had a lesson or two in her.

She smiled warmly, her eyes narrowed, and Bel’anna felt her resolve weaken and a sort of languid pleasure seeping into her. It came to her that in her haste to attack and be done quickly with this young, inconsequential thing, she had unwisely forgotten to defend.

But the other woman did not strike. Unnerved, Bel'anna shook herself awake.

"I hold no animosity towards you," Emily relayed. "And I will open my mind, and my heart, if you just… ask politely. But if you try to intrude, you will find resistance. Remember what happened to your son. And I did not know myself then.”

"Unfortunately for you, I am not my son," countered Bel'anna sharply. "You should have struck at me when you could, human, but you are weakened by your nature."

"And I would have. Had I meant to strike."

Angry, her pride wounded, Bel'anna focused her mental energy, striking forcefully at the small human before her.

The human shivered and grabbed the edge of the desk.

"What the fuck is going on?" Sheppard intervened, annoyed. "Teyla?"

Teyla didn't reply. Her gaze flew from one woman to the other, but she didn't know what to do. She should strike against the Wraith, but which Wraith?

"Teyla?" Sheppard repeated, but the woman held her hand up.

The Queen attacked Emily again with all her might and felt the other's mental walls shimmering, weakening.

"You thought you could measure up to a proper Queen, human? Kneel to me and know your place."

Emily’s knees buckled and she held on to the table. She shook with the stubborn effort of staying upright and finally felt the steely support of Teyla’s mind joining to help her. She breathed in, relieved, and braced herself.

Bel'anna pressed harder and the wall collapsed.

But behind it lay a fiery chasm.

The corners of Emily's mouth turned up. She straightened and Bel'anna felt an incandescent wave going up her spine and scorching her cerebellum. She gasped for a breath that would not come, her head swam and dizziness overtook her. Sheyn'ten caught her in his arms.

"Impossible," muttered Koreyn.

"Thank you, Teyla. And thank you, Sun Tzu, for your teachings," the human laughed.

"The nature of fire," she thought, turning to Bel'anna, "is that it spreads without much effort. Your anger and rudeness fueled it, and I am thankful. And you should be thankful, for the love I have for your sons, and for the fact that I respect you and do not want your Hive. Or else you would be dead."

The human's shoulders relaxed and the heat dissipated. Bel'anna felt her breath returning and the hall stopped spinning.

"Again, I offer my goodwill. Do you refuse?"

The Queen closed her eyes and shook her head in denial.

"Who are you?" she spoke out loud, playing one last defiant card, and Emily knew then that there was no turning back.

If she balked at the challenge, she would be a coward and forever lose the Wraith's respect. There would be no talking to her after that. Her pride rebelled against it fiercely.

And she would likely be exposed anyway, if not by Bel'anna, then certainly by Teyla. And if not that, blackmailed by the shrewd Koreyn, always looking for some leverage.

Respect, Bel'anna, she thought with some amusement. You sure don't give up.

"I am Firebird, daughter of Cloud,” she spoke. “Glad to make your acquaintance, FairMorning, daughter of Night. And this..." she paused, smiling at Teyla, "is SteelFlower, daughter of Osprey."

She turned to Evan. "And may I introduce to you Stream, son of Cloud," she said with a smile. "Who fed upon you and left you with your life?" she asked him.

Evan gulped. "I don't know who... A guy on a Hive, last week. He started, but the Colonel came in and shot him," he whispered.

"And you've hungered already."

He looked stricken. "I didn't..."

"Yes, to your credit, nobody was the wiser. It couldn't have been easy. You should talk to the doc, you must be pretty messed up."

He shook his head and shot her a desperate look. She looked at him apologetically, but she couldn't stop. The fact that it had happened, and that he was here, was her stroke of luck. Sheppard would not shun him and Teyla. So he would, she hoped, be less inclined to shun Emily.

"If you didn't know yourself, then how would I know you?" she smiled, and Evan looked down, silent, gripping the hilt of his gun in his tactical gloves.

"Hungered? Messed up? What the fuck is going on?" asked Sheppard, vexed.

"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you," Emily said to Evan. "Please forgive me. I should've told you; I should've given you a choice. Maybe you'd have chosen to return to Earth and avoid the Wraith. But I don't think you would have believed me, not even if I'd shown you the DNA test. I understand and I don't blame you. I had trouble coming to terms with it too. As did Teyla, I'm sure."

"Evan?" asked Sheppard again, frowning.

"I... We, it seems... Have a small problem," sighed Evan, taking the bull by the horns. He took off his glove and extended his right hand. "But, Colonel, I swear to God that I would never..."

"Holy shit," gasped John and Elizabeth in unison.

Emily felt guilty. She hadn't truly been given a choice, but she owed Evan her solidarity.

She came forward and took off her own right glove, showing her right palm.

"Firebird and Stream of Cloud, reporting for duty," she joked.

Koreyn smirked and Emily shot him a stern look.

"Amused, are we?"

"Eh. Not many things surprise one when one gets to my age, my Queen," he said with a courteous bow. "That is one of the things I like about Sheppard. And now, about you," he smiled. "Uncertainty makes life worth living, and I get my pleasure where I can."

Mollified, she could not help laughing. Cloud had been very fond of this one, and she could certainly see why.

"So wait. What the fuck. You’re Wraith, both of you? How? Teyla I get, but you're from Earth!" Sheppard exclaimed.

"May I, Evan?" Emily asked, and he nodded, curious. Like her, he thought he'd been infected by the Wraith who hadn't finished feeding. Lacking her genetic memory, that was the only explanation he could still muster for his "condition".

"Ten thousand years ago, at the end of the war, the Lanteans returned to Earth. But they had with them a Wraith Queen and her seven men."

"As prisoners? Why would they take..."

"You see, Colonel, the balance of power between the Lanteans and the Wraith was the other way around. The Wraith were seen as inferior, and although they had been defeated by their numbers, the Lanteans didn't fear them in the way that humans do. But not all Lanteans were disdainful of the Wraith. There were some among them, as Ko... Todd can attest, who weren't so prejudiced. As Todd isn't so prejudiced against humans," she smiled and Todd bowed in agreement.

"Kortas, one of Janus' colleagues, was captured and held by the Wraith on a Hive. He was expecting the worst. But their Queen was... a little different. Wasn't she, Todd?"

"She was," Koreyn smiled wistfully. "Perhaps too different."

"I know how you felt for her. But if she'd taken you, you wouldn't have had..." she stopped, not wanting to give away what she had found in his mind, and she felt that he was grateful for it.

"In any case. This Queen was, more than others, though not all," she said smiling at Koreyn again, "what we on Earth call a 'sapiosexual'. She was quite taken with intelligence and Kortas' brilliance and vast knowledge captivated her. Not to mention that he was quite handsome and, well, exotic, to her. Dark-haired and blue-eyed, like Evan here."

"How do you know this stuff?" Elizabeth asked, puzzled.

"I thought it would be apparent by now, wouldn't it? Genetic memory," Emily smiled and shrugged.

Heads tilted, Sheyn'ten and Bel'anna nodded in unison.

"Their relationship was passionate, but casual at first. That seems to be the way of Cloud and her daughters," she laughed. "But then it blossomed. Cloud fell pregnant by him. And when it was decided that the Lanteans would leave, Kortas begged and pleaded to take Cloud with him. Eventually, the Ancient leaders relented, and granted her no more than seven men to lessen her loneliness. And so, Cloud came to Earth. She had her offspring there, a little dark-haired Queen she named Aurora. When she came of age, Aurora felt her urges and mated with one of her mother's Lantean companions. She had desired him greatly and compelled him, and therefore she and her mother had a falling out. Aurora and her man left and settled in today’s Scotland. Where Evan's family is from."

"That's why he has the ATA gene?" whispered Elizabeth.

"Yes," smiled Emily. "Cloud stayed in central Europe, in what is today's Transylvania, where eventually she, her men and their descendants gave rise to the legend of..."

"Vampires."

"Exactly. She had another daughter by Kortas, a little red-haired Queen with a mind like a blazing fire. BrightFlame is my ancestor. And after her came Lyra, and then IronWillow, Blaze, CrimsonFeather, Storm, SingingRain... No, SingingRain was before Storm. Anyway. I don't know how things went on Evan's side. But I imagine those Queens kept their preference for Ancients," she laughed. "While mine also mated with Wraith, and humans. So maybe that's why his ATA gene is stronger and my Wraith streak is stronger."

Evan was watching her open-mouthed. He felt a fascination and an arousal he couldn't explain. He shrugged and looked away, suddenly ashamed.

Emily smiled. "Evan, don't worry, I don't poach men from my friends. Now that I think about it, Agata might have some Wraith blood in her too. Maybe that's why you're so attracted to her. Apart from her more obvious qualities. Who knows who settled in Bohemia along the line? After all, Radek is..."

"Oh, for fuck's sake, not Zelenka too?" Sheppard huffed, to Todd's great amusement.

Koreyn felt strangely proud in that moment, as if his Queen had conquered Earth where others had failed. And perhaps, in a way, she had.

For it seemed the Tau'ri, at least some of them, were much closer to the Wraith then any of them had thought.

And that was like a good feeding for the soul.

Chapter Text

“So, buddy, Teyla tells me there was a… moment this morning,” John said casually, guiding Todd down the corridor leading back to the Conference Room.

“I do not know what you mean,” Todd replied with a shrug. “You were there, Sheppard.”

“Yeah, but not in the same way, apparently. She tells me it was a… pleasant experience.”

“You are close with her, hmm?”

“We’re friends.”

“Friends who share intimacy?”

“No, Todd. We don’t share anything like that. Stop being weird.”

“But you were ‘weird’ first, Sheppard,” the Commander replied with a grin. “You asked me an intimate question. Are you that interested in what brings me pleasure?” he purred.

“Dude,” winced John. “Stop that. Okay, don’t tell me, then.”

“And why not? I am not ashamed of my feelings and reactions. Unlike some people,” Todd laughed, highly amused by the colour rising in John’s cheeks.

“You wish to know what happened? We were witnesses to a moment of intense intimate pleasure. Queens do not often share themselves in this way with their Hive, they are aware that it will make their men a little… obsessed. I cannot impart in words what it feels like, but it is quite difficult not to desire her intensely afterwards, and Wraith men do crave for intimacy from their Queens. But some do share themselves, occasionally. And, in my long existence, I have witnessed it before, even participated in it.”

“Oh… I don’t want to think about that. And considering what we know now… you think it was her?”

“Quite probably, Sheppard. It did feel like her. She was enjoying her man, or men, if I am correct, and chose to share her pleasure with us. As to why, I can only speculate. Perhaps it was conscious. Perhaps it was instinct, she is still very young, and a delightfully fiery one. I do not know which one to lean towards. It could have been conscious because she thought she was Hive with her men only, which would seem is not the case for some interesting and somewhat concerning reason. Or it could have been instinct because she let herself get carried away. She is powerful and projected.”

He gave John an unsettling, toothy grin. “Either way, I am grateful. As I said previously, it does not happen often, and I get my pleasure where I can.”

“So she slept with him, or them, this morning and you guys could all feel it.”

