Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 1927

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Buffy, not Teen Wolf, not SGA.

XXX

When they'd first ended up in Lemuria five years ago Buffy, Xander, and Noah had been their most experienced fighters. Buffy, because she was a Slayer and was mystically made for battle. Xander, because of his soldier memories, and hellmouth experience, not to mention the werewolf thing. Then Noah, because not only had he retired from the Army Rangers, he'd also studied Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu. Add in his experience as a deputy and it was no wonder the man was in charge of city security. Actually, that really made Noah their most experienced fighter.

That said, Noah and Brecken, a Satedan Specialist had become fast friends. Brecken was eager to learn new fighting techniques and just as eager to share Satedan battle tactics. So, for the last three years Brecken came to the city once a week to run them through their paces one group at a time.

This time Xander was part of that group and he was watching the sheer intensity of Brecken and Buffy spar. Buffy was...Buffy. And Brecken was a werewolf. Both had plenty of experience under their belts, though Brecken being former military had more discipline. Still, no one else was getting much practice this way so he didn't mind when the door of the gym opened to reveal Claudia.

She looked stressed and that was never a good thing. “Claudia?” He approached her, hand on her elbow. “What is it?”

“You need to go to Athos.”

Xander frowned. “Why now? It’s been two years?”

She bit her lip. “I just have a feeling.”

Claudia's feelings were never wrong, so he didn't question her further. “Right. Field trip time.” He reached over and turned the lights off and waited for the sounds of fighting to stop. They did after a couple of seconds.

Buffy sounded confused. “Xander?”

He turned the lights back on. “Claudia had a feeling. We're going to Athos.”

Brecken gave him a look. “Harmony will want to go with you.”

“Then I guess you better go to New Sunny and let her know.”

He nodded and offered an apologetic look. “I guess Buffy and I should just spar one on one from now on instead of taking up class time with it.”

“Probably,” Xander grinned.

“Sorry Xander.”

He waved away her worry. “Its fine. None of us mind watching you two spar each other; but we all need the training. Now come on, we need to get moving.”

xxx

When they got to Athos it was after the fact. That fact had been malicious chaos at the hands of the Wraith. Teyla's hunting camp was completely trashed. The huts were torn to shreds, belongings scattered about, but no bodies. But there wouldn't be, the Wraith didn't often just kill, it would be a waste of food.

What surprised them, was the downed Wraith ship. One of the short-range scouts that did quick culling. It hadn't simply crashed, it looked like it had been shot down...not even the Genii had weapons capable of that. The Athosians certainly couldn't have done it. Hell, it looked like it had been blown up mid-flight. Xander was still poking at the charred remains when he heard Harmony cry out in grief.

He stood. “Harm?”

She stepped out of what had been Halling and Jinto's home. “Nothing. There's nothing left of them.” She was clutching a small rag toy, sewn to look like a wolf. It had been Jinto's.

Xander stepped around the wreckage and went to her, moving in to give her a hug, then pressed his cheek to hers. “Come on. Maybe someone got away.” She nodded and turned away from the scene, the toy still clutched in her hands.

It was hard to catch any one scent. The smoke from the downed Wraith ship had spread and settled, ash all over everything. Not to mention how the scent trails from the Athosians were all over the place, going in every direction. Others had been in the village as well...someone with earth-like weapons, he could smell the cordite like some of their own guns.

Eventually he found a scent trail that was familiar, and he followed it out of the village and toward the old tunnels Teyla had once shown him. It became almost an obsession then, the need to find whoever had left the trail alive. Other scents joined the first...and then he heard heartbeats. Tor padded to his side, head tilted, he heard the heartbeats too.

They started out calm, probably asleep, but they must have heard them coming because they started to speed up. Then he found the entrance to the tunnels, a new smell urging him on. “Hello?”

Then he saw her. Tre, and she had her son, Ayahdu, with her. Behind them in the shadows were a handful of other Athosians. Ayahdu tore free from his mother's hands when he saw Tor.

“Roh!” And then the little guy pretty much tackled the blond wolf and wrapped him in a mini bear hug.

“Xander?” Tre's voice was weak, exhausted and no wonder. She was very, very pregnant.

“Hey there.” He held out his hand and she reached for him, glad of the support as he helped her out of the tunnel. The others followed and Tor carried Ayahdu out on his back, the little guy refusing to let go of him. “What happened?” Xander asked her, as he looked them all over for injuries.

“Strangers came to trade.” Tre said, hand gripping his tight. “Then the Wraith came. We hid. I don't know what happened to the others.” Her voice wavered, and Xander picked up what she couldn't say. She had no idea where her husband Kanaan was.

“Teyla? Halling?”

“Taken. I think several survivors left with the strangers...but I don't know where.”

Harmony was suddenly at his side, eyes desperate. “Jinto?” She practically begged the other woman.

“I don't know, I'm sorry Harmony.”

Xander held a hand up to stop Harmony from asking anything else. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” He picked Tre up and started the trek back to the portal.

“They can stay with me on New Sunny.” Harmony offered.

Xander shook his head. “We need to get her to Chris first.” He told her. “Her water broke a while ago, it’s how I found her.”

“Oh hell.”

xxx

When he carried her through the portal to Lemuria Tre was shocked, but not so much that she was speechless. He carted her all the way to the infirmary, the other Athosians followed him. Tre looked this way and that before her eyes locked on the side of his face.

“This is the home of the Ancestors.”

“No,” he told her. “This isn't Atlantis, its Lemuria. It’s the home of my ancestors, they were called Furlings.”

“Furlings?”

“We can talk about that later.”

Chris was ready for her by the time Xander got to the infirmary. Harmony had finally managed to get a tired and cranky Ayahdu away from Tor and taken him to her quarters where she promised to get him fed, cleaned up and tucked into a bed.

Xander slipped out of the infirmary because he honestly didn't want to be there for the birth. Besides, Claudia was more than ready to help Chris, or simply hold Tre's hand through the ordeal.

Willow met him in the hall before he could even take two steps. “You found a few survivors?”

“A few.” He confirmed. “Not many.”

Willow bit her lip and her hands fidgeted nervously. “I want to go back there, to Athos, with some shield generators.”

“It’s not just Athos, is it?” He stared at her for a moment. “You want to go to the old Alteran city, hide it and repair it?”

Her hands stilled. “We have the builder drones. They can copy the architecture, and rebuild it. All while we have the shield-cloaks up.”

“That would take a while, it’s a big city.”

“Please Xander? If...If anyone comes back, they'll have a place to go. Or if we find refugees there will be a place for them.”

Well, when she put it like that. “Go ahead. Take wolves with you, two feet and paws.”

“I will.”

xxx

The next morning Tre had a new baby boy. Xander was trussed up in hospital gear, gown, gloves, mask and he was trying not to panic. He'd never held a newborn before, he hadn't realized they were so damn tiny.

“You won't hurt him, you're very good with children.” Tre smiled at him, tired but glowing.

“I'm good with bigger kids. Kids who can run and play.”

“And ride on a wolf's back?” She asked with a little smirk.

“Who gave away the big secret?” Xander asked, turning his eyes back to the baby in his arms.

“Roh changed into Tor before my very eyes.” She watched him for a moment, and since she was letting him hold her baby, she must still trust him. “You are not human.”

“No. We're Furlings. We are the wolves and the wolves are us. Some of my people are human though.” When she frowned, he gave her a short list, “Willow, Buffy, Jono, and others.”

“But that is why you would not trade with the Genii. They essentially wanted your people as beasts of burden.” Her eyes held horror. “Slaves.”

“Yeah.”

“You are a good man, a good Furling.” She smiled. “That is why I have named my son Xan.”

Xander froze for a second, and it felt like his eyes might be watering a bit. “You don't have to do that Tre.”

“Kanaan will understand...if he's...” Now her eyes were watering.

Carefully he handed...Xan...back to his mother and Tre held him over her heart. “If Kanaan is alive, you will see him again.”

“I hope so.”

“Both of you get some rest...and Tre.”

“Yes?”

“I'm very honored.”

xxx

A week later the Athosian survivors had been moved to New Sunny. They were welcomed by the people and wolves there. In fact, once word had gotten around that Xander could turn people into Furlings with a bite many were considering the change.

Tre was one of them. She'd talked to many of the Satedans, who had all been bitten and found out that the Wraith could not feed from them.

Xander, however, asked that they take some more time to consider it, and he absolutely refused to bite his brand new name sake. When the kid was older sure, but not at a week old, luckily Tre agreed wholeheartedly to that last part.

He wondered how much longer they could keep the Furling thing under wraps. If the Wraith found out there was an entire race of 'people' that they couldn't eat...they wouldn't hesitate to kill them. And if word got around that there was a single individual who could turn humans into Furlings...Xander would be the Wraith's number one enemy.

Xander was the only Alpha around. Which made it pretty important that he not end up dead or captured. He was the only one who could give 'the bite' to those who wanted to be a Furling.

This could get messy.

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 1945

XXX

Suspicion

Xander stared at the screen in the War Room. It was showing him different views of their stars that the deep space sensors were picking up. Usually, they would see a Wraith cruiser or two out and about. Now though...now their galaxy was full of Wraith hive ships. The Wraith were suddenly all waking up, and waking up hungry, which wasn't surprising. Anything would be starving after a long hibernation. It was like Reptile Boy, only on an extreme level.

The problem with all of that and really there was more than one problem. So... the problems they were facing were that with every single hive waking up there wasn't going to be enough 'food' for them. The Wraith had been so good at culling in the past that most civilizations didn't have the means to rebuild the way they once did. No planet they had been to had the kind of cities their original world did.

The more immediate problem that had Xander concerned, was that with all the hives up and moving it was a lot harder to take them out. Over the past five years they had destroyed nine hive ships. That was nothing to sneeze at, but the reason they were so easy to destroy, was because they weren't active. They had been 'parked' and in hibernation and that wasn't the case anymore.

