FIC: Q is for Queen 3/4 (SGA)
“That,” the lieutenant said, “is up to you.”
John frowned. “What do you mean?”
“What you do with the ship, the cargo, the rest of the Hive - I care not. But allow me to depart.”
“Give me one good reason why,” John said, shifting his hold on the spear.
“Would two suffice?” At their silence, he went on, “I see our time is fading. It is Atlantis’s time now - and to survive, my race must step into the shadows and aid yours whenever we can. I intend to do so.”
Rodney’s eyes narrowed. “And how can you keep from eating us?”
“I can not,” he said, and the honesty was somehow refreshing. “But there are viable alternatives. My hope is that somehow, the alternatives will become the norm.”
John lowered the spear, and the Wraith lowered the disruptor. John asked, “Will you be all right until you can reach these alternatives?”
The Wraith made a strange sound - almost like a startled gasp. “The records were correct about you, Sheppard. They said that your kindness was vast. Yes, I shall be well. I have been feeding on the captives - four or five years from ten or eleven of them - and I am quite sated.”
“And they are all alive?” Rodney had to check.
“All alive,” the Wraith answered. “At least they were when I left them.”
At that, Rodney dissolved the spears. “If we need them, I’ll remake them.”
John nodded. “You’re Todd,” he informed the Wraith. “You’ve got five minutes to get out of here.”
The newly named Todd bowed his head. “No other has my mark,” he said, touching the star tattoo encircling his left eye. “I am grateful, Sheppard.” He holstered the disruptor and bolted from the Bridge.
John touched the radio in his ear. “Ronon! Teyla! If you see a Wraith with a star around his eye, let him go! He’s an ally!” He cut the channel. “Let’s take care of this ship. Can you set the self-destruct?”
Rodney drifted over and examined it. “Get that one’s disruptor,” he said, pointing behind him at the downed second lieutenant.
Seconds later, Rodney heard a disruptor fire. “What the -!”
ON TO THE CONCLUSION