“That is correct. Now that your lewd curiosity has been sated, I trust you will be able to concentrate on our negotiations.”

Chapter Text

“Okay,” said Elizabeth resolutely. “Please sit down, everyone, and let’s talk.”

John drew a chair and Teyla, Rodney and Ronon followed suit. Rodney opened his laptop and Elizabeth pulled back the empty chair between him and John.

The Wraith remained standing.

“Queen FairMorning…” Elizabeth said, extending her hand in invitation.

Bel’anna gathered her dress and sat, with Sheyn’ten and Koreyn flanking her. Not senior enough for a seat at this table, Engar and Mond’ain remained standing behind their Commanders.

Elizabeth made a mental note of Wraith protocol.

“Where is Fenix?” Bel’anna asked, raising her chin.

“Fenix?” Elizabeth inquired.

“Firebird,” Bel’anna clarified, annoyed.

“We would not want to disrespect Queen FairMorning by keeping her sister Queen from the table. Such a breach in protocol would indicate a lack of proper deference due to any Wraith Queen, at best. Or outright disrespect or an intent to deceive, at worst,” Todd clarified with a small smile.

Which you knew perfectly well in advance, asshole, thought Sheppard.

“We could not give a… damn about the deference due to a Wraith Queen,” muttered Ronon in the corner.

“Ronon, please,” said Elizabeth. “Your presence and input are valued, but I’d ask you to grant these negotiations the importance they deserve.”

Somewhat appeased, Bel’anna nodded.

“Emily, could you please join us in the Conference Room,” Elizabeth said through the comm.

“Sure, dr. Weir,” came the reply. “I’ll be right there.”

Elizabeth leaned back, taking the chance to study Bel’anna up close.

The alien woman in front of her was not much taller than Teyla, though she exuded an air of authority that spoke of her long experience and absolute power over her own. Her dark hair was braided in a thin crown around her head, falling in waves down her back. Her high cheekbones and delicate brow ridges resembled the elegant visages of her sons, and she regarded Elizabeth with vivid golden and green eyes that reminded her of a prowling feline.

The Wraith licked her thin, shapely lips and Elizabeth reached over to the pitcher on the table.

“Would you like a glass of water?”

“I would. Thank you.”

Maybe not so hostile after all.

Emily stepped through the door with her trusted tablet in hand and Teyla gestured to Rodney to scoot over and give her the chair next to John. Bel’anna’s eyes followed, her posture relaxed a little, and Elizabeth was again grateful for the Athosian’s ingrained diplomatic skills.

“Well,” Elizabeth smiled. “Now we can begin.”

“Please excuse me, dr. Weir, but I’m not sure why you’d need a translator,” Emily said. “You understand Wraith well enough, Rodney can also read Wraith, I’d say you’ve got everything covered.”

“Your presence was requested, my Queen,” said John sarcastically.

“I see,” Emily replied with a smile. “I’m grateful and honoured,” she continued, bowing her head slightly to Bel’anna.

Silent, Sheppard leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

“Let’s begin by acknowledging the importance of the first formal negotiations between Atlantis Command, as representatives of Earth and custodians of the City of the Ancients, and the Wraith of the Pegasus galaxy, represented by Queen FairMorning and Commander ‘Todd’,” Elizabeth spoke. The two Wraith inclined their heads. “And let’s note that, despite our many and seemingly insurmountable differences, an accord between our races has never been more necessary for the good of all involved."

“Necessary though improbable, since historically the Wraith do not seek common ground with humans. They take and shed blood,” Teyla intervened darkly.

“Blood can unite as well, Steelflower,” Bel’anna said. “And none of us are bound to repeat the past should the need for a better future arise.”

Elizabeth nodded, pleasantly surprised. True, the Queen had asked for negotiations on the punctual matter of her sons, but despite Teyla’s justified worries, didn’t seem to balk at her bold suggestion of a much broader deal.

“My Queen speaks wisely,” said Sheyn’ten. “It appears there are deeper commonalities between us than either side was aware.”

“Blood can speak loudly indeed. Especially that of such old and noble lineage,” Koreyn smiled at Emily. “A lineage I have been lucky to see bloom before.”

“Yes,” Emily smiled back. “I remember your times together, and the respect and affection she had for you.”

Elizabeth had to admire the diplomatic way in which the Wraith had set the stage. She’d seen it before, on Earth. Claims of legitimacy and heritage for more traditional factions to take note of. Deeper commonalities indeed.

Less attuned to the intricacies of a treaty negotiation, John shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Queens always made him jumpy.

“You remember, huh? That kind of bias doesn’t speak very well for your allegiance,” he said, turning towards Emily. “What is your allegiance, by the way? Which side of this table are you really on?”

“Is he always this mistrustful?” Bel’anna asked.

“Yes,” answered Elizabeth. “We like that about him.”

“Is it her blood or her will that he fears?” asked the Queen.

“Both. She’s a liability,” John frowned.

“I think I’m very much an asset to those who know how to value me,” said Emily. “And I fully intend to prove that through words and actions. Which side of the table do you want me to be on?” she asked those present, looking around.

“Perhaps you should be on neither,” said Koreyn. “Perhaps you can be the element that unites. I propose that Queen Firebird, known to you as Emily Tudor, serve as official liaison between us.”

“Because you think you can manipulate her,” said John.

“You have just asked her to declare allegiances,” replied Koreyn, calmly. “Presumably in your favour. Who is trying to manipulate who?”

John scoffed. “I’m not…”

“It is the logical path. She speaks both our languages, in more ways than one. She understands your ways and instincts, and ours as well, without being a slave to tradition,” Koreyn continued, undeterred.

“I agree,” Bel’anna spoke. “Firebird is an acceptable channel for us. We can understand each other beyond what is possible with humans.”

“Very well,” said Elizabeth. “Let’s make a note of that proposal. But we’ll have to discuss it further.”

Bel’anna inclined her head affirmatively. “Now let us discuss the… personal matter I am here for. I must admit that, knowing what I know of humans, I was surprised by your treatment of my offspring. However, as a condition for any further alliance, they must be released from your prison.”

“Sure, we’ll send them back to you,” said John. “Less hassle for us. But you should know that one of them came to us willingly.”

“I am aware,” said Bel’anna, her thoughts brushing Mond’ain’s gratefully. The young Wraith bowed his head, warmed by his Queen's approval. “I am not asking for their return, especially since we know,” she said looking at Emily, “that they would be quite opposed to leaving.”

“So what do you want us to do with them?” John frowned.

“Release them into Firebird’s care and let them walk beside her,” Bel’anna said, simply. “She is one of your own. And as their Queen and mistress, she will make sure they behave.”

“’Firebird’ will need some supervision of her own,” murmured John.

“You do not command the loyalty of your own people?” asked Bel’anna sarcastically, starting to rise. “Then why am I talking to you?”

“Queen FairMorning, please, sit,” spoke Emily. “He does. They do. Despite John’s skepticism, which I assure you is a net benefit, we are not a house divided. I'm loyal to Atlantis and to Earth and I won't bring harm to my people. Nor do I mean to bring harm to… my other people,” she smiled at the Wraith.

“I fully understand that things must be discussed and precautions must be taken. Presumably about both me and Evan,” she said looking at John, who grimaced uncomfortably. “I accept that. But I think your suggestion is a good one. By biology, affection and conviction, my men are fully loyal to me and will not stray from my word. As you, Queen FairMorning, well understand.”

“Hence my request.”

Emily turned to Elizabeth. “Dr. Weir, release the Wraith into my custody. Under supervision, of course. I can make sure they behave, as I've done so far. They’ve harmed no one and will harm no one on the base. I understand I will be under guard as well from now on. Hopefully not forever...” she sighed. “But at least until you know you can trust me, as you trust Teyla.”

“Teyla's proven her loyalty to us in combat more than once,” John said.

“You trusted her even before that and gave her the benefit of the doubt,” replied Emily.

“Because she’s fought the Wraith all her life. She’s isn’t a Wraith.”

“Isn’t she?”

Teyla’s expression darkened.

“Teyla, you know how I feel about you. You’ll only find respect and affection in my thoughts, though I understand and accept that they may not be reciprocated.

I can’t help being who I am more than John can help his Lantean heritage or you can help that you're Wraithkin by blood. I meant no offense. I wanted to point out that it’s what you decide to do with that heritage that matters.”

“And what do you decide to do with it?” asked Teyla, her warm, but determined gaze boring into Emily’s.

“My role, as I see it, is different from yours. You’re a leader of your people as well as a Blade of Atlantis. You must have both interests in mind, and in that we’re alike.

But we differ in that those interests are not conflicting in your case. And, although I am of Atlantis, I'm not meant to fight the Wraith as you do. I'm meant to bring those interests to a common point. I’m not a Blade, I'm a bridge.”

“Very well,” Elizabeth said. “Queen FairMorning, I will place your two sons under Emily’s, Firebird’s, care. Under armed guard, conditional to their loyalty and obedience to her and, by extension, to Atlantis. Their behaviour will reflect on and influence Emily’s image, position and sway here.

Emily will remain Head Translator and her heritage need not be disclosed officially as yet. Let's avoid causing rifts within the team or scaring people. And she will also serve as our Liaison Officer with the Wraith of the Alliance. Is that acceptable to you, John?”

“Okay,” John said. “Let’s do it your way. But we’re keeping a close eye on them. And Emily’s next trip to Earth is postponed until further notice.”

Emily winced and sighed deeply, but nodded.

“May I send and receive messages though?”

“You may,” said Elizabeth. “Queen FairMorning, do you agree to openly and willingly accept her counsel?”

“I do,” Bel’anna said, inclining her head.

“How about you, Todd?” Elizabeth asked.

“Of course. As my suggestion implied. Though I am already open and willing,” Koreyn said, looking at John.

“Next order of business,” said John, “what are you guys offering in return?”

“I am offering military support should Atlantis need it against its enemies, the weight of my not inconsiderable sway among the Wraith, as well as my Hives’ cooperation in other matters including trade and sharing intelligence.

We expect Atlantis to offer military assistance in return, speak to Earth on our behalf, share intelligence and facilitate trade and development for us.

The Commander agrees to do the same,” Bel'anna said, and Koreyn nodded.

“Let the record show that the Commander has agreed,” said Elizabeth. “Will you agree to refrain from culling a number of worlds?” she asked Bel’anna. “Help us defend them against others?”

“Very well. We will refrain from culling, and in fact defend, a number of worlds that will be determined through mutual agreement,” Bel’anna replied. “Those worlds will be considered within Atlantis’ domain in this galaxy.”

“What if those worlds currently fall under the ‘domain’ of other Wraith factions?” asked Elizabeth.

“If one of the worlds that fall outside our domain should be important to you,” Koreyn said looking at Ronon, “we agree to support Atlantis in the battle for it. I also propose deciding upon a number of neutral worlds, as is the Wraith custom. Those shall fall to neither party, but both our people will be welcome there. We will not cull them, but may feed there and take worshippers from them, should we find any willing, as well as repair our ships there should the need arise. The same courtesy shall extend to you.”

“A neutral zone,” said John. “That sounds fair. Though we won’t need to feed or take any worshippers, obviously.”