They didn't know for sure what or who had woken the Wraith up, but they discussed it at length and figured it was connected to what had happened on Athos. Because just days after Willow got the shield-cloak up around the old Alteran city a Wraith hive ship appeared over the planet and scorched the land for hundreds of miles around the portal. It was going to take years for the land to heal, for plants to grow and animals to return.

Anyone coming through the portal would see nothing but wasteland since the old city was now hidden. So, if they found any Athosians, Xander and his people would have to guide them to the city. The city, once called Emege, according to Willow was under repair thanks to the builder drones, or building bots.

Willow and Oz had gone back a few times to check on progress and discover the inner workings of the city. Apparently, it hadn't had battery crystals like Lemuria. Instead, its shields had been powered by geo-thermal power. However, the shields couldn't be used all the time, or else a super volcano eruption would happen and that would be a bad thing. So, it was a good thing they'd set up their shield-cloak with its own battery crystals.

In time the city would be restored and they'd have another place to take refugees. Or the Athosians if they wanted to go home. Willow had left a few white capsules at Emege for future defense, and there were a couple of landing areas for battle ships. So, at some point they might leave a war ship of their own there. Just so it would be ready and waiting for action.

xxx

Xander looked up from the reports he was going over because an agitated Peter Hale was standing in the doorway of his office. “Peter? How did it go?”

Peter made a face and started pacing the width of his office. Team 3, Peter's team, had been on a first contact mission. “Not well, and it’s not worth going back there.”

“Can I ask why?”

Peter kept pacing. “There's a man there who keeps his entire village drugged to adore him. He tried to make a play for Rhonda.”

Xander felt his jaw drop a bit before he snapped out of it. “He's got the entire town roofied?”

“And several wives.” Peter snarled.

“And he wanted Rhonda to be a wife?” Xander asked. “And how did Rhonda react?”

Peter stopped pacing and smirked. “She knocked him out.” He shrugged. “Then we had to run from the villagers to keep from hurting anyone.”

“Okay then. Mark it as unfriendly in the computer and we won't go back.”

The door slid open and Mike came in. “I'm on my way to Wendell's lab with a sample of the drug Lucius was using.” He held up a little bottle with a stopper. “That way we can make an antidote in case we find someone else using it.”

“Lucius is the roofie guy?” Xander asked.

“Yep.”

Willow nearly knocked Mike down when she burst into the office too. “You're sending people back there, right?”

“No?” Xander told her, wondering why he would.

“Xander!” Her tone was pure outrage. “What he's done is worse than the love spell you did.”

Ouch. “I agree, but we have our hands full with the Wraith. We still need to see if we can take out some more hive ships.”

“Xander.”

“Our job is saving humans from monsters, not saving humans from other humans.”

“This Lucius guy sounds pretty monstrous to me.” Willow huffed.

“Not really.” Peter told her. “He was obnoxious and annoying, but not a monster.”

“And what about all his drugged wives?” Willow asked him.

“If you want, I can go back and snap his neck.” Peter offered. “He is technically a rapist and I wouldn't have a problem with killing him.”

Willow paled. “I don't want you to kill him.”

“Willow.” Xander met her eyes. “I know it’s bad, but the Wraith are a bigger threat, to all of us.” She whirled and stomped out of his office. Xander wondered how long she'd give him the silent treatment.

Mike shrugged. “I get why she's mad, but we don't know how long Lucius has been drugging people. Even if Peter went back and killed him...I don't know what going cold turkey would do to them.”

“So, for now we do nothing.” Xander told him. “No snapping of necks Peter.”

“Yes Alpha.” Though he didn't sound happy about it.

xxx

Poisoning the Well

For a while now they had been hearing whispers of strangers living in the ancient city of Atlantis. Newcomers to their stars, stranded, much like they had been five years ago. None of their exploration teams had come across them, but then they only had six teams. The whispers and rumors they'd heard didn't give away much information...but the timing had to mean something.

The newcomers were probably the ones that woke up the Wraith, the dummies.

“Xander.”

Xander blinked, shaken from his thoughts because Willow had said his name. Willow was talking to him again? Really? “I'm sorry, were you addressing me?” His tone was a mix of sarcastic and incredulous.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes...and while I don't like your decision...you have a point.”

“Cool. So, what's up?”

“My Furling isn't as good as yours.” Which was a big thing for her to admit. “Can you translate the description of this planet in the database?”

Xander leaned over her shoulder to look at the screen. “Alteran experiment gone wrong. They were idiots who made brand new monsters. Do not engage.”

She elbowed him and they really were fine again. “Xander!” Especially when she sounded that exasperated at him.

“Well, that's not a direct translation, but that is basically what it says.” He insisted.

She looked closer at the text. “Should we check it out?”

He gently thumped her shoulder. “Did you not hear what I read?”

Willow scoffed. “What kind of monsters could the Alterans have made?”

“Something very advanced that got away from them I bet.” He told her. “Could be a sentient virus. A race of vengeful mutants. Or killer robots. We're not going.”

xxx

Underground

Kyle had come back from his trade meeting with the Manarians and had asked Xander to meet him in the infirmary. Xander got there pretty quickly, Chris was still giving Kyle's team their return checkup.

“What's up?” He asked, glad to see there were no injuries among them.

Kyle put his shirt back on and joined Xander in the hall while Blayne took his place on the examination table. “Something funky, lets walk.”

They walked a bit until they were on a balcony and totally alone. “Kyle? Do I need to start freaking out? Or making battle plans?”

“I'm not sure.” Well, that wasn't comforting. “We saw a group of men in military clothing...but they weren't Genii.”

“Okay...?”

“Xander, they had American flags on their shoulders.” Oh. “And the guns they carried, straight out of any action movie.”

“Huh.” That was...well he wasn't sure what that was.

He leveled a look that was almost accusing at Xander. “I thought we were in a different universe or dimension.” Kyle said.

“Buddy we all thought that, I mean...portals to other worlds. Space vampires. Assuming we were in some weird hell dimension was a logical conclusion.” Xander shook his head. “They've got to be the people living in Atlantis.”

He nodded in agreement. “So, what do you want to do?” Kyle asked.

Xander didn't bother to hide a scowl. “They probably woke up the Wraith...so that makes me cautious. We'll keep our distance for now. Besides, they could be from an entirely different Earth.”

“I hadn't thought about that. Multiple Earths. Freaky.”

xxx

Teyla stepped out of the jumper and waved to Miller before he closed the back hatch. He was going to come back for her in a couple of days. She watched the jumper head back to the city for a moment before turning toward Halling's home.

“Halling,” She called out. “It is Teyla.”

“Enter.”

She ducked into her friend's home with a smile. “Jinto is not here?”

“He's playing with Wex. You have news?” He asked her.

“I do.”

“Please, sit.” Halling gestured toward his table. “I have prepared some tea.”

Teyla sat and waited until Halling had served them both tea and was sitting across from her. She took a sip, and then put the cup down. “I took Major Sheppard and the others to the Genii home world for trade.”

Halling frowned. “Things did not go well?”

“No, they did not.” She admitted.

“Worse than when you introduced Xander to them?” He asked.

“Much worse.” She looked her old friend in the eye. “The Genii are not who they appear to be. They are much more advanced than us, they are not the simple farmers they have always portrayed themselves to be.”

“Are they still our friends and trading partners?”

“No, they are not. The Genii are not to be trusted anymore.”

Halling shook his head. “That is most disheartening.” He stared at his tea for a long moment before meeting her eyes again. “Do you think the people of Sunny have not returned because of something the Genii have done?”

“I fear it is a real possibility.”

Halling's fists tightened around his cup. “I see.”

Teyla reached out to him and put a hand on his arm. “You miss Harmony, you worry and fear for her.”

His eyes grew wet and his smile was sad. “Had she and Xander not been lovers I would have asked to court her.”

“Do not give up hope Halling. Perhaps you will see her again someday.”

“I can certainly hope.”

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 1875

XXX

The Storm, The Eye

Hogan's team, consisting of Larry, Lance, and Laura came back from the Manarians with odd news. Apparently the Manarians had taken in the entire population of Atlantis for some reason or other. Larry thought he heard someone say something about a storm, but it was only a rumor.

Hogan had only caught a glimpse of them, and Kyle had been right. They all had flag patches on their uniforms. Some American, some Canadian, England, and a bunch of others. Whatever they were, from their Earth or another, they were an international group. Anyway, they were all on edge.

Days later they found out that Acastus Kolya of the Genii had tried to take Atlantis from the current Lanteans. The Genii lost, and badly. All because of a man named Major John Sheppard.

As Xander heard this he grinned. “So, the Genii got their butts kicked?”

“The Genii are super pissed.” Hogan told him. “Sheppard killed a lot of them by turning on a shield they have on their portal.”

Xander could picture it pretty well, they had two shields on their own portal. “Bugs on a windshield. How many?”

“Like sixty maybe.” Hogan shrugged. “That might be exaggerated, but the rodent guy who leads the Manarian traders is the one who betrayed Atlantis to the Genii.”

Well, that was both good and bad, but sometimes you just had to take what you could get. Xander shook his head. “I really want to meet this Sheppard guy.”

“We all have a little hero worship going on I think.” Hogan agreed. “But what do you want us to do about the Manarians?”

That was easy. “We stop trading with them, as of now. Just in case they try to turn us over to the Genii.”

“Better make an announcement.” Hogan suggested.

“Yeah, yeah I better.”

xxx

Hoff was a weird place. They kept their portal under guard, so they always knew when visitors, traders or the Wraith showed up. Which was fine, smart even, in fact Xander approved of that procedure wholeheartedly.

They had guns, though they were less advanced than the Genii. Their city looked like something out of an Earth text book, they were in the beginning of an industrial age. They had rebuilt their civilization over and over between the major cullings, but they were never allowed to reach their 'full potential'. Chancellor Druhin's words, not Xander's.

The thing that made Hoff weird, was the apparent pandemic going on. Xander had gotten close enough to one of the infected to catch their scent. It was unlike any sickness he'd ever smelled. It was worrisome...or at least a normal person would be worried. But not the Chancellor.

This pandemic, Druhin didn't seem worried about it, at all. That was a huge red flag. Instead, the Chancellor kept trying to push a miracle drug on Xander, claiming it was a cure against the Wraith.

Xander looked at the stoppered vile, he could smell the liquid inside and it set his teeth on edge. “I told you sir; we're not interested in any drug you have.”

“You don't understand Mr. Lavelle. This drug is the future of all humans. Those that take it, can't be fed upon by the Wraith.”

Something...didn't feel right about that...the pieces of the puzzle were starting to slip into place. “And you've tested this? You know for sure that the Wraith can't feed on anyone who takes it? When the Wraith haven't been here for over a hundred years?”

“We have preserved some samples of Wraith cells from the last culling. Our formula works. We don't want to trade it; we want to give it to everyone.”

Xander stared at the Chancellor, something he said wasn't quite true. He tilted his head and listened closely as he asked, “What's killing your people?”

Druhin sighed. “The drug.”

Holy crap. “How many does it kill?”

“Half of those who take it die, but the other half are immune to the Wraith, and it kills the Wraith who try to feed from them.”

Sweet Zombie Jesus. “And you wanted me to give this to my people.” He just barely held his rage in check, it wouldn't do to let his eyes turn red. “Were you going to tell me how many it would kill.”

“Of course, I assumed you would want all the facts.”

“And now I have them.” Xander told him. “And I don't want your death serum.”

Druhin frowned. “Perhaps if there was another I could talk too. An elder among your people.”

“I am the sole leader of my people, and we do not want your drug.” He stepped out of the meeting room to find Amber and Roh in the hall right where he'd left them. “Radio the others, it’s time to-” He stopped and listened because he could hear Carly and Joyce coming toward them, at a frantic pace.

They rounded a corner, both looking concerned and Carly announced, “We need to leave. Now.”

“What happened?”

“One of their doctors injected me with something.” Joyce told him. “I don't know what.”

He turned to glare at Druhin who looked upset. “I'm sorry, he should not have done that without permission.”

Xander shook his head. “We're leaving.”

“Please, stop.” Druhin said and two soldiers barred their way. Roh knocked one soldier down and carefully rested his jaws around the man's throat, waiting for orders. Xander took the gun from the other soldier and bent it in half before giving it back to him. Druhin was looking at them in horror now. “What are you?”

“Unlike you, we're not monsters.” Xander snorted. “And we're never coming back here.”

No one else gave them trouble on the way back to the portal and they went back to Lemuria without any further incidents. The moment they were through Willow gave them a look.

“What happened?”

“I'll give a full report later Wills, but right now I want you to lock out the Hoff address, we won't be going back.”

“That bad?”

“That depends on whether Joyce dies or not, I'll let you know.”

She gave him wide eyes but nodded. “Consider it done.”

xxx

Chris and Wendell ran Joyce's blood work and every test they could think of. Joyce turned out to be one of the unlucky ones because she started getting sick in just a few hours.

“What can you tell me Chris?” Xander asked, watching Joyce worriedly from across the infirmary.

Chris shook his head. “I would need weeks to study this...death serum as you called it. Starting with an actual sample. Not to mention some Wraith cells.”

“Sorry, we didn't get a sample. The mad scientist who jabbed her didn't leave any in the syringe.”

He sighed, but didn't look happy. “I understand, but without a sample there's not much I can do.”

“And Joyce?”

Chris shook his head. “All I can tell you is that she's getting worse by the hour and at this point she won't last a day. This is going to kill her.”

Xander staggered a bit and leaned against the nearest wall. Chris put a hand on his shoulder and Xander gripped it tight. It seemed so wrong that Joyce would fall to a man-made illness. A casualty of biological warfare. Oh god, she'd be the first death, the first person they lost.

Joyce wheezed from her hospital bed and motioned Xander closer. For a second, he couldn't move, Chris had to tug him toward her. He felt bad when he saw the bruise on Chris' arm and healed him quickly before finally going to Joyce. “Hey Mrs. Summers.” God, he sounded sixteen again.

“Give me—the bite.” She coughed. “Please.” Wow, he was a dumbass. Had he really forgotten making her a werewolf was an option.

He had no argument, so he raised her hospital gown and bit her side. Then all he could do was wait while he held her hand. In less than an hour she turned an interesting shade of green. Chris, clever man that he was had a bucket ready and got to her just in time to catch the puke.

Xander had never seen such puke. It was an inky black sludge and smelled horrible, and there was a lot of it. The bucket was almost half full by the time she was done and collapsed back on her bed in exhaustion.

Carefully Chris wiped the sludge from her mouth and chin, then got her some water to rinse with. After that, she fell asleep and didn't seem to need her pain taken anymore.

“The hell was that?” Xander asked, eyes wide.

“According to Peter, werewolves can eject certain...toxins from their body like that. She should be alright now. Her eyes were starting to glow gold before she fell asleep.”

“I saw that.” And he had.

The door slid open and Buffy quietly stalked into the room, her body nearly vibrated with controlled rage. “Can I go to Hoff and wreak some havoc?”

“No, we already locked it out.” He told her. “None of ours are going back there.”

“Spoil my fun.” Her voice was a scary and eerie tone he'd never heard from her before.

“Buffy, that drug they made? It’s a weapon.” He said, his own voice low. “Don't worry, the Wraith will wipe them out soon enough.”

“And my mom?”

Chris smiled, somehow oblivious to what was brewing within their slayer. “She'll be okay Buffy. She threw up all of the drug and she's sleeping now. And as you know, wolves are pretty hearty.”

She nodded and leaned her head on Xander's shoulder. “Thank you, both of you.”

“You're welcome.” Xander replied.

“I didn't do much but make her comfortable.” Chris reminded them.

“Not everyone can catch and hold a bucket of black puke Chris. You are today's MVP, trust me.”

“Definitely.” Buffy agreed.

Chris blushed but didn't hold back a smile. “Thanks.” He went back to check on Joyce.

“You're sure I can't go to Hoff and break a few mad scientists?” Buffy asked.

“I'm sure.” Then he had a chilling thought. “Don't go there from some other portal either.” She grew so still then that he knew she'd been thinking of doing just that. “Promise me.”

“I promise.” Xander relaxed when he heard only truth in her words. Thank God. Damn. He'd have to extract the same promise from Dawn. There was no telling what the young witch would do to someone who had almost killed her mom.

“Better go find Dawn, keep her from doing something stupid.”

“What if I don't want to?” Buffy asked.

“You really want all those deaths on your little sister’s hands?” Xander asked her.

“No.” She sighed. “I'll find her...better take Claudia with me huh?”

“Might be a good idea.”

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 1514

A/N: I don't know how the chapters ended up so damn short. :grumbles:

XXX

The Defiant One

“Xander to the control room please.”

Xander gave a puzzled look upward where the hidden speakers were and wondered why Willow wanted him in the control room. He tapped his communicator, a Celtic type knot on a chain as he headed to a transporter. “What's up Wills?”

“Just a development.” Her voice was softer now, coming through the comm. “Thought you might want to know about it.”

He selected the control room on the map and a moment later he was stepping into the hall right outside of it. Willow was at the screen with their deep space radar on display. “Okay, I'm here.”

“There's a ship at the Alteran Weapon satellite.”

Xander frowned. “That big thing you fixed and then left alone?”

“Yep.”

“What kind of ship? Not a Wraith I bet, since they'd have no interest in something that hasn't worked in 10,000 years.”

“It’s a small ship...not as small as a scout ship and it’s docked with the satellite.” She told him; voice thoughtful. “It seems to fit perfectly, so no, definitely not a Wraith ship.”

Oh. “So, you're thinking it’s an Alteran ship, one that was made to dock with the satellite.”

“Bingo.”

“Huh. Alteran ship. Alteran satellite. How much you wanna bet it’s the newbies checking it out?” He grinned.

“I wouldn't bet against it.” She looked eager, excited.

Hmm. “You don't want to go meet them, do you?”

“No! I mean you gave the caution order, and I agree with it. I just really wanna see if they'll make any changes or anything.”

“You left a battery crystal there, right?”

“Uh. Yeah?”

“Hmm. Better hope they're friendly then.”

She blushed, embarrassed. “Oops.”

xxx

McKay was the first to go into the Lagrangian Point satellite. He entered with a space suit on to make sure there was life support. It didn't take him long to get their attention over the radio. “This doesn't make any sense.”

“What doesn't make sense McKay?” John asked him.

“There's power, like life support is functional. It’s been sitting here for thousands of years it shouldn't be working at all, but we've got air and gravity.”

“So, we can join you.” John said.

“Yes, yes.”

“Good, be there shortly.” He looked back at Doctors Brendan Gall and Paul Abrams. “Better put the jumpsuits on, even with life support its going to be a bit cool.”

They went down the ladder one at a time and joined McKay at the bottom where he was tapping at a screen. Gall and Abrams were fascinated and Gall immediately peered around McKay. “So it’s just been sitting here on standby for 10,000 years?”

“No.” McKay shook his head. “Someone’s been here.”

John frowned. “Like, recently?”

“Within the last few years actually.” McKay told them.

Abrams started poking at another screen. “The logs say that someone did repair work four years ago.”

Gall looked a little pale at that. “So, we aren't the first to find this satellite. Why doesn't that sound good?”

“They may have fixed it, but they didn't activate it which doesn't make any sense.” McKay grumbled and nearly tripped over a shiny metal case. “Ow.”

“Whoever, whatever, fixed it might be planning to come back.” John commented. “What did you find?”

McKay opened the case. “Oh my.”

John moved closer and felt his jaw drop a little. “Is that a-”

Gall beat him to the punch. “It’s a ZPM.”

“Why does it look different?” Abrams asked.

Rodney, however, was in his own world, he'd taken the ZPM...thing out of the padded case and was examining it closely. “It’s too different, the coloring is all wrong.”

Gall shook his head. “It’s got to be a ZPM, what else could it be?”

“I think it’s someone else's version of a ZPM.”