“Never say never,” Koreyn laughed. “The inhabitants of those worlds will be permitted to trade with you with no interference from us.”

“Will you allow those worlds to develop technologically?” asked Elizabeth.

“We would request that any technology thereof would not be used against the Wraith,” answered Bel’anna.

“Nah, that won’t do,” John replied.

“But we can agree that it will not be used against your factions, for as long as this treaty is in effect,” offered Elizabeth. “And you won't use what you develop there against us. We were going to share technology with the humans of this galaxy anyway,” she continued, looking at a decidedly uncomfortable Bel’anna. “Something you previously had no control over.”

“I request… we request that no Genii worlds are included in the Protectorate of Atlantis,” said Koreyn, with a little more feeling than he’d intended.

John eyed him with an inscrutable expression.

“Acastus Kolya does not speak for all Genii,” he said.

“And I want Kolya’s hide,” Koreyn growled fiercely.

“That we can agree on. You know what, if we catch him, I’ll give him to you,” said John.

Koreyn’s eyes widened. “You would do this for me, John Sheppard?”

“Don’t make me change my mind.”

“We have an alliance with the Genii that does not involve Kolya or his faction,” Elizabeth intervened.

“That is your business,” replied Bel’anna. “As our own dealings are our business, and the details thereof will not be disclosed to Atlantis unless they directly involve you.”

“But we want no Genii worlds in the deal,” Koreyn insisted.

“Very well. The Genii can take care of themselves,” Elizabeth agreed. “They have been, until our arrival.”

“So,” Emily intervened, “this treaty hereby establishes the Protectorate of Atlantis,” she said smiling at Koreyn, “as well as the Neutral Zone, with the planets included to be discussed shortly.”

“Oh, great,” snarked John. “Now the Wraith get to name things.”

“I was not aware that this was your exclusive purview, Sheppard,” Koreyn laughed.

Vindicated, Rodney grinned at Sheppard. “I propose discussing the gene therapy that dr. Beckett has been working on,” he said.

“Shall we continue tomorrow, then? We can have Carson over when we resume,” replied Elizabeth.

“Of course, dr. Weir. Let us reconvene once you have rested and obtained sustenance. We had dinner already,” the old Wraith quipped, to the amusement of the others.

“We’ve prepared some guest quarters for you both and for your companions,” Elizabeth said coolly. “I hope you’ll find them satisfactory.”

Chapter Text

She got up and found Sher'zin in the sitting room, looking out the window at the two Lantean moons reflecting eerily on the water.

She could sense the tension radiating off him.

"Is everything all right, mi soll?"

"Yes, do not worry."

"Will you tell me or do I have to pry it out of you?"

He sighed.

"I love being with you. But sharing your bed like this... My body was catching fire, even though we fucked already. I kept tossing and turning, and you need to be rested tomorrow. I will take care of myself."

She felt a surge of affection.

"Not used to sharing a bed overnight?"

"I have slept with others. But your scent and your soft body, so close... It will wane, I know. I just have to be patient."

"Come here. Take those off. Oh, you're so hard, love. It's warm to the touch and I'm supposed to be warmer than you. How long have you been like this? Give me that scented oil over there, the one with the fruit on the label."

"You should go rest..."

"I will. I don't think this will take long," she laughed. "Do as I said and lie back on the couch. You're gonna smell like strawberries in a second."

"I have never had strawberries," he laughed softly.

"You will. I can order some with the next delivery. And we'll dip them in chocolate... You've never had that either, am I right? We'll teach you to eat for pleasure, your brother's already sold to the Dark Side," she laughed, coating her hands in lube. 

"How does that feel now, love?"

His head went back and he moaned desperately. She touched his mind and couldn't help laughing at the addled, horny mess she found. 

"You're so much fun to play with."

She twisted her hands along his length, alternating them in a fluid, continuous motion. His hips went up with a mind of their own, fucking her hands.

"Ah, mi Reina, you will make me... Ah, please, slow down, I want to..."

"You're leaking like crazy. Won't need much lube with you, will we, love?" she laughed, changing the sensual touch to give him time. "This technique is called 'the magic fingers'. Don't worry, you don't have to hold back, we'll do this again."

"I... Ah... I like to hold... I don't... want it to... end... Ah..."

"Okay, let's cool you down a little..." she cooed and reached up to lick and bite his nipple.

He hissed and shivered, pushing into her hand.

"Oh, my. We like pain, huh? How delicious! Gonna have a real hard time letting go of you... Let's see how this feels," she said, stroking him silkily with her feeding hand, and biting hard at the juncture of his neck and shoulder. The metallic taste of his blood flooded her mouth.

Sher'zin cried out and shook, lost and incoherent, shooting all over himself, her hands and her nighty.

"Oh, God," she whispered, awash in the intensity of his pleasure, feeling herself shivering and contracting inside. "Oh, my. I've never come hands-free from giving pain before... Holy..."

He laid back, unravelled, breathing hard, and she draped herself over him, licking lazily at his neck. He heard his brother growling in jealousy and that sent another jolt of pleasure up his spine.

"Sorry we woke you up, mi cuor," Emily purred. "I'll come back to bed soon."

"When you are done marking him?"

"I wish I could mark him better," she laughed. "This healing thing is so annoying sometimes, I think I'd have to tear off a piece of him for it to show," she said, kissing the bite affectionately.

"Ugh, the filthy vulpex would probably like that," Gar'ain groaned, exasperated.

"Is that so," Emily purred, feeling herself getting drenched. "How interesting, tell me more."

"Others would like it too, you know," Gar'ain growled softly, stroking her ass and going between her legs to feel the wetness. "It is a powerful instinct, needing to be owned."

"So those other people would like to be fucked and marked as well?" she drawled seductively.

"They would!" he moaned.

"Take me to bed, then. You come as well, my love, when your legs can take you."

*

"Dammit... Is night shift gonna be like this all the time? That woman's insane, she terrifies me, but so help me..." Aiden Ford groaned softly at Rath outside the door.

"I don't know, man. Can you hold the fort for a minute? I need to use the bathroom."

"Dude..."

"What? I'll be right back."

Chapter Text

“Colonel Sheppard, do you have a moment?”

Sheppard snapped out of his reverie to find a smiling Emily standing next to him on the balcony, hair blowing in the cool early morning wind.

“God, the way you people move is unnerving,” he grumbled.

“You people?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I know what you mean. But that’s not the case. You were just very in your own thoughts. I’m nowhere as stealthy as a Wraith,” Emily laughed.

“So, what is it?” he snapped with a bit more annoyance than he’d meant. He truly didn’t look forward to today.

“You don’t like me very much, do you?” Emily asked.

“I don’t really know you, honestly. Oh, hi, Evan.”

“Colonel Sheppard…”

Smiling warmly at Evan, Emily thanked him internally for answering her call. He nodded, smiling back.

“What did you want to talk to me about, Ms. Tudor? Do you want to go somewhere more private?”

“No, this is fine. I just wanted to discuss this whole thing a little... What you think about it. What your feelings are.”

“I think you’re a security risk, as I said. Sort of a Trojan horse. Beyond that, I don’t feel much about it.”

“Oh, I doubt that’s the case. About the second part. I don’t doubt the first part,” she smiled. “So we’re a security risk.”

“You especially. I’m less sure about him.”

“Because you know him and you trust him.”

“Yeah. He is my second in command. He's had my back many times. Plus, even with that thing, he’s a guy…”

“You’re afraid.”

“I wouldn’t say afraid,” John scoffed. “Let’s say… apprehensive. I’ve had your kind try to mind-rape me. And I don’t end up on my knees nearly as much with the guys, if we’re being honest.”

“I understand. That constant genuflecting can sure put a strain on one's knees after a while. What can I do to ease your apprehension? Apart from being patient and letting time do its work.”

“I don’t know, man, I just really don’t like Queens.”

“I can see that. And again, it makes sense. You don’t like what they represent, the way they behave.”

“Kinda! Do you like to be put on your knees and mind-controlled?”

“No one likes to be mind-controlled. But… I’m not the ‘putting on your knees and mind-controlling’ type.”

“Yeah? And how do I know that?”

Emily let out an easy laugh.

“John, I think there’s a deeper issue here than me having Wraith DNA... Here's how I see it.

With Evan, it's simpler. It’s not just that he’s a male, it’s that he’s a man, am I right? Not in a sexist sense. You just understand his general processes, his mental and behavioural schemes.

Elizabeth you’ve come to trust because she’s an open book. And she’s strong, but there’s also a marked fragility to her. You're her rock, in a way.

You trust Teyla because you perceive her as a warrior against injustice, a sort of Resistance fighter, like yourself. And she's morally impeccable, or so she seemed until recently.

And you see me as neither of these things.

I don’t think it’s Queens you fear, so much as women you see as unpredictable. I understand. I’ve had a traumatic upbringing and I’m a bit of a control freak myself.”

“I’m not afraid of women, Emily,” John laughed.

“Of course you’re not. Just apprehensive of some. You’re a pretty cool dude, to be fair. You don’t have any trouble connecting to women on a superficial level. And you go out of your way to do that.”

He opened his mouth to speak.

“Please, hear me out,” she continued. “The difficult part is the deeper connection. You need to relate to them to form that, and that’s a tricky part for you in general.

I’m not a potential sexual partner. I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m not an immaculate Resistance fighter. I’m not a big sister figure. So what am I?” she smiled.

“Well, for now, you’re a wildcard, with DNA from an enemy race, and I don’t like wildcards. Or enemy races.”

“Do you remember Ellia? She was a full-blooded member of the enemy race. A Queen in the making.”

“She was a scared little girl who didn’t want to be a Wraith.”

“But she was a Wraith, and well on her way to becoming an adult one.”

“I see where you’re getting. ‘It’s what you do with it that matters’, and so on. You’ve said it already.”

“That is correct. Ellia was socialized by a human. I am a human! I’m still the person who came here from Earth, albeit one you don’t know as well as you know Evan. A person who has a family on Earth, who grew up there.

Would it help if you got to know me better? As a person. I want to be able to relate to you, and I want you to find a way to relate to me. I want to establish trust.

I’ve already been off-world with Evan, and it went well. I’d like to go on missions with you, work together more.”

“No offense, but our missions are pretty dangerous and taxing. I don’t know what you could do. And I’m not sure you’re physically up to the task.”

“I could argue that neither is McKay.”

“Yeah, but I think you’ve got about ten years on him, right?”

“And I’m supposed to be a Wraith. Right? Which am I then, a frail old woman or a dangerous alien?”

John frowned.

“You’re a middle-aged woman with next to no military training…”

“Yes, I am that,” Emily smiled. “But I could improve a little. I could try to delegate some tasks to Anneke and the team and train more. I’ll still be a middle-aged woman, but some of our ilk run marathons on Earth. So perhaps I won’t be entirely useless.”

“So what would you do? How do you see that? ‘Cause I don’t really see it.”

“Daniel Jackson is a linguist. He’s a member of SG-1. Granted, he’s a young man, but that’s not the main reason he’s an asset.”

“He’s dealing with the Goa’uld, that’s different. He knows a fair bit about mythology and ancient civilizations, ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and that kind of stuff, so he has insight…”

“Yeeees?” Emily smiled, raising her eyebrows.

“And... you’re part Wraith. I see. But we have Teyla for that angle…”

“That’s true. Although I’d say that Teyla’s a bit more of a human ambassador.

I have some insight into the Wraith specifically. Some genetic memory, some knowledge of their culture and customs. They’re a slow changing race, many of those customs still exist. And I’ll gain more insight of modern Wraith by interacting with the two guys and with the Queen, and Todd, presumably.”

“The Wraith are not the same as the Goa’uld. We’re just chattel to them. You can’t really talk to them.”

“You know that’s not true, John. You saw that with Todd. You can talk to them. You just have to speak their language.

Sure, some are gonna be unreasonable assholes, and we’ll blast those to kingdom come. Some will insist, to their detriment, on seeing us as inferior cows. Or, in Ronon’s case, deer, I guess,” she said with a grimace.

“You’re starting to sound like Todd.”

“’A little Wraith humour’?” Emily laughed. “Come on. To be fair, he can be pretty funny, and not all the jokes are about feeding. Though I’ll be honest, a good number are.

I apologize. That joke was weak and in poor taste, and I’d never make it around Ronon. Think of it as Wraith toilet humour. I’ll try to stick to regular knock, knock jokes. And sarcastic banter with McKay, I cannot wait for that,” she grinned.

“Fine. Let’s give it a shot. You’ll train, and we’ll see if we can take you on one mission. I can talk to Teyla, see if she has time to spar with you. But she’s pretty busy, normally.”

“Thank you, John. I can train with…” she paused. “Ronon. I know he’s a big guy, but he trains with women too. Or Evan! Evan, do you want to?”

“Yeah, sure, when I have time.”

“I’m really looking forward to learning from you.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a great idea…” John said with a side glance.

“I think it’s a fabulous idea, and Evan can teach me a lot. Plus, he has experience training geeky ladies, he’s taught Agata some nice moves. He doesn’t go too hard on her, either. He could train us together, I’m sure he can handle us.”

“Agata’s not a…”

“I do see what you mean, John. But I wouldn’t do what you’re thinking of. My best friend would object, and that means the world to me. I love her. I love many of the people here.”

“Emily, could I see you in my office before the meeting starts?” Elizabeth called through the comm.

“Be right there, dr. Weir,” Emily replied. “Well, guys, I’m off to see the boss! Hope she doesn’t mind if I grab a coffee and a sandwich on the way, I have a feeling it’s gonna be a long day,” she bowed with a small laugh and turned on her heel, leaving John and Evan alone on the sunlit balcony.

Chapter Text

“Sit down, Emily, please.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth. Mind if I put these on your desk?” she said, holding up the coffee mug and the sandwich.

“Sure. You can eat, if you want to,” Elizabeth said, picking up her own coffee mug. “I’m not sure we’ll have time for a proper breakfast today.”

“Thanks,” Emily replied, taking a bite out of her sandwich.

“So, yesterday was… something.”

“It was daunting, yeah. And pivotal, for me,” Emily said, grimacing and biting her lip.

“I think it was pivotal for all of us. Tell me, how long have you known?”

“Not long. A few months.”

“A few months?? Why haven’t you said anything?”

“Do you really need to ask me that?”

“You really thought… What were you thinking?”

“I thought I could just live my life. Do my job, like before. I’m not hurting anyone.”

“How long before you need to feed?”

“I won’t. I eat normal food.”

“You don’t need to feed? You asked Evan if he ‘hungered’.”

“There's an initial hurdle, a hunger-type situation. But we overcame it, both of us. The first time is difficult, you don’t know what’s happened to you, you don’t know if food will do the trick. But in our case it does, thank God, and I’m okay. We both are.”

“I… don’t know what to say. How else have you changed?”

“I remember things. From the women who came before me. That’s a bit weird. There's an opening of the mind. I can hear Wraith’s thoughts, transmit thoughts to them. And control them to an extent. There's an element of pheromonal influence.”

“What about humans?”

“Humans are different. They’re not telepathic or susceptible to pheromones.”

“And the Wraith, you can control them... or do they control you? Chemically, I mean.”

“Mostly me. Like a bee, of sorts.”

“Mostly?”

“Well, I find Wraith men inordinately attractive. Then again, to be honest, I found them attractive before. Not that I'm the only one. They’re exotic, smart and can be charming, I think you know what I’m talking about. And there’s an element of sexual submission on their part, so it may not be just the pheromones talking.”

“Which one of them are you sleeping with? John said...”

“Both.”

“You’re sleeping with both Wraith?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that… a little much? Aren’t you afraid?”

“It’s… fine,” Emily smiled. “But maybe that’s a conversation for another time? If you agree.”

“So you’re telling me you’re basically a Queen, mentally, chemically... What about physically?”

“I’ve noticed a slight improvement in physical performance. I can run more, I tire less than before. I’m a bit stronger, though not significantly. I heal more easily. My bloodwork is slightly off for my biological age, again, not by much. But that was always the case. I just had ‘good genes’, like Teyla”, she laughed. “But I haven’t magically turned into a Wraith. I’m still me, Elizabeth.”

“Does Carson know about…?”

“No. Nobody knew anything, and I suspect it was the same for Evan, poor soul. But things had to change. I chose the best interests of Atlantis over self-preservation. I think the alliance with Queen FairMorning is a major, major thing. I think I’ve gained her trust.”

“Do you trust her?”

“Yes. But she’s a Wraith Queen. Her interests are the interests of her Hive, she is first and foremost its caretaker. They will naturally diverge from ours. But I trust her to negotiate with honour and integrity, and to keep her word.”

“Maybe you’re conditioned to. Maybe she’s brainwashed you. Maybe your parentage is influencing you in ways you don’t realize.”

“If I am like a Queen, wouldn’t the opposite be true? Wouldn’t I be less susceptible to their influence and better able to resist it? As for the genetic influences, I’m mature enough to be self-aware.”

“How can you be aware of subconscious impulses?”

“I’ve had unusual impulses all my life. They’re not subconscious, I know about them. I haven’t been hearing voices telling me to murder people, but I’m… Please excuse my bluntness, I’m involved in the BDSM community. It's not a secret. I didn’t start ‘hearing the call of my blood’ now, I’ve been hearing it all my life, and I’ve had plenty of time to come to terms with myself and to choose an ethical path. What you see is what you get, Elizabeth. We all have faults and flaws, and some of us choose to rise above them.”

“So you perceive your Wraith nature as a flaw?”

“Doesn’t Teyla? That kind of nature is not an asset among humans, especially as a female. Of course you’re going to internalize it as a flaw. We’ve been socialized as humans. We are human!

Elizabeth, I grew up on Earth, with Earth’s culture. I built a life there. I have a family that I love with all my heart, a family that I would give anything to see again. My kids speak English, French and Spanish, they go to uni, they watch anime, they take trips with friends, they love chocolate. We are more than blood.”

“How do you see this going forward? You’re a Liaison now. The Wraith delegation seems to hold you in high regard.”

“I suppose I should be honoured. I’m glad the Queen was impressed, that will help us loads. As for going forward… I will be very honest, if it were up to me, I’d just carry on as before. So thank you for giving me that opportunity, Elizabeth. I’m very grateful. And I’m as loyal to Atlantis and Earth as I have always been.”

“Teyla is using her... natural abilities to help us fight for Atlantis.”

“I may as well. If Atlantis is in danger, or if my team is in danger.”

“So if you’re on a Hive, you won’t hesitate to kill your kin if our people need help? You're saying we can rely on you in that way?”

“Our people are ‘my kin’, of course I would protect them. I’m not the defender of all Wraith! If we’re talking in those terms, Atlantis is my Hive.”

“You have a feeding slit.”

“I also have a heart, and some integrity to go with it.”

“Can Carson take a look at you?”

“Of course, as many looks as he wants. I’ll submit to any tests he deems necessary. I think they could be really useful, actually. As an equal member of this expedition, I think I can be an asset in many ways, Elizabeth. But please, no experiments at Area 51. Carson could conduct his research unofficially. God knows he doesn’t tell them everything anyway.”

“I can't hide this from the IOA.”

“You don’t have to tell them everything. They don’t know about Teyla, do they?”

“They do know about Teyla.”

“They don’t fully know what she is and what she's capable of.”

“And you do.”

“I’ve had a glimpse. She’s… let’s say she’s very much a Queen herself.

And say we choose the route of full disclosure, what would happen to Evan?

I’m a civilian, it would be harder for me to disappear, but he’s military. If they find out about him, he is fucked. I don’t even want to think about what he must be feeling right now. He’s probably afraid he’s gonna be discharged and lost somewhere, never to be found again.

We are citizens of Earth and members of this expedition, not aliens not covered by the Geneva convention. But don’t think that will stop the NID or the CIA or another shadow organism from taking him apart. He’s our Evan, Elizabeth, and he’s been nothing but loyal. And so have I.”

Emily leaned forward.

“Elizabeth,” she said with all the emotion she could muster, “I am beseeching you. It wouldn’t be the first time things don’t go on the official report. But it’s your decision, of course, and I know you’ll want to talk to Sheppard too.”

“I could lose my position. This could be construed as treason.”

“What treason? You’re not committing any treason! And if we misstep, you could always claim you were ignorant of us till that very moment. The Wraith’s arrival and the alliance had nothing to do with me, but with Todd, he thought it best to bring them to us. Any peculiarity of mine or Evan’s could be explained by an accident, like Sheppard had with the bug, or even genetic splicing on-site. And so on, and so forth.”

“Things will transpire about yesterday…”

“How many of us were there? Just you, me, AR-1, Evan, a couple of Marines and the Wraith. We can keep our mouths shut. The Marines are fiercely loyal to Sheppard and Lorne, I know them. If we keep this under wraps…”

“The Wraith are staying with you now. That will raise some eyebrows. If Woolsey comes poking around again...”

“We’ll let it circulate that it was one of Queen FairMorning's conditions. It’s the truth. People have been gossiping anyway, they'll just make lewd jokes at my expense, I can take that. If we don't make any waves, they have no reason to send Woolsey. And we'll be very well-behaved.

Elizabeth, you are in no danger. Your position is in no danger. The team is in no danger.”

“I have to think about it.”

“I understand, of course. I trust you.”

“You’re a bit of a dark horse, Emily... And you’re not a great fan of hierarchy. I need to know that I can trust you.”

“You could trust me so far and I have every interest and motivation for that to continue. Life offers no firm guarantees, for any of us. But we’ll have to work together, rely on each other and foster that trust.”

“You’re asking me to keep big things from our people... That’s a big ask.”

“I’m asking you to protect us. Both of us, like you protected Teyla. And Sheppard, God knows he’s done some stuff. And Carson. And Rodney.

I’m asking you to consider how important our families are to us, and what we would do to see them again. We choose them, Elizabeth. We choose you.”

Chapter Text

“Weren’t you a fucking engineer?”

“I was, and still am one.”

“And were you this useless on that nightmare-wagon you dropped from?” Rodney spat, wiping the fluid off his forehead.

Sher’zin growled ominously, clenching his fists.