Abrams didn't seem to agree. “So, someone besides the Ancients made it?”

“That's my guess...though why they left it here doesn't make sense.”

“You're saying that a lot.” John commented. “Couldn't they have left it here to power the satellite?”

Gall shook his head. “No, the satellite doesn't need that kind of power requirement. The naquadah generator we brought is enough to supply the weapon system here.”

Huh. “So does that mean we're taking the knock-off ZPM back to Atlantis?”

“That's exactly what it means Major.” McKay closed the case and latched it. “Whoever left this here must have an abundance of these, otherwise they wouldn't have left it here at all.”

“Makes sense.” Abrams said, and John had to agree, but he wondered who was advanced enough to make their own ZPM. They were still around, or had to be to leave the power source at the satellite.

xxx

Willow waited an hour after the tiny ship left the weapons satellite before she hopped in a war ship, The Mad Dog, with a skeleton crew to check it out. Oz was her pilot, though Willow used a capsule to actually dock with the satellite.

She reported later that whoever had been there had taken the battery crystal, but left behind some kind of generator. She ran a few tests, but left it there.

xxx

“Well gentlemen, what is it?” Elizabeth Weir asked as she stepped into McKay and Zelenka's lab. “Is it a ZPM?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

The two scientists glared at each other and John rolled his eyes. “Well boys, which is it? Yes or no?”

McKay shook his head. “It’s a power source and it might be compatible with ancient technology, but it’s not a ZPM.”

Zelenka disagreed. “It is essentially the same.”

“There are differences.” McKay insisted.

“True, but not enough to matter.” It was starting to be like watching a tennis match.

Elizabeth frowned at them. “What kind of differences are we talking about?”

McKay snapped his fingers. “Say a ZPM is a can of Coca Cola and this,” he gestured to the gold, blue and red crystal. “This is like a Dr Pepper.”

“Close enough that it doesn't matter.” Zelenka repeated.

“Well.” John said. “That depends on which drink you prefer.”

They all stared at him a moment but he shrugged and Elizabeth asked; “Can it power our shield?”

“Yes.” At least they agreed on something.

“Good, then get ready to test it.” Elizabeth said. “When the Wraith come it would be nice to have a defense.”

xxx

When Willow came back from her self-appointed mission Xander met her just outside the transporter as she re-entered the city. “I'm surprised you didn't grab their generator.”

“Well.” She shrugged as they walked. “What if they need it? I mean, if they use the satellite to take out some Wraith, they'll need a power source.”

“Which you left there the first time.” He reminded her. “And they scampered off with it like proud little foraging squirrels.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but Xander, the battery crystal was really too much for it. It might have overloaded the system and blew it.”

“That the only reason?” Xander asked her, he knew his oldest friend well, and knew there was something else.

“Just because I could fix the satellite doesn't mean I trust my ability to actually use it. There are some differences between Alteran and Furling tech...and I wasn't ready to risk my life to try and mesh them.”

“Ah.” Okay then. “Well, I'm just glad you brought the Mad Dog back in one piece.”

She rolled her eyes. “I still can't believe you named it for an A-Team character.”

“Mad Dog Murdoch is awesome.”

xxx

“And... now!” Rodney grinned as the not-quite-ZPM lit up and slid into place. “What's the shield status?”

Zelenka's voice came over the comm. “Shield is up and running at full power.”

Rodney wanted to sink to the floor in relief, they were all going to sleep a little easier with the shield to fall back on. “I don't think we should run it all the time though. We have no idea how long this power source will last.”

“I agree.” Elizabeth's said. “So, take it out, we'll save it for an emergency.”

“Will do.” He deactivated the...power crystal and put it back in its case. He was still glad to have it, even if it wasn't really a ZPM. But who made it? Who in this galaxy had technology to rival the Ancients? Besides the Wraith, and there was no way the power crystal was Wraith technology. It was too...pretty.

“Hurry up McKay.” Major Sheppard called from the corridor. “Elizabeth wants that new toy locked up and safe.”

He rolled his eyes and picked up the case. “Lead the way, Major.”

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 2573

A/N: Radek and Chuck had one interaction. Then I made it a thing. I don't know what happened? o_O;;

XXX

Brotherhood

“I don't know what happened, it just stopped working.” Chuck insisted. “I got some of the functionality back, it still isn't doing everything it used to.”

Radek huffed at the other man in annoyance as he crawled out from under the console, doing his best not to bump the younger man's legs. “Yes, well if someone wouldn't insist on having food and drink around the 10,000-year-old equipment...”

Chuck glared at him over the rim of his cup. “We're very careful, we're not the problem here.”

Their eyes met and Radek scoffed. “Ah, yes.” Chuck peered at the laptop screen with a worried look and he let the technician worry. Then he sighed and got to his feet to check on another control set. When he looked up at the screen it had changed to something entirely new. “What did you touch?”

“Nothing.” Chuck's fingertips carefully moved away from Radek's laptop, and Radek ignored how beautiful his hands were. The fingers were absolutely graceful and he could probably wax poetic on them for hours if the silly young man hadn't broken anything. “I didn't touch anything.”

Radek cursed and zipped back over to his laptop, while Chuck sat back hands in the air and thankfully, he'd put his cup down. He shook his head. “Why is it-?” They both turned to gaze at the screen behind them and Radek looked at it not knowing what he was seeing. “What is this?”

xxx

“I didn't even know we had deep space sensors.” Elizabeth said as they walked through a corridor. Radek had pretty much grabbed a tablet and raced out of the control room once he'd figured out what was showing on their screens. Elizabeth needed to know what was going on.

“No one did.” Radek assured her. “From what I can tell, they've been running in the background with our other primary systems.” Which meant Chuck hadn't done anything after all and he owed the young man an apology.

“So they've been running all this time.”

“Yes.” He confirmed.

“So why the jump to the foreground?”

“That's an excellent question.” Radek admitted.

“Which we don't have an answer for yet?”

“Not as yet, no.”

She nodded. “Okay, well, keep me in the loop.”

He gave a little laugh. “You are the loop.” She was, she was in charge after all.

“That's a nice thing to say.” She said, and he nodded, his own mind back in the control room on a certain young man in need of an apology. “You can continue to walk with me if you want Radek, but if there's something you need to do?”

“Oh, yes.” He started to leave her side, but she called him back.

“Radek.”

“Hmm?”

“When things aren't dire you should take a coffee break with Chuck.”

He blinked at her trying to puzzle that out. “He's been drinking coffee all day at the consoles.”

“My mistake.” But she smiled at him. “Don't let me keep you.”

“Yes, of course.” And this time he left her, but as he walked away it clicked. Elizabeth had noticed. She'd noticed him noticing Chuck's graceful hands. He cursed again under his breath. Still, once he was back in the control room he did apologize to Chuck, and was happy to see there were no cups of liquid near any of the consoles. Good.

“I wanted to apologize.” Radek said and glanced at the younger man. Really, the name 'Chuck' didn't do him justice. He was far too pretty with those graceful hands to be a 'Chuck'. “I'm sorry.”

Chuck nodded. “It’s okay...and we won't do it so much just as long as you know that we're always very careful.”

“I know zlatíčko*, and I am still sorry.” Chuck gave him a cute and confused look, but nodded. Well, that was that.

xxx

Hours later Radek was still folded up under the main console with a laptop trying to interface with the long-range sensors. It still wasn't working though and he kept muttering under his breath and rubbing his eyes.

A foot gently tapped his knee and he peered up to see Chuck watching him with worried eyes. “I'm about to go off shift.”

“Yes?”

“You've been on longer than I have. You should clock out, get some sleep. The sensors will still be there in the morning.”

“Yes, yes they will, but something had to have triggered them to bring them to the forefront.”

“And if you're about to fall asleep anyway, wouldn't you rest better in a bed?”

Chuck had a point, so Radek sighed and conceded defeat. He wiggled out from under the console, which made Chuck's eyes go especially round and wide. “Alright, I will get some sleep.”

“When did you last eat?”

He blinked at the younger man. “I do not know.”

“So, let’s get a bite to eat before we turn in.” Chuck's cheeks reddened. “Uh, I mean.”

Radek smiled. “I think that we are both very tired, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Then we will clock out, and get something to eat.”

“Okay.”

xxx

Radek awoke hours later in a shadowed room, on a bed not his own, soft hair tickled his chin. They were still fully clothed, there had been no mad scramble of passion. Just two very tired men who needed sleep and comfort.

He couldn't quite see and reached for his glasses, that didn't change the shadows or his circumstances. Chuck's head was on his chest, using him for a pillow. Hmm. He wasn't quite sure how he ended up here, he remembered the mess was about to close, so they had gotten a couple of MREs...and he supposed they'd eaten them. He didn't really remember laying down on the bed though, they must have been very tired.

“You awake?”

“Yes.”

Chuck shifted but didn't lift his head. “What does zlatíčko mean?”

“Little gold.”

“Why did you call me that?”

Radek thought about some non-committal answer...but they were alone in the Pegasus galaxy. Nothing was certain. Nothing was permanent, and they still didn't know what had set off the damned deep space sensors. “Despite your sometimes disregard of liquid around ancient systems-”

“Radek.” He'd never heard his name said with such fond exasperation before. “I didn't spill coffee on the consoles.”

He smiled and reached for one of Chuck's hands and held it up with his own. “I could watch your hands for hours. They are the hands of an artist, graceful, beautiful. How on Earth did you come to be named Chuck?”

“Charles. Chuck is just what everyone calls me.”

“Well, I think I prefer Charles, if that is alright with you.”

Chuck...Charles interlaced his fingers with Radek's. “I'd be fine with that...so what is this?”

“Whatever we make it. Whatever we have time for.”

“You're thinking about the Deep Space Sensors.”

“I am. I worry. Something had to have set them off.”

Charles nodded and moved and Radek felt warm lips press against his jaw and he closed his eyes at the simple but profound bliss. “Then go back to your quarters, shower, and then meet me for breakfast in the mess? Then you can go back to the sensors.”