He’d never been more grateful for the meditation and self-control techniques he'd learned over the years, most recently from his Queen. They’d proven really useful when it came to not feeding on certain people…

It had been made clear to him that he wasn’t supposed to feed on the base. Ever. Upon anyone, unless given express permission. Even if that meant taking disrespect he would have normally punished severely... a fact of which McKay, unfortunately, seemed to be aware.

Sher'zin, in turn, was acutely aware of the pressures and scrutiny his little budding Wraith enclave was under, and how important it was for them to find a way to integrate and appear benign.

A slip-up could jeopardize everything, every plan and objective, possibly for good. And there was this whole treaty hanging above their heads.

He didn’t like that kind of responsibility and had run from it all his life, burying himself in his engines and his work. And now the weight of it kept him awake at night. But it was the price one always paid for the unlikely and much-envied fortune of being a Queen's favourite, and he was certainly not about to complain. His life had changed. She was going to get into difficult situations and he would support her as best he could. That was a given.

Unfortunately, stark biology didn't make life any easier. Hunger had been gnawing at him worse and worse lately. Although used to the tortuous burning, he knew his limits and knew he would have to feed soon or risk losing control. He missed the Adventure a lot in times like these. There, he could just go to the feeding pens. Everything was straightforward and designed for his convenience. In this foreign place, he’d have to jump through hoops about it... For something as simple as feeding himself. He felt a pang of anger. He’d have to talk to his Queen about this soon.

With an inhumanly swift motion, he reached up with his right arm and touched Rodney’s chest, wiping it off with his palm, making the man jump back violently.

“You had a little something there,” he purred with a grin, sensory pits flaring greedily at McKay’s instinctive fear response. “Apologies for the squirting. Sometimes they do that. If you touch them right,” he could not help adding with another grin, pleased by how much it unnerved the human.

Hands shaking and pale, momentarily shocked into silence, McKay pulled away, pretending to busy himself with another engine part.

Behind him, Agata and Radek were grinning and stealing glances at Sher’zin.

Agata Kralova and Radek Zelenka. The Tau’ri have such weird names.

These two had “adopted” him almost immediately and tried to help him feel at home in the Physics lab.

He knew Agata from before, she’d come to visit his Queen in the lab when they were working together and it had struck him that she also seemed less fearful and apprehensive towards him than the others. He’d always wondered why and resolved to ask his Queen about it.

Radek he’d only met today and they’d taken an instant liking to each other, bonding over their mutual interest in hyperdrive power sources and mutual annoyance at Rodney McKay, even before Sher’zin noticed the fused kallar in Radek's right palm. His Queen had mentioned something... He raised a brow, but didn’t say anything, looking to Agata for guidance instead. She put her finger to her lips discreetly.

How interesting…

Having human friends, or at least humans who were benevolent towards him without being deferential, still felt weird, yet strangely heartwarming. The lack of telepathy made him feel a bit forlorn, although Zelenka did seem to have a knack for finishing his sentences and answering his questions before he asked them.

I will have to get used to it, I suppose, he mused. Things could be worse… This surely beats prison, anyway.

He’d been questioning a lot of his previous beliefs and habits since he’d met Emily and she’d slowly introduced him to the rich tapestry of Earth’s culture and customs. The humans from Earth were not at all the hateful, uncivilized, animalistic creatures he’d expected.

Most had proven to be… surprisingly Wraith-like. Weaker and shorter-lived, of course, and easily spooked, but they did compensate for weakness through tenacity and for the short lives through historical records, incessantly building on the research and ideas others had come up with before them. Even through disagreements, their capacity for cooperation and their thirst for discovery astounded him. He’d thought that was a “Wraith thing”. It seemed that he’d been wrong.

He hadn’t fed on his own for a good number of months now. She’d been taking care of his physical need without his knowledge, simultaneously feeding his brain with these new thoughts and unnerving, life-changing ideas.

How will it feel now? He wondered. Pleasurable and fulfilling, no doubt… but also strangely painful, he realized suddenly. Compassion. Not a good thing to have for the beings that were supposed to be your sustenance.

What was he really? What were the Wraith? A superior species, to be sure, but certainly not the rightful masters of an otherwise feral galaxy. It was an uncomfortable truth, yet one that could not be avoided.

“Parasite”, one of the soldiers had spat at him. But by many measures, the human was a parasite as well, was he not?

“Apex predator”, his Queen had called him once, laughing, back when he didn’t yet know she was of his kind. He decided he much preferred that.

Chapter Text

“Welcome back! Queen FairMorning, please take a seat,” Elizabeth said with a smile, extending her hand ceremoniously towards Bel’anna.

The Queen sat with a hint of a smile on her own lips.

I think she actually likes me, Elizabeth thought, and wished she could know for sure.

Can you tell, I wonder? she mused, eyeing Emily. How much do you know?

The translator answered her gaze with a small cryptic smile. Without looking down, the tips of her fingers moved on her tablet and Elizabeth felt her watch vibrate ever so slightly on her wrist.

Our telpathy, the message said. Ask if need

Elizabeth felt strangely energized. It felt good to have a ‘Queen’ in her corner for a change. To have her own 'telepathy'. She was suddenly overcome with an envious craving for more.

“Let's begin!” she urged, leaning forward. “First order of business: we will name five planets that will become part of the Protectorate of Atlantis, and two of the Neutral Zone. More worlds to be negotiated at a later date, as needed. Agreed?”

The Wraith gave a short nod in approval.

“There will be no discussion regarding our feeding grounds, today or on any other day. Those are our own concern,” Bel’anna said.

“As they stand now,” John replied. “If you plan on expanding them, we wanna know about it.”

Koreyn gave a displeased hiss. He was loath to answer to anyone on this particular issue. But he understood the human’s reasoning. And if it had to be anyone, let it be Sheppard.

“Who knows,” said John, as if reading his thoughts. “We might even help you. We’d rather deal with you than some feral guys we don’t know.”

Smiling, Emily shot Koreyn a glance. The Wraith blinked slowly and turned his attention back to Sheppard.

“I would like to start with Sateda,” Elizabeth spoke. “I know it used to be part of another Hive’s domain. But that Hive has been destroyed and its commander eliminated. I don’t know if anyone else claimed it in the meantime. And frankly, I don’t care.”

“We have no claim over Sateda. You may claim it for yourselves,” Koreyn said.

“Sateda was a developed world, was it not? There may be technology on it that we can use,” Bel’anna countered, to Ronon’s ominous snarl.

“I doubt that you’d be interested in the remnants of whatever… primitive tech they had. The destruction of the planet was quite methodical. Moreover, Sateda was mostly focused on civilian industry. Teyla told me they had just discovered plastics and had started to trade them with the Athosians.”

“Our understanding is that they also had explosives,” Bel’anna replied. “One of our rival Hives was on the receiving end of those,” she said looking at Sheppard. “They are crude, but quite effective. We have our own explosive materials, but we want to research that technology further.”

“We could do that within a joint team on Atlantis,” Emily offered. “What do you think, Elizabeth? John?”

“’Kay,” replied Sheppard, leaning back. If it was a point of interest, it was only a matter of time before the Wraith started research on their own.

Learn supervise, Elizabeth’s watch gave a small vibration.

“All right,” she said out loud. “And perhaps our people could research other chemical applications of the data we find. Civilian ones, meant for development rather than war.”

“That is acceptable,” the Queen said.

“Good. So number one, Sateda.”

“I would like to add Allara, if that’s okay. M3R-430. It's a very hospitable world. And I have a strong personal connection to it,” Emily said, giving the Queen and Koreyn a glimpse of her and Gar’ain feeding together.

Bel’anna’s pupils dilated. “I understand. Very well.”

Looking down, Koreyn remained silent.

3 Ancnt tech lasb, Elizabeth’s watch read.

“Number two, Allara,” Elizabeth noted.

“We wish to place Olesia in the Neutral Zone,” said Koreyn. “It is known to you. I knew the Queen it belonged to. She no longer lives, but I and Queen FairMorning are on good terms with her former Commander, who had an agreement with the rulers of that world. He is not keen on joining our alliance, although he is currently vulnerable without a Queen. This may prevent him from joining another.”

“The... penal colony. I know,” shuddered Elizabeth. “I don’t think I want to torment those people further. Plus Olesia is a relatively advanced world. I’m afraid I cannot agree.”

“If so, would it not be in your interest to have it protected? As for our interest, the placement of the Portal is uniquely suited for a more extensive penal colony,” Koreyn argued. “Perhaps we could make it a hub for many worlds that need to send their worst and vilest there to their punishment.”

Elizabeth shivered.

“Life a federal max security pen?” John said, prompting a frown from her.

“We could take steps to make sure they don’t do the shady shit the Olesians did,” Emily intervened. “Send observers to make sure they have proper trials before accepting any incoming.

I do think the Olesians would much prefer this kind of deal to the... shaky one they had before. The Wraith Commander's not gonna like having his influence diminished, but perhaps our allies can 'persuade' him.”

“It would not be a feeding ground,” Koreyn nodded. “Just a neutral world on which we are allowed to feed. And if we must do that,” he said looking at John, “I’m sure you would prefer that we feed upon your undesirables.”

“The destitute and powerless can be considered undesirables,” Teyla said darkly. “It depends on who you ask.”

“In the sense of violent criminals that you would not think redeemable,” Koreyn conceded.

"That is also debatable," said Elizabeth. "That offenders would not be redeemable."

"Oh, come on, Elizabeth," John intervened. "I've seen some unredeemable characters in my day. And I agree, the Olesians are getting a better deal."

“May I be excused?” Ronon growled, rising and pushing his chair back, red in the face.

“Of course, Ronon,” Elizabeth nodded. “And you may return at any time, if you want.”

Ronon swallowed hard and dashed out. The door closed behind him and in the uncomfortable silence that followed, Elizabeth heard him hurling.

“Very well,” she sighed, closing her eyes and feeling her bile rising too. “Olesia in the Neutral Zone. But we let it develop."

"In a controlled fashion. So be it."

She knew she’d have nightmares about this. She glanced towards a very pale Carson, who was sitting still, clutching his hands in his lap.

Bel’anna inclined her head pensively. She’d been on the receiving end of humans’ grief and distaste for Wraith feeding a great many times before. She’d certain witnessed much more extreme reactions. But this was the first time she was giving it any serious thought or care. It really took a lot from these humans to negotiate in this manner. She felt an odd discomfort in her chest.

“Let us proceed,” she said, breaking the silence.

“We wish to claim Belkan, if Elizabeth agrees,” Teyla said. “It is not a developed planet. But it is a well-known trading hub for many worlds.”

And the home of the last Satedans, she conveyed silently to Emily.

“Would you not want Athos instead?” Sheyn’ten asked, raising a brow ridge.

“No. We have left that world and its many terrible memories behind. We are settled on New Athos now, close to our Lantean friends. That is a sister world to Lantea and thus automatically under Atlantis' protection.”

"I trust your judgement, Teyla," said Elizabeth. "If you think Belkan should be in, it's in."

"We do a lot of trading for Atlantis through their markets."

Rodney raised a hand. "I want to include M4D-058."

"Which one is that?"

"Geldar," Rodney replied, blushing.

"Oooh!" laughed John. "Okay. He's got a sweetheart there, Todd," he explained to the Wraith.

"Sweetheart?"

"Yeah, a Queen," John clarified with a grin.

"Ah. I see."

"What is the Portal designation of that world?" Bel'anna asked cautiously.

Rodney turned his laptop towards her to show her the gate address.

Bel'anna inclined her head towards her Commander and two companions, her Communications Officer and Weapons Master, in silent conference.

"We do not know this world. But fine. Let us call it Geldar for the purposes of this agreement."

"I'd rather call it Hallona," frowned Sheppard.

"I'd rather not," replied Rodney sharply.

"What is going on?" Koreyn inquired casually.

"Sheppard also has a friend, in a rival nation on that planet," said Elizabeth, to Koreyn's immediate interest.

"Let's call it Halldar," laughed Emily.

"That's a terrible idea," both Rodney and Sheppard said at the same time.

"Gellona?"

"Okay, we're calling it Gellona," Elizabeth frowned at John, eager to divert attention from the subject and, in fact, the planet's Ancient satellite array. "Let's not waste any more time."

"I propose M4T-44X," John said. "Medieval planet, very developed trade, not a threat to the Wraith, sworn enemies of the Genii."

"Harmony?" asked Rodney. "I thought you'd want to feed her to the Wraith."

"Oh?" Koreyn asked, tilting his head with interest.

"Relax, dude, she's just a kid," John grimaced. "An annoying kid, but still a kid."

"Wait, what about that kid planet?" Elizabeth asked.

"They're covered, they'll be okay," Rodney shuffled and protested.

Mini drns, Elizabeth's watch vibrated in the commotion.

"That makes five," Bel'anna concluded firmly. "Not counting the 'sister world'... We propose the world you know as Sarif Sur as the second planet of the Neutral Zone," she said with a short look at Mond'ain and Kess.

"Why?" asked Sheppard, narrowing his eyes.

"So mistrustful," laughed Bel'anna. "I'm starting to like him too."

John shivered despite himself.

"That planet houses resources that we require. However, it is not currently under our control."

"And you wanna use us to get your hands on it."

"That is what an alliance is for, is it not?"

"What resources? I think we'd need to know if you want our help."

"Viridium, am I correct?" Emily asked. "And there are some research labs."

"That is correct," Bel'anna replied casually.

"What are they researching?" John asked.

"They are biological research labs."

"And weapons labs," smiled Emily.

Bel'anna huffed, annoyed.

"Were you not supposed to be neutral?"

"They would find out, FairMorning," Emily replied. "These are the brightest of the Tau'ri. It's in everyone's interest, including yours, that we discuss things openly."

John leaned forward. "How powerful are the guys who are in charge now?"

"Not terribly. But they are not to be trifled with," Koreyn said.

"So powerful as fuck," John scoffed.

Koreyn gave his characteristic shrug and Sheppard rolled his eyes.

"Wraith research labs are not very well guarded. We can take them easily. However, holding them may prove to be a bit of a challenge," the Wraith continued.

"How many ships would they be coming with?"

"I would estimate at least three."

"You want us to take on three Hives? Not that I'm opposed to blowing up as many of those fuckers as we can, but we have to strategize."

"See why it was better to talk openly?" Emily asked Bel'anna pointedly.

"You would not be taking them on alone. Our two Hives, plus another that we can easily rally to our cause, my younger sister's, plus any ships and troops that you may have will make quick work of them," Bel'anna said.

"As you can see, we could take them on by ourselves," Sheyn'ten intervened proudly.

"But you do not want to risk losing your men and damaging your Hives," Teyla replied. "And you anticipate more firepower than that. Or more men."

"We would not put it past them. This Queen is resourceful."

Emily and Teyla looked at each other.

"Whoever she is, the three of us can take her, can't we?" Emily said.

"That depends," Bel'anna replied standoffishly.

"On what?"

"On your training and abilities."

"You don't think we're up to the task?"

"One well-fought battle with an opponent not truly malevolent does not make you a victor," the Queen replied tersely.

"I wouldn't presume to call myself that. Though if you'd been malevolent, we would not be having this conversation."

Bel'anna's face coloured.

"Do you truly not trust our abilities?" Emily rushed to defuse her. "I know we're not battle-tested, but we are competent. And we'll follow your lead and learn. Right, Teyla?"

The Athosian reluctantly inclined her head.

Thank you for your trust, Emily conveyed. I won’t disappoint you.

"Do you truly wish to make yourself vulnerable to these two?" a worried Sheyn'ten asked Bel'anna, touching her wrist.

"Do you not trust in my strength?"

"I truly do, my Queen," he thought affectionately, "but the things that have happened... I could not go on without you."

"She cares for our sons a great deal," Bel'anna answered. "I believe she would not hurt me. She did not truly mean to the first time, I could feel it. Trust that I am safe with her."

"And the other one?"

"Of her I am not sure. But should there be need, I think Fenix would side with me."

"They are kin."

"They are not kin. Do not trouble yourself."

"So? What's the verdict?" John asked impatiently.

"We will take her on together. She is an independent sort, she is unlikely to bring sisters herself."

"Fine. Sarif Sur goes in the Neutral Zone. We take it together. But we share the research."

"Acceptable."

“As a show of good faith, I’ll give you one for free,” Sheppard said with a grin. “If you have any enemies, send them to M3X-387. Rodney, show them the address. There are some nice crystals there that will wreak absolute havoc on a rival Hive.”

“Thank you, colonel Sheppard,” Sheyn’ten grinned. “Your proposal is appreciated.”

“Moving on,” said Elizabeth, "Carson, the therapy you've been working on..."

"Aye, we have been developing a retrovirus that we think may eliminate the Wraith's need to feed."

"What?" the astonished Wraith asked at the same time.

"We believe we may have found a way to reactivate a Wraith's digestive system so you can eat regular food. We are still in the early stages and haven't had the opportunity to test it in vivo yet. Would you be willing to work with us for that?"

"And end the hunger? Extraordinary," Sheyn'ten gasped.

"But at what cost?" Bel'anna said. "Here is my proposal. My son is well-versed in this field. Present your research to him and then we shall talk. I need to confer with my Hive too. This is revolutionary and not to be taken lightly. Did you know about this?" she asked Koreyn.

"No, my Lady, I am just finding out," Koreyn lied. "But I do not think my men will like it much."

"We must take our leave. We shall involve Gar'ain and see where this leads us. I will not discuss it further until I have spoken to him," Bel'anna said, rising. "Are we concluded? Is there anything else you wish to bring to me directly?"

"If you need to leave, we can communicate the rest through Firebird and Commander Todd," Elizabeth said.

"Commander who? Why do you keep calling him that?" Bel'anna asked with a frown.

"My name is Koreyn, dr. Weir. 'Guide' in your language," the old Wraith said with a small smile, bowing his head.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Commander Koreyn. Again," Elizabeth laughed, standing up.

"No worries, buddy,” John said patting Koreyn’s broad shoulder, “you'll always be Todd to me."

Chapter Text

“I heard they had a party in her apartment last night, with our guys and Todd’s,” Alison Porter said, dealing the cards. “Marie was there. Right, Marie? She’s good friends with her and Agata.”

“Come on, Marie, what’s Hive Central like?”

“Why don’t you go and see for yourself?”

“They’re roaming free over there, I’m not trying to get eaten,” Dasha laughed.

“But you’re curious.”

“Terribly. Aren’t you? Marie, spill!”

“I think you’ll be disappointed,” Marie replied. “There wasn’t much going on, nothing stranger than what we do at poker nights, anyway. They played a game with some dice and coloured stones that looked like chess pieces. She’s got a keyboard in her room, one of the guys played Chopin on it, like Dasha when she gets drunk. He’s good, you know? The others seemed into it.”

“Who, the guy…”

“The one with the longer hair and the green eyes.”

“Ah, the other one?”

“Yeah, the new guy. Maybe she’s starting a band, eh? They drank all her champagne and vodka, the whiskey Sheppard brought, and a lot of the Pegasus moonshine. Anyway, I don’t remember everything. I was pretty baked by the end.”

“Wait, baked?”

“Yeah, they smoke this thing, kind of like our weed. Except I guess it doesn’t give them the munchies, ‘cause they didn’t eat anyone. But it does relax you. It got very nice and warm in there. After a while no one had their jacket on and half of them were shirtless.”

“Holy shit.”

“What do they look like?” Anne leaned forward, raising a brow.

“Like very fit guys,” Marie replied. “Quite lean, which figures… But green, you know. They have these ridges down their backs. And they’re all inked.”

“Todd too?”

“Yeah. Him too. Never thought I’d say this, but Todd is kinda foxy up close. Really foxy, actually. He’s got this cool earring. And all sorts of ink going on.”

“Shit. I don’t wanna think about Todd like that,” Anne grimaced.

“And yet, major Teldy,” grinned Dusty, “you won’t be able to help yourself.”

Alison narrowed her eyes. “Think they get a new tattoo when they join a new gang?”

“Yeah, actually. Todd’s men have more of them, they’re a rogue bunch. The Queen’s guys only have a couple,” Marie laughed. “She keeps such a cool Hive, apparently, that they’re not motivated enough to leave Mom and join other Queens.”

“Ew, red flag!” Dasha said to raucous laughter.

“But how do those keep? Don’t they heal?”

“R… They said there’s a technique to it. Apparently, they use a poison extracted from the Iratus to keep it from healing until it ‘sets’.”

“Gross, more bug stuff. I did not need to know that.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“My bad! Someday I’ll learn.”

“And you smoked the weed with them?” Katie asked curiously. “I wonder what the active compounds are. Do you have any? What does it feel like?”

“I don’t have any… She might though. They offered, but I was afraid to smoke, and they didn’t force me. But the air was thick with it, so you got high anyway. It’s like weed, as I said. Makes you mellow, lowers your inhibitions.”

“Yikes, I don’t think I’d want my inhibitions lowered among fucking Wraith,” Caroline Biro shivered.

“Or about fucking Wraith,” laughed Alison.

Marie swallowed and turned beet-red.

“Holy shit, Marie, you didn’t.”

“Oh, my God, she did.”

“How do they… I mean, do they even… Hey, Biro, you’re a pathologist!”

“Stop it, you’re freaking her out.”

“Yeah, I have to go. See you guys tomorrow.”

“What the fuck, you scared her off. Good job!”

*

Caroline found Marie at the end of the corridor, leaning against the window with her eyes closed, breathing hard.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to upset you. The girls mean well, they’re just a bit wild. And drunk. You know how it goes.”

“Yeah, no, no problem. I’m not upset, just…”

“Are you okay? You’re very flushed.”

“Um, you think they left too?”

“No, they’re still in there. Come back, I’ll make sure they behave.”

“No, the… Todd’s Hive.”

“I don’t think so, not yet. Why?”

“Excuse me for a moment, Caroline,” Marie said and took off.

Shrugging, the other woman went back to the poker game.

“Where’s Marie? Girl, tell her we’re sorry, she can come back. We’ll leave her alone.”

“She left.”

“I told you we bummed her out.”

“She asked if Todd’s Hive was still here and ran off.”

“Oh, my God, don’t say that.”