“Thank you zlatíčko.”

xxx

Radek didn't figure out what was going on with the sensors until that evening. Despite the fact that Chuck...Charles had stopped by with food and water at lunch time, and then coffee later in the afternoon. The small breaks kept him sane and energized, but when he finally got what he needed to know...his blood nearly turned to ice in his veins.

He immediately set out to find Elizabeth. Luckily, she was close at hand on a balcony outside the control room. “Dr. Weir. Dr. Weir!”

She turned to face him, frowning at how worried he sounded. “Dr. Zelenka?”

“I was finally able to interface our computers with the Lantean long range sensors-”

For the briefest moment her face lightened. “Excellent.”

Not really. “There's an unidentified craft headed toward the city about the size of a Wraith dart.”

“What?” She was already on the move and he followed her back inside.

“I'm sorry, the sensors picked it up days ago, but it’s taken me until now to decipher what they've been trying to tell us.” He managed to get to the console first and sat down in front of his laptop.

“A Wraith dart? How?”

“It may have been modified to get here as quickly as possible. Though that's only a theory.”

“Any hive ships are light years away, how did it get here?”

“Well.” He thought for a second. “It could have used a neighboring Stargate and been flying toward us at maximum speed.” Radek pushed a button for the most current readings. “At its current velocity, it'll be here in 27 minutes.”

She looked at him and they shared a second of private horror. “We need to get jumpers in the air.” Elizabeth turned and strode out of the control room, hand going to her com, most likely to contact Sargent Bates.

Charles looked over at him from his own console and they shared a moment. Not quite fear, but of charged expectation. They were in Pegasus, anything could happen, time should not be wasted. Radek would make sure that it wasn't.

xxx

When she came back Elizabeth stopped by Charles’s console first, then went on to Radek. “I've got the general population confined to their quarters; we'll just have to hope they're out of harm's way.

“Any word from Shepard?” Radek asked.

“No, his entire team is off radio.”

He sighed. “It’s still closing in very fast.” He noticed that she was starting to step away again. “Who are we going to get to fly the third jumper?”

“Odds on Becket.” Charles answered.

Radek managed a small smile. “He won't like that.” Then he had a thought. “Elizabeth, we should get the shield up, we have no idea what the Wraith dart will do.”

“Do it.”

“Jumper two is away, all three are out.” Charles announced.

“Good luck Carson.” Elizabeth said.

“Thanks, I'll need it.”

They all kept an eye on their screens and Radek fiddled with his com. “You should have visual in thirty seconds.”

“I know the shield is up and running.” Charles murmured. “And a single ship shouldn't hurt us...but...”

“I know.”

Bates voice came over the radio suddenly. “Markham and Smith have been taken out.”

Radek and Charles shared a terrified look, then Carson's voice came over the air. “It’s headed toward the city!”

“What's it doing?” Elizabeth asked.

Radek frowned. “It’s scanning us.”

“It can do that? Through the shield?”

He looked closely at his screen. “Not well. If it were trying to beam people out the shield would be blocking it entirely. It could be because the power source wasn't made to be used by Lantean technology.”

“But it will still stop an attack?”

“Yes.”

“Atlantis, we have a kill.” Bates told them.

“Good news jumper two, now head on-”

Another voice filled the radio waves. “Someone wanna come fish me out of the drink?”

They all froze and Elizabeth asked in a hopeful voice. “Markham?”

“Yes Ma'am, I'm here.”

Radek breathed a little easier and saw Charles outright grinning at the news. Elizabeth leaned against his chair and sighed. “What's your status?”

“Alive, cold, wet.”

“And Smith?”

“No sign of him.” Markham sounded as upset as they had been. “I'm looking at the life signs detector and all I see is me.”

“Understood. Bates, Beckett, bring Markham home.”

xxx

They were about to leave Kolya in the hidden chamber when Teyla knelt before him and met his eyes. “What do you want Teyla Emagen?”

“Teyla come on.” Sheppard called out to her.

“Two years ago, my people lost contact with the Survivors of Sunny.”

Koyla gave her an amused look. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Did you do something to Xander LaVelle's people?”

He didn't give her the answer she wanted. “You should ask Cowen. He's the one that wanted their beasts of burden.”

She gritted her teeth, but held back her anger. “The Genii killed them because they would not trade with you?”

Kolya smirked. “Ask Cowen.”

They lost the ZPM to the new brotherhood. It was a loss they hadn't wanted, but at least they still had the nifty knock-off back in Atlantis. What actually had John more worried, was Teyla's attitude after questioning Kolya.

“What was all that with Kolya?”

“Yeah, you seemed really pissed about it.” Ford commented.

“A few years ago, strangers came to Athos. Much like you did. Like my people they were hunters looking to trade. The scout I met first, her name was Buffy, she introduced me to her leader. Xander LaVelle.”

“You called them the Survivors of Sunny?” Rodney asked.

“Their home world was called Sunny, and it was destroyed during a battle.” She told them. “They had to find a new home and make new friends.”

Ford piped up then. “And you introduced them to the Genii.”

She nodded. “Their trade talks did not go well. Xander offered manpower in exchange for part of the harvest. He and his people were willing to help clear land, plant new crops and take in the harvest.”

“Well, that's perfectly reasonable, anybody would be an idiot to turn down a deal like that.” Rodney muttered.

“Cowen would not trade.” Teyla said.

John snorted. “Sounds familiar.”

“Doesn't it.” Rodney added.

“Like you, Xander had something Cowen wanted.”

“I'm guessing it wasn't C4?” Rodney asked.

“No. Xander's people have beasts of burden called wolves and they are very strong. Just two of them harnessed to a three-hundred-year-old stump could uproot it.”

“Wow.” Ford said. “We have wolves on Earth, but I don't think they're that strong.”

“They're also not domesticated.” Rodney said.

John was shaking his head. “Cowen wanted the wolves in trade and Xander wouldn't deal.”

“He would not.” Teyla smiled at the memory. “He wished Cowen good day, apologized for wasting his time. And then we left.”

“You never heard from them again?” Rodney asked.

“Not right away, but two years ago, they stopped coming to trade.”

Ford moved a bit closer, and smiled at her sadly. “Were you and this Xander close?”

She smiled back. “We were not courting, Xander is younger than you Aiden.”

John frowned. “And he's the leader of his people?”

“Since he was 17. They are not like the children we met before. There are elders among them. Including Buffy's mother. However...”

“However?” John asked.

“A young woman named Harmony was quite fond of Jinto and Halling. They miss her.”

XXX

*Little gold – Its apparently a common term of endearment.

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 2288

XXX

“Xander.” Xander froze for a second, wondering why Willow was calling him on the intercom instead of his personal comm. “Xander come to the control room, now.” And that was her frantic voice.

He tapped his communicator, and still got a little thrill at the sheer Star Trek-ness of it. “On my way.” Then he ran all the way to the control room, because it was never good when she used her frantic voice. “What's up Wills?” Xander asked her as he dashed into the control room.

“Deep Space sensors picked something up.” She showed him the screen. “Three Wraith Hive ships are on the move.”

Xander blinked and stared at the screen and felt horror bloom in his chest. “Like, together?”

“Yeah.”

“That's a new behavior...they must have a specific goal in mind.”

“Definitely.” She expanded the view. “They're making short jumps, going into hyperspace and then stopping along the way at different planets.”

The horror in his chest expanded and he felt the blood drain from his face. “Pit stops to refill their pantry. Where's their final destination?”

“I don't know that for certain, but they're going to make a stop in the same solar system where that big satellite is.”

“The weapons satellite above the planet only inhabited by the little glow-y things... where we met our first Wraith.”

“Yeah, but Xander, on the other side of the system is Lantea. The planet the Alterans parked Atlantis on. Or so our records show.”

Oh no. “The planet where Atlantis still is...where a group of humans are living now. Oh, for the love of-”

Buffy was suddenly looking over Willow's shoulder. “Hey, I know that planet.”

He glanced at her. “You can recognize it from here?”

She elbowed him. “That portal address Xan. One of the earlier stops.” Buffy told him. “We've traded with them before, Orin lives there.” He and Willow shared a confused look and Buffy rolled her eyes. “Orin and Teyla's father were friends. They're good people.” There was a bit of steel in her voice now.

“So, what do you want to do?” Xander asked.

“Maybe we can be in orbit and stop a few wraith, maybe save a few lives.” She looked up at him. “You're the one who said we save people from monsters.”

“Okay. We'll get a war ship and its capsules ready.”

xxx

They ended up taking the Beacon. The moment he sat in the pilot chair it greeted him like every other war ship, connecting itself to him, and the pack bonds. That still freaked him out, the near sentience of the war ships. The white capsules had less personality than the gold ones in the hangers on Lemuria, which was less distracting at least.

Beacon accepted its name happily as they ran a systems check and decided that they would be able to beam people up into the many den rooms on board. The crew checked in and they got ready to go. Xander was in the pilot chair, while Oz was in the weapons room in the other chair. Heidi, Amy and Jonathan were scattered about the bridge while Harmony and Joyce were in charge of the den rooms. Wendell was on standby in the infirmary.

Ready and waiting in the hanger were Buffy, Cordelia, Percy, Brecken and his wife Dior. There were more than five capsules in the hanger, but they were stretched thin as it was. Xander couldn't leave Lemuria or New Sunny unprotected, so this was the skeleton crew he'd chosen.

He accessed the intercom. “The sky is clear?” He asked.

Freddy's voice answered back. “Beacon, you have a go.”

Xander smiled, Willow's group must have already gone through the portal to the rendezvous point. “Beacon on the move.” And he took them into the air.

xxx

They came out of hyperspace above Orin's planet. The three hive ships were already there and Xander cloaked them the second they came out, then moved them to the other side of the planet. “Did they see us?” He asked.

“Well.” Heidi said. “They didn't shoot at us, so I guess they were too busy raiding the buffet.”

That was both good and bad. “Capsules ready?”