“Girl, I am dying here! You’ll find me rigid on the floor with a ‘Choked by Curiosity’ note in my hand!”

“At least we’ll know it wasn’t the Wraith.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t bank on that. I’m going to Hive Central if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Alison, you’re insane.”

“Laters, guys. I’m gonna check if there’s another Wraith party tonight. Hands off my chips, vultures! I ain’t dead yet.”

*

“Come in,” Emily called.

The door opened and Alison went in cautiously.

Emily was in her reclining chair, reading. There was no sign of a party, and Alison didn’t know whether to feel miffed or relieved.

“Marie left. She’ll be okay, don’t worry,” Emily smiled reassuringly.

Alison almost made a run for it when a shirtless white-haired man in black jeans came out of the bedroom.

Rooted to the spot, she watched in fascination as the Wraith pushed the button on the stereo remote. Music filled the air and swaying his hips to the rhythm with feline grace, the alien made his way to her colleague, leaned over and kissed her full on the mouth. A black tattoo rippled on his toned back.

Breathing shallow, Alison felt her face heating up.

“Are you coming, mi Reina?” he purred at Emily.

“Oh, I sure hope so,” she grinned. “Just let me see what Alison needs and I’ll be right there. Sit down for a moment, Alison, if you will.”

Alison sat on the daybed and the Wraith shot her an inquisitive look.

My God, he’s fine, she couldn’t help thinking, and the alien gave a strange laugh.

“Perhaps she would like to join us, mi Reina.”

“In your dreams, Sher’zin. Right before you die,” Emily growled.

He spread his hands, palms up, the way Alison had seen Todd do when he wanted to appease Sheppard.

Must be the Wraith gesture of peace. Still creepy, look at that thing, she thought, and he laughed again.

“Dude, stop reading my mind,” she protested.

“I do not need to, your thoughts are written all over your face,” he smirked. “And you are so amusing to read. That is indeed the Wraith gesture of peace. No need to be so shy, Alison Porter. If you like Wraith men, you should say so. Your friend Marie was braver, and she enjoyed herself last night. And will again this night.”

Alison inhaled shakily and balled her hands into fists to stop them from shaking.

“We used to take lovers from among our worshippers,” the Wraith purred. “But with your arrival, the paradigm has shifted, as my Queen is fond of saying. Earth’s women are warriors, in deed or at heart. We like that. And I think you would not find us wanting either, we are… skilled where it matters,” he murmured, leaning forward and tracing a slender finger on her jawline.

Alison shivered.

“I can smell it, you know. Your arousal,” he smirked.

“Get bent,” she retorted.

“Hm. I heard some Tau’ri women like that.”

“So, Alison,” Emily said and grabbed the Wraith by the hair, pulling his head back and dropping him to his knees. He gave a hiss, but didn’t fight her. Instead, his breathing sped up and he closed his eyes. “If we’re done flirting here, what else did you need?”

“I… just wanted to ask about Marie,” Alison stuttered, a little shocked.

“Marie went, as this one correctly remarked, to see her new friend, Todd’s Navigator. And hopefully enjoy the pleasure of his company as much as she can before he has to leave for duty.”

“You’re serious.”

“Quite serious.”

“She’s really sleeping with the…”

“She is. Though I imagine there won’t be a lot of sleeping. I think he made her cum three or four times last night in my bedroom, by the sound of her. She couldn’t stop smiling when she left. Though that could have been the erba, too.”

“She…”

“My man was, again, telling the truth,” she continued, tracing the Wraith’s cheek with her right hand and grabbing him by the throat, squeezing slightly. “Wraith men are skilled in bed. They’re quite addictive, actually. Aren’t you, mi soll,” she drawled.

“We... can be... mi Reina,” he rasped in his weird, alien voice.

Emily let go of his neck and slid her hand down, resting it on his sternum.

Repulsed and hypnotized in equal measure, Alison watched the small Earthling manhandling the predator.

“I wouldn’t recommend this unless you talk to him beforehand,” Emily said, fixing her with a strange expression. “Although they do like to be treated roughly, and respond to it in a very interesting fashion,” she said, lowering her gaze between his legs. “As you can see.”

Sher’zin could not remember being more turned on. His cheeks were flushed with shame from being so callously “presented” in front of this human, his prey. And yet he felt himself throbbing with need, straining against his jeans at full attention.

He would give himself to his Queen like this in front of the entire city if she wanted him to, he thought. And in that moment, a weight lifted from him and he felt incredibly free.

Ay, mi soll, her mind caressed. Relax. Open up. I love you so much.

He moaned as she started drawing his life tenderly. It should have hurt, but it didn’t, or it didn’t feel like pain anymore. She buried her nose in his hair and inhaled his scent deeply, kissing the top of his head, and drank him slowly for a while under the human woman’s gaze.

He felt himself slipping into darkness. But it was okay. His Queen was claiming Her due and she had chosen him. Let her take! The world grew distant around him and his breathing slowed.

But then the energy flow reversed and he felt his life coming back to him like a bolt of sweet lightning, in a rush of blinding pleasure. His whole body sang under her palm and he trembled and cried out.

Too soon, it was over. He slumped against her arm, rubbing his cheek on the soft, warm skin, sighing with the pleasure of new life, but awash with longing for her Gift.

“What did you do to him?” Alison whispered.

“Just loved him a little,” Emily purred with a warm smile.

When she moved her hand and placed it on his shoulder, no trace was left to show what had happened except a couple of drops of dark blood that seemed to trickle down his chest out of nowhere.

Alison felt two strong hands on her own shoulders and came back to her senses with a violent start. Her heart raced and she struggled against the man, but he held her down with an iron grip.

She felt his breath against her ear. A low growl vibrated in it. Her hair was brushed away and a pair of soft lips kissed her neck, then she felt sharp teeth graze her skin and a hand going down to her chest.

She fainted.

*

When she came to, she was lying on her bed, in her room.

Oh, my God. It was a dream, she thought, trying to calm down her fluttering heart. You fell asleep and had a kinky vampire dream.

She got up and went to the bathroom on uncertain feet. She splashed water on her face, then raised her eyes and wiped the mirror.

A reddish bite marred the left side of her neck.

Chapter Text

Alison took a step back from the open door, glancing at the two Marines for reassurance.

“Good morning, Alison Porter,” the Wraith greeted placidly.

He looked flushed and sweaty. His hair was tousled and the worn v-neck t-shirt clung to him, smelling faintly of wet moss and cobwebs. The grey sweatpants he had on left precious little to the imagination.

Don’t they use underwear or something? She felt herself blushing again.

He tilted his head and stared at her in that unnerving Wraith way. “You seem troubled.”

“Where’s Emily?”

“She is a little busy. And we do have underwear. But in my quarters I prefer to be comfortable.”

A fierce growl coming from the other room made Alison's stomach drop.

“What in the nine pits of hell was that?”

“That would be my brother.”

Alison did not want to be in the same space as an angry Wraith. Especially one who bit when he was in a good mood.

“I’ll come back some other time, then.”

“Do not trouble yourself. He will not hurt you,” the Wraith gave a raspy laugh. “He is a bit tied up at the moment.”

He stepped away from the door.

“You can come in and sit there if you wish to wait. She will not be long.”

Alison drew a deep breath, stepped in and sat stiffly on the daybed.

From the bedroom came a heart-wrenching moan, followed by a string of what Alison imagined were Wraith curses. Emily came out and shut the door behind her.

“Thanks for coming, Alison,” she smiled warmly.

A short head gesture and the Wraith made himself scarce.

“I wanted to apologize for yesterday. He’s not gonna bother you again.”

Alison stared at her for a moment.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know how you could guarantee it.”

“Please let me worry about that,” the other woman replied. “He’s been placed in my care. There will be minor slip-ups, most probably, but I can assure you that he is not, and will not be, a danger to you.”

“You’re very sure you can control him,” the young woman said incredulously.

“As I said, the Queen placed him in my care. He will comply.”

The steel in her voice sent a chill through Alison.

The strange happenings she’d witnessed the night before had been running through her head on repeat. The way the other woman had played with the Wraith on his knees. Her hand on his chest and his strange reaction.

She stares like them, she thought, and Emily averted her eyes.

“That’s all I wanted to say,” Emily spoke. “If you’d like to report the incident, you are, of course, free to do so. I'll confirm your account and take full responsibility. But if you’d prefer to cut him a little slack this time, I’d be grateful, and so would he.”

“Why does he sound so angry?” Alison whispered.

“He’s been… suffering consequences since last night,” Emily smiled. “He'll never touch another woman on this base without permission again. And he does not have permission.”

“Emily," the young woman asked leaning forward, frowning in concern. "Aren’t you afraid to be like that with them? I mean they could feed on you or strangle you and the Marines wouldn’t know.”

“Of course. But I know they’d be shot dead without question, and so do they. And say they escaped with their lives. Where would they go? They can’t go back to their Hive, the Queen would feed on them.”

“But you’d still be dead.”

“If that happened. But they’re not dumb animals, Alison, although they like to seem feral to us. These are old beings of high intelligence. They don’t give in to their instincts that easily,” Emily said, touching the younger woman’s shoulder encouragingly.

“So, have you made a decision?" she asked after a short pause.

"I don't know... I guess I could let it slide this time..."

"I appreciate that. I'll look out for you," Emily smiled, briefly closing her eyes.

She seemed to ponder something for a moment.

“Would you like me to introduce you?” she asked suddenly.

Taken by surprise, overcome by a sort of morbid curiosity, Alison heard herself saying “yes”.

She rose and followed Emily into the bedroom, and immediately regretted it.

She felt as if she’d stepped into a hornet’s nest. An Iratus den, she corrected herself. Her hair stood on end.

There were not two, but three Wraith in the room. The air was humid and smelled faintly of grass and something else, something familiar, but that she couldn’t quite place.

Sex. Oh my God, it smells like sex.

Two of the men were on the bed. The one who’d opened the door for her was leaning back on a pillow, drawing idly from a short home-rolled cigarette. Another one, wearing only a pair of grey boxers, was sitting cross-legged, reading from a tablet. Silky white hair was tucked behind an ear on which a small diamond glittered, and his sculpted shoulder and torso were adorned with a swirly black tattoo.

The third one was chained up by his wrists and ankles, naked, next to the wall in front of the bed. His head hung forward and his long hair, adorned with a couple of thin braids, framed his flushed face. His skin was covered with a sheen of sweat and the same black tattoo his brothers sported was stretching across his chest and abdomen, down to his very aroused, leaking cock.

Alison gasped and stared, open-mouthed.

The alien raised his head and threw Emily a wild, unfocused look. He gave a strange sound between a growl and a moan, pulling at the chains so hard the metal creaked.

Alison's heart skipped a beat. But under the curious gaze of the men on the bed, she resolved not to move. 

“Mi Reina, bet dich,” the chained man rasped desperately.

Emily went to him and took him in her arms, planting kisses on the heated skin of his neck and shoulder and stroking along the ridge on his back down to his ass. He tried to grind his hips into her, sighing and moaning low, rubbing his face on hers like a cat.

"Mi tresor, I need you to apologize to Alison. Stop your growling and reassure her that she's not in danger. You were thoughtless and scared her."

"I was only playing," he panted. "I merely grazed her skin."

"We are not playing with the humans. Is that understood?" Emily purred in a low voice. "Now be a darling and apologize."

The Wraith raised his eyes and fixed Alison with a golden, hypnotic gaze.

"I apologize," he rasped. "It will not happen again."

Too shocked to speak, too afraid to wish it would happen again, Alison nodded. 

"Good," said Emily. "Now, Alison. These are my charges. Sher'zin, whom you've met yesterday, Gar'ain, who you'll likely be working with in the infirmary, and our new companion Mond'ain, who is just learning the rules of our base. In English, PineShadow, FrostLight and MoonLight. This is my colleague, dr. Alison Porter, who is not a worshipper, a toy or an object of entertainment."

Alison felt as if caught in a strange macabre play, a sort of surreal vampire ball. She nodded a greeting and the three aliens bowed their heads in respect.

Emily smiled and grabbed the naked man by the hair at his nape, pulling his head towards her and softly kissing his sensory pits and lips. "Let me see my friend out and I'll be back, mi tresor. You have done well. Thank you."

She let go of him and he moaned and cursed again, straining hard to get back in her embrace.

She turned her back on him and motioned Alison to leave. On autopilot, the young woman obeyed. Emily followed and closed the door, and Alison exhaled a deep breath she didn't know she was holding in.

"I’ll see you tonight at the poker game,” Emily smiled, leading her colleague to the door. “If you guys will have me.”

“Yeah. Sure," Alison mumbled as the door was closing. Dazed, she stood in front of it for a while, then turned and walked away with no particular destination.

Chapter Text

“What the hell is this place, Elizabeth, a hotel for Wraith?”

“The Queen insisted.”

“She already got us to release the other two. I’d say she’s insisted enough.”

“John, she wasn’t happy about it either.”

“So she says! Three moles are better than two, right? And we don’t know this new one. Are we sure that woman can control him? How many can she control, really?”

“Well, if she can do what a Queen does, a Hive full, I imagine.”

“What if she can't?”

Elizabeth laughed.

“Well, is she a Wraith boogeywoman or isn't she?”

“I don't fucking know!” the man frowned. “So is she gonna fuck this one too?”

“John, don't be crass.”

“Come on, you can’t tell me you’re not asking yourself.”

“Well, maybe,” Elizabeth said, reddening. “He'd like to, anyway. The Queen said he’d been begging on his knees since they landed to be allowed to stay behind. He drove her nuts. She had to give in, apparently we owe this alliance to him, in a way.”

“Let me guess, he’s also FairMorning’s son. Is she marrying them off to Atlantis or what?”

“As I said, she's not parting with him willingly. He’s her Communications Officer, as in Head of Intelligence. He's an unusual male with a knack for telepathic manipulation and she made no secret of her opinion that his special talent is utterly wasted among 'head-blind humans'.”

“Holy motherfucking shit, that’s even worse. You're letting in a telepathic spy, are you nuts? Who says he can't control us?”

“All Wraith can manipulate humans to a point. We'd be in danger from any of them. But according to Bel'anna, this one would be immensely more useful on a rival Hive. So I thought... what if we were to recruit and use him against a rival Hive? I can talk to Emily. Why hide in a corner and build ourselves a shell instead of taking the initiative? Todd seemed none too happy he was staying, you know.”

“Oookay, that's interesting,” John hummed. “What do you mean we 'owe the alliance' to him?”

“Well, when Gar’ain ran off…”

“Oh, we’re on a first name basis now.”

“John, focus. Of course we are, they’re part of our team. I mean to integrate them as much as I can, and I think you fully understand why. We cannot have a Wraith enclave in Atlantis under Emily’s command. They need to be subject to our rules and regulations and ultimately answer to me.”

“Kinda like a Queen of their Queen?”

“Well, we all have a boss. I answer to the IOA. We adapt the system to Wraith psychology and implement it.”

Elizabeth picked up her coffee mug and took a sip of the hot coffee.

“So, as I was saying, when Gar’ain left to answer the call of the male territorial instinct,” she said, eyeing John with a raised eyebrow, “he had the sense to let Mond’ain know where he was going. Now Mond’ain and him are close and, as you can imagine, he can keep a secret. But he went and told the Queen, and Bel’anna…”

“I’m guessing that’s her name in Wraith?”

“Yes. She’s four thousand freaking years old, so she’s had to deal with some upheaval in her life. But this is one she said she had a hard time coming to terms with. According to her, she was afraid for her favourite son’s life, although she knew, don’t ask me how, that we hadn’t killed the other one, and that there was a Wraith Queen of sorts on our base.”

John winced. “From him, probably. Gar’ain, I mean. God fucking knows how long we’ve been sitting on this timebomb.”

“In any case, she didn’t trust our girl and didn’t believe she could protect them for long. They’re naturally mistrustful of each other, plus this one wasn’t much better than a ‘human’ in her eyes.

Her Commander had apparently been trying to convince her to rescue Sher'zin, the other brother, for a while, but after the siege she wouldn’t go near Atlantis again.

But then, from what I gathered, Todd comes into the mix and she finds out he’s got ‘dealings’ with us and sees an opportunity. She plays him to get her wayward sons a better deal. He plays her for whatever Todd’s angle is now. And little Tinker, Tailor, Soldier played her because he wanted to get in on the action. Don’t ask me how he knew her and why he did it.

I’ll tell you the truth, John, as a woman, I am tempted to learn what her secret is. How’s she getting them so hooked? And does it only work on Wraith or did she just avoid doing it to our guys? I mean she’s… plain compared to some of our other women.”

“That what Rodney says too,” John laughed. “He’s got the hots for her though and he always pulls the pigtails of the women he likes.”

“How’s Evan faring?”

“Well, he is part Wraith, so… I don’t know. They seem to be friends. He’s sleeping with the Czech woman, or so Rodney says. Zelenka too. Well, Zelenka’s also…”

“Do you think we should tell him?”

“I don’t know, Liz. I honestly don’t know. Maybe we should have Carson break it to him indirectly, do a DNA test or something.”

“But is it better if he knows? He might go off the rails. Does he need to know?”

“I think he has a right to know, either way. I’d tell Carson to encourage him to talk to Heightmeyer. A controlled crash may be better than what Lorne had to manage. Zelenka’s a trooper, but doesn't have Evan's psychological training. If he gets fed on and goes Nosferatu on us...”

“Rodney’s been pretty cross with him lately,” Elizabeth sighed. “Apparently, he’s befriended the Wraith and they gang up on him. As in he can’t bully Zelenka as much anymore. Rodney’d probably veto telling Zelenka anything.”

John smirked. “I know, not funny... But hell, it is a little funny.”

“You know what? I’m gonna ask Emily what she thinks.”

“Liz…”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll do what she says. I just want her perspective. And to be honest, I’m starting to like her. She’s got a good head on those shoulders. And she seems pretty much on top of things.”

“Too much, if you ask me,” John said, rising.

“I am asking you. So, going back to Mr. Wraith Bond. I am going to authorize his presence here on a temporary basis. I’m going to lay down the law to him, we’ll monitor him and control his movements. Let’s see how this turns out.”

“Sign off on a larger bed,” John grinned from the doorway.

Chapter Text

Dazed and languid, the young woman stretched like a cat and tried to get up. A slender, but surprisingly heavy arm draped around her waist, keeping her down.

“Rennen, let go of me,” she laughed. “Humans need to go to the bathroom in the morning.”

With a small discontented growl, the man took away his arm. Half-lidded golden eyes followed the woman’s naked figure through the room while their white-haired owner hummed appreciatively.

Marie disappeared into the bathroom and turned on the water in the sink. She was still shy about peeing around him, although she knew now that they occasionally needed to as well.

“You know you do not need to do that,” he purred from the doorway, startling her.

They really have no concept of privacy, dammit, Marie thought and he smiled.

“Oh, we do. I just want to watch you.”

“Pervert.”

He shrugged and leaned his lithe, chiselled body against the door frame.

“I can’t pee with you here,” Marie said, reddening. “Go away!”

He shook his head and came in to turn on the shower.

“I will go away if you do it here. With me.”

“For crying out loud…”

“Come on, Marie. You know what it does to me.”

“I’ve never done it before you, it’s just so weird! I can’t get used to it.”

“I have never done it before either. But it is just so… hot. Come on. Get in. Please. Please…” he purred.

“Oh, my God,” the woman breathed, feeling herself getting hot again. “You must always get your way, mustn’t you?”

“Oh, I remember you getting your way multiple times last night,” he laughed. “Not that I mind. But we should get stronger restraints. I want to feel truly powerless with you and these will not hold me.”

With a growl, Marie got into the shower and pushed the man to his knees. She grabbed him by the hair, draped a leg on his shoulder and relieved herself on his chest.

“Is this what you want? Like this? Speak to me!”

He moaned, fully erect again, and kissed her mons, licking down to her clit with an agile dark tongue.

“You said it was impolite to speak with my mouth full,” he mumbled against her.

She threw her head back, laughing and sighing in pleasure.

“You’re very cheeky, mister. You should mind yourself.”

He licked faster, with purpose, and caught her clit between his lips, caressing and sucking it lightly. Awash in sensation, she lost the will to argue and banter with him and moaned and cooed, letting him patiently bring her to another orgasm.

“My God,” she panted, “you’re insatiable. Hold me up, I can’t stand properly.”

“I try to enjoy you as much as I can. I do not know what I will do without you for so long,” he rasped and the hint of sadness in his voice caught her by surprise.

He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her on her back and entering her firmly, without warning. He grabbed her wrists and held her down and she mewled, arching her body and encircling his hips with her legs. He moved inside her hungrily, with powerful strokes, moaning and chasing his pleasure mercilessly and, overwhelmed, she couldn’t help crying out again. Growling in victory, a fierce sound that would have chilled her bones before, but now only served to make her wet and needy every time, he spilled himself inside her, pinning her under his powerful hips.

He lowered his head to her neck and gently sniffed and kissed the bite mark he’d given her the night before, making her hiss a little.

“Ow, that stings.”

“You like it when I bite hard, do not lie. You are so feral you scare me sometimes.”

“I scare you?” Marie laughed. “Thanks for the confidence boost.”

“I do not want to hurt you. But I want to love you the way you need. Please, never be shy with me about your desires. Whatever they are. I will always be honest about mine.”

She stared at him for a second and took his hand, placing it on the fresh feeding mark on her chest.

It was his turn to stare affectionately.

"I trust you, Rennen. I'd give if you needed, you know?"

"And I would restore you right away," he said, caressing her breasts.

"Ah, that tickles," she snickered. "In a good way! It's so weird, I love it. But I have to go, my shift is starting... Shit, I think I'm already late."

She got up and reached for her underwear.

"You're not leaving today, are you?"

"I do not know. I do not think so, but it would be the Commander's decision. He likes it here, though," Rennen laughed raspily. "And I understand him now."

"Stop by if you're leaving, okay?" she asked from the doorway.

He nodded while the door closed and listened to the sound of her steps fading away. Closing his eyes, he sunk into the bed and sniffed her pillow with a sigh.