Buffy's voice came over the comms. “We're ready, open the door, but keep up the shield.”

“You got it.” Heidi assured her. “Good luck.”

“This is a rescue mission people.” Xander reminded them. “Do not engage the enemy if you can avoid it.”

“Roger that.” Buffy, Cordy, Percy, Brecken and Dior left the hanger in stealth mode and went down to the planet to start beaming people up into the capsules.

Xander took a breath. “I'm taking us low.”

“Shields are at full power, just in case you want to give the atmosphere a poke.” Amy grinned. “Don't want to burn up.”

Jono snorted. “Lots of life signs on the ground, human and wraith.”

“Show me.” Xander said, and the screen changed. “Which ones are the Wraith?”

“The green dots.” Jono told him.

“Okay, we don't want the green ones. Just like Jell-O.” He closed his eyes.

“What's wrong with green Jell-O?” Amy had to know.

“It tastes the way Windex smells.” Heidi informed her. “To a werewolf anyway.”

“Eww.”

Xander ignored their byplay and tried not to freak out that he could see the life signs in his head. Beacon was happy to oblige and the next thing he knew the first group of people were beamed into a den room. Harmony's voice came over the com. “We have about ten refugees here. Keep 'em coming.”

Xander did it again, getting a feel for the process. “Twenty here.” Joyce told him.

Buffy came over the comms. “I'm coming back with a full load; I'm beaming them into Den 1.”

“Ready.” Harmony answered.

“And... now.” Buffy told her. “Harm?”

“Safe and sound, carry on.”

“Guys!” Cordelia sounded excited. “I did a thing!”

Oh god, that wasn't what he wanted to hear in the middle of a mission. “What thing did you do?” He asked and beamed another group aboard.

“So apparently the Ancient Furlings found a way to beam people out of the Wraith ships' data thingies.”

“And you know this how?”

“I pushed a button at a wraith ship and now I've got six people on board.”

“Nice.” Xander grinned. “Hear that, guys? We can steal the cargo right out of their computers.” He closed his eyes and raised the Beacon up into orbit again. Then he focused on the hive ships...and looked. With Beacon's help he could see them. People cocooned. People screaming and crying as the Wraith dragged them into the storage areas.

He beamed as many as he could from the closest hive ship into all of the den rooms, the cafeteria and the personal quarters. It was enough to make him dizzy, queasy and weak. “Uh-oh. We might need to leave soon.”

Oz came over the comms. “Tried to do too much didn't you?”

“Yep. I'm gonna decloak for a second.” He warned them all. “Oz, blow that closest hive ship out of the sky, would you?”

“On it.” Xander decloaked and he felt a little stronger. A few of the smaller wraith ships started toward them. Then Oz's drones took out the hive ship he'd emptied. “Better cloak us again.”

Xander did, and didn't feel the dizziness this time, then moved the ship toward the other side of the planet again. “We better leave soon; we have a full load.”

“We're on our way.” Buffy told him.

“Dude.” Percy sounded annoyed. “You need to decloak again, because I can't tell where the ship is.”

“Use your wolf eyes Percy, you'll be able to see through the cloak.”

“Oh. Yeah, that's better. I'm in.”

“Doesn't help me very much.” Buffy told him.

“Put your capsule on auto pilot, you'll be guided in.”

“Oh, that works.”

Once all five capsules were back in the hanger Xander decloaked them and went into hyperspace. Amy's eyes were wide in worry. “We'll never get off that easy again.”

Heidi agreed. “Probably not.”

Xander rolled his eyes at them and turned on the intercom. “Attention passengers. My name is Xander LaVelle. I know you're scared, and this has probably been the worst day of your lives. But you are safe here on this ship. We can take you wherever you want to go, but I have to warn you that any world you know may not be safe from the Wraith. We do, however, have several sanctuaries set up all over the galaxy. We're going to take you to one now, you will be safe and we can plan from there.”

xxx

They took Beacon to Athos where Willow, Hogan and Tor were waiting for them. Hogan and Tor were medics now and followed Wendell's lead as they got any injured refugees set up in the hospital.

Everybody else had food and water and Xander marveled at all the people they'd managed to save. There were hundreds of them, no wonder he got dizzy, the Wraith were not gonna be happy. Good thing they blew up the ship after they emptied it.

He took a breath and got up on a table where they could all see him, and waited for quiet to settle over the room. “I'm Xander LaVelle. My people are the Survivors of Sunny.” There was recognition among the crowd. “Some of you may know us, we've traded with several worlds. Right now, we're on Athos, in what used to be the old ruins.” He gestured around the meeting room that was all shiny and new. “As you can see, we've repaired it. The city here is cloaked and shielded from the Wraith. You can stay here and maybe someday the Athosians will return to keep you company. However, some of you may be able to return home with our help.”

“How?” Someone asked. “The Wraith are everywhere.”

“They probably won't go back to recently culled worlds. We can help you rebuild, and give you the technology to hide.”

“These cloaks and shields?” Another person asked.

Xander nodded. “We can share that with you.”

“How did you get us off the ship?”

He smiled. “We didn't know we could do that until today.” Xander pointed to Cordelia. “Cordelia discovered that we could, so we did. It’s been a learning experience. I think tonight though, we should all rest, and in the morning decide what you want to do.”

“There are really sanctuaries you can take us to?”

“Yes.” He assured them. “We've been setting them up for years. We have several on Sateda, a world that was culled and devastated six years ago, but the survivors are rebuilding and the Wraith have no idea. There are other worlds with sanctuaries too. We'll talk again in the morning. For now, eat and rest. There are enough beds for everyone in the city.”

xxx

When he and Teyla got back to Atlantis Elizabeth looked concerned. “I thought I told you not to engage the Wraith.”

John glanced at Teyla, then gave Elizabeth his full attention. “We didn't. We just rescued a few people...it’s all we could do.”

“Well, someone did.” She told them. “There are two hive ships headed toward us now instead of three.”

“So, someone did us a favor?”

“So, it would seem. Teyla?”

Teyla shook her head. “I do not know of anyone who could destroy a Wraith ship.”

“Then we'll just have to hope they're on our side.” Elizabeth said, and John silently agreed.

xxx

They were in Radek's quarters this time, the remains of another shared meal on the desk. Honestly Radek was just happy it had not been military rations. Charles was in his arms again, half laying on top of him.

“Did you record a message to send to Earth?”

“I did. Entirely in my mother language, only then did Lieutenant Ford ask me if I had mentioned anything that required security clearance.”

“Did you?”

“I did, so then I had to record it again, only without mentioning how wondrous it was when the city rose from the ocean floor.”

“You mean how terrifying it was.” Charles countered.

“That too. I found I had a lot less to say.”

“You don't get along with your family very well?”

Radek gave a little shrug. “I am here and not there. I only really talk to an aunt of mine.”

“Things are strained in my family.” Charles admitted. “I don't really fit in.”

“So, you are in Atlantis.”

“Yes. Radek...there are two hive ships on the way...”

“Yes, there are.”

“But I'm not sure about starting something when one or both of us might die.” Charles hand clenched the material of Radek's shirt.

“We don't have to do anything more than this.” Radek put his hand over Charles'.

“On the other hand, I think emotions are already involved. If only you hadn't told me my hands were beautiful.”

Radek took one of those beautiful hands, untangled it from his shirt and kissed each knuckle. “So, what do you want to do?”

“Can I stay here tonight?”

“You can, and any night you want.”

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 3792

XXX

The Siege

Xander stayed with the refugees. He'd never had to play counselor before. Back in Sunnydale they all had shared experiences, shared trauma. All it took was a hand on a shoulder, cheek touching cheek or a hug. Or in extreme cases ice cream and puppy-piles. However, the people here, had been through so much, for generations, and he'd thought growing up on a hellmouth had been bad. But the adults in Sunnydale never wanted to see the bad all around them.

A couple of recon teams had gone from Lemuria to some of the addresses the refugees had given them. They didn't chance going through the gate, instead they each took a warship to see what was going on. So far, the prognosis was good, according to Peter. All of the recently culled planets they visited were quiet, and they'd even found a few survivors who had hidden in caves here and there.

Each team had deployed builder bots to repair damaged villages while the teams themselves set up cloak-shield generators to hide the settlements. It would take a couple of weeks for repairs to be done as the bots needed to be switched out so they could charge. Still, many were eager to return home, especially if they were finally going to be safe.

Those that were more mechanically inclined, or simply eager to learn were sitting around Willow so she could teach them how to use the cloak-shield generators. Just in case they needed to provide basic maintenance. She also gave them several communicators and the portal address of New Sunny. That way if they needed help, they could contact their settlement. The only thing Willow didn't do, was give them Lemuria's address...or give them weapons. Not just yet.

“Xander.” He looked toward Buffy, then carefully handed the baby he'd been holding back to its father. The little tyke had been injured and in too much pain to sleep. It had been a minor wound, but it had been keeping the baby awake, so Xander had healed him and taken his pain so he could finally rest.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” He stood and made his way to their resident slayer. “What's up Buff?”

She nodded to the man standing beside her, he was maybe Giles' age. “This is Uther, Orin's younger brother.”

“I can't thank you enough for saving us. For saving my family.” Uther said.

Xander shook his head. “I hate that we can't do more than sneak attack the Wraith, but there just aren't enough of us to do any more.”

“Same. Xander, Uther wants to move to New Sunny.”

“That's fine, besides, that way we can tell Teyla that his family is alright...if she's alive. Send them through the portal with Jono.”

“Will do.” Xander turned to go back to sit among the refugees and wobbled a bit. “Alpha.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Take it easy, and quit healing people. No one's gonna die from minor scrapes and you're no good to us if you're exhausted.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

So Xander sat down with a notebook, and took notes while he spoke to the people they'd saved. Among them were a few Satedans who had relocated after their home had been culled. Every single one of them asked to go back, to help others rebuild Sateda. Xander promised that they could, and that soon some of the smaller towns would be rebuilt and hidden.

Other people didn't want to go back to their worlds, and instead wanted to go to New Sunny. Which Xander was fine with, there was plenty of room, and it was time to make another settlement or two on New Sunny anyway.

They might just pull this off, and Xander smiled.

xxx

Since they currently had a lot more mouths to feed, they needed more supplies. Gwen and Owen had volunteered to go hunting by themselves on Jurassic World, or Planet Dino as it was sometimes called, for more meat. Their stores wouldn't go down immediately, as they'd been putting away food for emergencies, but there were hundreds of refugees now. They needed fresh meat.

They were in wolf form, their favorite way to hunt when they heard gunshots. They shared a glance and almost as one decided to run toward the noise. Owen knew they were both assuming it would be the Genii and neither were above spying on them or even extracting a little vengeance. Or at least gathering intel so Xander could extract some vengeance.

So it was easy to admit they were shocked to see Teyla Emmagan and two soldiers shooting at a T-Rex instead of the Genii. Another shared glance and they decided to distract the T-Rex. Owen howled first to draw the beast's attention to him, as a result Teyla stopped shooting and ordered the men to do the same.

“Stop!”

The T-Rex turned toward Owen, having heard wolf howls before and roared back. Gwen slipped up on its other side and nipped at a thigh before diving away. Back and forth they went until the T-Rex was forced to leave the area. The dinosaurs had witnessed the wolves hunting their world for five years. Even two wolves could give a T-Rex trouble, especially a younger one, like the one they'd just run off.

Teyla whistled, as she had witnessed Xander and others do a hundred times before. Owen and Gwen came back to her, tails wagging. The men aimed their guns but Teyla held out an arm as she kneeled. “Don't shoot.” Then her hands were on them, petting them and rubbing behind their ears. There were benefits to playing pet.

“Friends of yours?” The older one, who was white asked.

Teyla nodded and hugged them both to her, her eyes wet. “They belong to the People of Sunny.” She pulled back and pressed her forehead to Owen's. “This one is Thurn.” Then she kissed Gwen's nose. “And this one is Wenny.” They both wagged their tails.

“Should we take them with us?” The younger man asked, he was black, and looked to be about their age, maybe a smidge older.

The other man shook his head. “Not sure that's a good idea.”

Teyla looked around them, worried. “I don't know how they could have been left behind. If the Genii truly did something to Xander's people and these two have been on their own for nearly two years...”

“Seems they're doing okay.” Older guy suggested.

“Can we not take them with us?” Teyla asked.

Owen and Gwen perked up their ears and turned to growl, because a much bigger T-Rex was headed their way. The commanding officer, and that's what he seemed to be gave the order as it broke through the trees. “Fine, we're going. All of us.” They ran for it, and Teyla whistled for them to follow. They couldn't exactly stay behind to run the T-Rex off or at least lead it away. No doubt Teyla would try to come after them, to save them. Teyla's safety came first, so they followed her. “Dial the gate!”

The younger man dialed the portal, then waited for some kind of confirmation. Then Teyla grabbed them both by their ruffs and pulled them through the portal while her commander shot at the T-Rex to hold it off.

When they ended up on the other side they were in awe for a moment, because it looked nothing like their portal room. Then they realized some guy was yelling at the commander and pointing at Teyla.

“I'm sure she's not doing it on purpose, but she's giving information away.” As one Owen and Gwen got between the yelling man and Teyla, Owen even physically bumped the guy away from her. Then they bared their teeth at the yelling man who reached for his gun.

Teyla knelt between them, a hand on each of them and commanded. “Enough.”

Yelling man sneered. “Where did the wolves come from?”

The commander gestured toward the portal. “They saved us from that thing...what was it anyway?”

“Looked a lot like a T-Rex sir.”

“Two wolves took on a T-Rex.” Yelling man scoffed.

“Yeah, they did, obviously they're not ordinary wolves.” He told the angry man. “And you need to check your accusations.”

xxx

Xander could feel Owen and Gwen's excitement through the pack bonds, but he couldn't figure out what was going on with them. They were too far away, further away than they should be. He shook his head and refocused his attention on the group of refugees he'd been talking too.

They were from a world called Dagan, their leader, Allina, was looking at Xander like he was the second coming. It was starting to freak him out. “So, since Dagan was culled, we can set up sanctuaries at the villages, with cloak-shields. If you want to go home.”

Allina just kept smiling. “I knew you would return.”

“Excuse me?”

“I have something for you.” She pulled a huge crystal out of her pack and offered it to him. Once he had it in his hands he looked it over, puzzled because it looked like one of their battery crystals. Except the colors were all wrong. “I am the Master Handler of the New Brotherhood. We've been waiting for you to return and for our reward for keeping the Potentia safe.”

The hell? “Why are you giving this to me?” Xander wanted to know.

She was still smiling. “You are the Ancestors returned.”

Xander couldn't hold back the shudder of revulsion he felt at that. “No. I'm not. We're not.” And he shoved the thing back into her hands.

Allina frowned. “You have brought us to a city of the Ancestors restored to its former glory. You have ships like I have never seen. You are one of the Ancestors.”

“I'm not old enough to be one of them, I'm 23. I'm not one of the Ancients who abandoned the humans of these worlds.”

“But-”

“My own ancestors were once allied with the race you call the Ancestors. They're real name was the Alterans. I want no part of them.”

“But your ships, this city.” Allina protested.

“Our ships are not Alteran design, they're Furling. My people have always been the Furlings.” He told her.

She looked devastated. “Then the Potentia means nothing to you.”

“It looks like one of our battery crystals. We have plenty and we don't need it.”

Allina tried again. “The Ancestors-”

“Ran away and abandoned the humans here. They ran back to the planet their people lived on for millions of years...or they ascended. And lady, I've got news for you. Ascended beings don't care about what happens to us lowly flesh and blood mortals. We're beneath them. The Ancestors you think so highly of, are never coming back.”

She frowned, starting to get mad. “You sound like the pretenders who live in Atlantis now. They wanted the Potentia.”

“You should have given it to them. They'll probably all die now because you were greedy and wanted some reward that doesn't exist. Congratulations on being stupid.”

And now there was outright rage in her eyes. “I wish to go back to Dagan.”

“Fine. Give Buffy the address and she'll take you and your people through. Then they'll set up sanctuaries in the villages.”

Allina shook her head and stepped away from him and put the crystal back in her bag. “We don't need your help.”

“Lady,”

“Allina.”

He sighed. “Allina. This isn't about your personal feelings, pride or misguided whatever. This is about saving people who don't deserve to be eaten by the monsters. So, keep your snobby attitude to yourself and let us save what's left of your people.”

“You just want the Potentia. The moment I let my guard down you'll-”

“Oh, for the love of-” Xander reached down to his own bag where there were three battery crystals and pulled one out. “See, we have our own. Lots of them. We can make them. Besides, ours are prettier.”

Buffy sounded amused as she appeared at his side. “Problems?”

Xander put the battery away. “Just a greedy religious zealot.”

“Those can be deadly.”

He nodded in agreement. “If she tries anything, knock her out.”

“Gladly.”

xxx

Owen and Gwen stuck close to Teyla, following her around her new home. It didn't take them long to figure out they were on Atlantis and that she'd thrown in her support with the newcomers. Even better they saw a few familiar faces when they got a glimpse of some other Athosians, Xander would be happy about that.

As they sat and waited for the Doctor, Becket, to give Teyla and her friends checkups they paid close attention. Learning names and faces. For example, the two soldiers who'd been with her on Planet Dino were Major John Sheppard, a name they'd heard before. And Lieutenant Ford.

When Becket offered to check them out, both Owen and Gwen took a step back. The last thing they needed was for a human to get their hands on werewolf DNA. Teyla came to their rescue. “I don't think it would be a good to take any blood.”

Becket conceded. “Point taken.”

Ford was grinning. “So, what do we do with them?”

“We could put them with my people. They know Halling and Jinto best.”

Gwen wagged her tail, probably because she'd be glad to see for herself that father and son were okay. Passing on that information to Harmony was important, but they couldn’t stay. So, Owen bumped his shoulder against Gwen who looked at him. He walked out of the infirmary, understanding, she followed.

He knew he was giving up an important secret, how intelligent they were, but they needed to get home. Or at least to New Sunny. “What are they doing?” Sheppard asked as they all followed Owen and Gwen.

Owen followed their scent trail back to the room with the portal and went right for the area with all the consoles. It didn't take him long to find their dialer with all its familiar symbols. Carefully he stood on his hind legs and used one paw to dial up New Sunny. Every human had stopped what they were doing so they could stare.

One woman spoke, voicing their surprise. “Teyla. That wolf just dialed the gate.”

“I don't know what to say.” Teyla's voice was full of wonder. “I have never witnessed such behavior.”

The portal whooshed and Yelling man shut it down before pointing his gun at Owen. “You were right, they're not normal wolves.” Owen didn't dare move.

The portal started up again, and one guy announced. “We have an off-world activation. No IDC...it’s the address the...wolf dialed.”

“Raise the shield. Chuck?” The woman in charge asked.

“Sorry, radio static.”

“Adjust the frequency.”

Chuck must have pushed the right button because suddenly Dawn's voice was coming over the speakers. “Hello? This is Dawn of New Sunny. Hello?”

Teyla smiled, and it was relieved. “She is a friend.”

The woman in charge nodded. “Go ahead.”

Teyla stepped up to a console. “Dawn, this is Teyla Emmagan.”

“Teyla! You're alive!” Dawn squealed.

“I am, and I am happy to know you are the same.”

“Did you just dial us up?”

“I did not.” Teyla admitted. “Thurn did.”

“Your address wasn't the planet we left them on.”

“You left them alone with those creatures?” Now Teyla sounded angry on their behalf.

“They were hunting.” Dawn responded, amused. “Teyla, where do you think we got our 'exotic' meat for trade that so many worlds seem to love.”

“I had wondered.”

“Well, now you know. Are you going to send Thurn and Wenny home?”

Here we go. Maybe a truth or two would come out...either way Owen hoped Yelling man would stop pointing a gun at him soon. He was getting tired of standing on his hind legs.

Teyla glanced at them both before speaking again. “You do not seem surprised that Thurn dialed on his own.”

“Well, no. Remember Xander saying that we value our wolves as much as we value our people? They're not just animals Teyla...may I come through the portal?”

Teyla looked to her leader. “Doctor Weir?”

Doctor Weir, and it was nice to have a name and title, nodded. “Lower the shield...and stand down Sargent Bates.”

“Ma'am?”

“Stand down.” She repeated, and Yelling man put his gun away.

Teyla sighed. “You may enter Dawn.” A moment later Dawn stepped through the gate and it shut down. Yelling man, Sargent Bates, went down to meet her. He didn't point his gun at her, but he kept his hand on it.

Dawn gave him a nervous look. “Teyla?”

“It is alright.” Teyla got to her and they hugged. Owen and Gwen joined them, keeping themselves between Bates and the women.

Bates still looked angry. “So, the wolves are as smart as people.”

Dawn glanced at Owen and Gwen. “Sort of.”

Bates shook his head. “Doctor Weir, Major Sheppard, I suggest we put them all in a holding cell.”

Sheppard frowned. “Now just wait a minute.”

“We can't trust them.” Bates insisted.

Dawn huffed and pulled away from Teyla. “Then we'll leave.” She waved her hand and the gate came back on without even a whoosh.

Doctor Weir looked at her in surprise and happiness? “You're an Ancient?”

Dawn made a face. “No. Never.”

“Raise the shield!” Bates ordered.

Chuck shrugged from his console. “Shield will not engage, sorry Sargent.” Though he didn't sound at all sorry. Another man with glasses stood behind Chuck and he looked at Owen and Gwen with knowing eyes. Actually, so did Chuck.

Doctor Weir took a few steps closer to Dawn. “If you're not an Ancient-”

Teyla reached for Dawn. “Dawn?”

Dawn shook her head. “Sorry Teyla, but the last people you introduced us to were the Genii.”

Teyla nodded in understanding. “They did do something to your people.”

“They tried to steal two pups, hoping for a breeding pair. During the attack Harmony and Stiles were shot.”

“Was this two years ago?” Teyla asked. “Stiles would have been 7 years old.”

“He survived, but only because Jordy kept him from bleeding out.”

Teyla closed her eyes for a moment. “And Harmony?”

“We almost lost her, but she survived too and we got the pups back...after the Genii shot one and left him for dead.”

Sheppard frowned. “Why, if they wanted a breeding pair?”

“Both pups were male.”

“I'm sorry.” Doctor Weir sounded sincere. “Did he survive?”

“He did, but Xander is still upset about it.” Dawn told them. “That was the first time he'd ever had to kill humans. We're not ready to trust anymore of your friends just yet Teyla.” She started toward the portal, Owen and Gwen were in step with her.

Bates had his gun out. “Ma'am?”

Dawn raised a brow at him. “You should know that I have the power to stop your bullets.”

“Let her go Sargent.”

He lowered his gun and Dawn walked to the portal, looking back when she was a step away. “Teyla, tell Kanaan that Tre and Ayahdu are alive and living on New Sunny.”

Teyla smiled. “She survived...she was with child when the Wraith came.”

“The baby is fine; Kanaan is the father of two sons now.”

“I will tell him.”

Dawn grinned. “And if you've seen Orin, tell him that his brother Uther and his family are safe.”

Teyla's eyes were wide now. “How did you-”

Dawn stepped through the portal and they followed.

xxx

Later after they spoke to Rodney over the radio when their head scientist reported that they had destroyed one hive ship before the satellite had crapped out John sidled up to Teyla. “You think your Sunny friends are the ones who took out the first hive ship?”

“I do not know.”

“And what's with that girl's super powers if she's not an Ancient?”

“I do not know...I suppose I never knew the people of Sunny. Just as I did not know the Genii.”

“Well, at least the Sunny folks are friendlier.” John frowned. “At least as long as Bates isn't pointing weapons at them.”

xxx

They were in Radek's quarters again, another stolen moment. Charles was tense in his arms and Radek didn't know how to soothe him. He was too busy marveling that there were werewolves in Pegasus.

“Those wolves.” Charles murmured. “They're bigger than regular wolves.”

“I have not seen many up close.” Radek admitted, which was the truth. The only fully shifted werewolf he'd ever been close to had been his late uncle.

“They're eyes were gold, not blue.”

Radek tensed and moved to sit up, Charles did the same and they stared at one another. “Why would you say that?”

Charles blinked. “Radek?”

“You knew what they were.” Radek stated and even smiled.

Charles tilted his head. “Neither of them had red eyes.” Then smiled as Radek laughed. “You know about werewolves.”

“I do.” Radek was still chuckling. “My uncle was bitten when he was young.” He shook his head, mirth finally fading. “He was killed by hunters when I was twenty. His wife, my aunt, is the only family I am close to.”

“I was born into a pack.” Charles told him. “My dad was born a wolf, Mom's a human.” He shrugged. “All my siblings are wolves. The Alpha of our pack wasn't happy I was born human.”

“Packs need humans. Though I suppose not all Alphas feel that way.”

“So, what do we do now? We can't really say anything. It’s wrong to out people.” Charles said, and Radek agreed.

“So, we will not. They would not believe us anyway. Not without proof.”

Charles smiled. “Will you kiss me now?”

Radek smiled back. “That, that I can do.”

XXX

Chapter Text

Whispers in Pegasus
calikocat

word count: 2973

XXX

Xander landed the Beacon on Lemuria with no trouble and gave the pilot chair a fond pat before he exited via the first transporter he found. Willow was waiting for him when he stepped into the city.

“That nifty weapons satellite got blown up.” She told him in place of a greeting. “After it took out a hive ship.”

“Any deaths?” He asked.

“I don't know.” She frowned as they walked. “I gotta wonder though, why the Ancient Poop Heads didn't put shields on the thing.”

Xander grinned and put an arm around her shoulders. “Because they thought differently than we do. You did put shields on our weapons satellite system that's around New Sunny?”

“Yep, and they're disguised as asteroids so they have camouflage.”

“Cool. Anything else?”

Willow nodded, and her expression changed...the pack bond between them vibrated with nervousness. It was a weird sensation so he pulled back. “Owen and Gwen want to give you their report in person.”

“Okay?”

“They did a thing.”

“Sounds like Cordy is a bad influence.”

“Dawndidathingtoo.” Willow rushed the words out as if to soften their impact.

“Oh boy.” Xander sighed and hid his face in his hands. Why him? He heard his oldest friend slip away so she wouldn't be witness to whatever he did. Smart girl his Wills. By the time he got to his office he was expecting the worst possible situation, like the Wraith were headed toward New Sunny. Or Lemuria.

The door of his office slid open, Owen and Gwen stood up and looked worried. Xander came in, sat at his desk and waited for them to sit back down. He stared at them until they started to fidget. “So. What did you do?”

Owen took point. “Teyla found us on dino world.”

“Well, it’s nice to have confirmation that Teyla is alive.”

Gwen nodded. “And she took us back to Atlantis with her, so our hunting trip got cut short.” She glanced at Owen. “And then Owen gave us away.”

Owen glared at her. “Well, we couldn't stay there, or let their doctor have our DNA.”

Xander rested his chin on one hand. “How did you give yourselves away?” He wanted to know.

Owen blinked and even blushed. “I, uh, used their dialer to dial New Sunny.” He shrugged. “But they wouldn't let us through. I think we freaked out a Sargent Bates pretty bad.”

The door of his office opened and Dawn zipped in. “Willow said you were back...this feels like I've been sent to the principal's office.”

Xander shuddered. “Dawn Summers, you take that back right now.”

She stuck out her tongue and moved to stand behind Gwen's chair. “How far did you get?”

“To the part where you made your entrance.” Gwen told her.

Dawn nodded. “I saw the address that dialed New Sunny and dialed back. That's when I talked to Teyla. Then they let me through.” She frowned. “I don't know who the angry guy was but he shouldn't be allowed on first contact missions.”

Gwen seemed to agree. “Sargent Bates. He really doesn't like Teyla.”

Owen was frowning now. “He seems to think she gave away secrets to the Wraith, which doesn't make sense.”

It did to Xander. “Damn.” At the looks they gave him he explained. “Teyla can sense the Wraith...maybe they can sense her back?”

Owen's jaw dropped. “How?”

“No idea. So...” He focused on Dawn. “What thing did you do?”

“Uh...I activated their portal with magic and stopped their shield from going up?”

Xander sighed. “Yay.” Not only were the current Lanteans aware that their wolves were smarter than the average animal, but they'd witnessed magic too.

Dawn coughed. “I also told Teyla that we weren't ready to befriend her new friends after what the Genii did to Harmony, Stiles and the pups.”

“Okay, that I approve of. Anything else?”

Dawn smiled. “I told her that Tre and the kids are fine, and so is Uther's family.”

“Good.” Then he smirked. “Now get out of here you meddling kids.”

xxx

Hours later after a good rest Xander came into the control room where Willow had wanted him. “You raaang?” He asked in a deep voice.

She nodded and ignored his Lurch impression, which was no fun at all. “Deep space sensors indicate that Atlantis took out that third hive ship. They got help at the last minute from an unfamiliar ship.”

He frowned. “One of their own?”

“Maybe. There's nothing like it in our database anyway, but there's a problem.”

Xander sighed, of course there was. “What's the problem?”

She pushed a few buttons and Xander wanted to curse at what popped up on the screen. “There's 12 more hive ships headed their way.”

“Sweet Zombie Jesus. How long till they get there?”

“Thirty-six hours.”

“Crap. Do you know what route they're taking?”

She looked up at him with a frown. “You want to sneak attack them when they make their stops on the way?”

Xander nodded. “If you can figure out where they'll be, we can have a war ship at each jump spot.”

“I can do that.”

“Make it so Number 1.” He dodged the pen she threw at him.

xxx

Rodney returned the knock-off ZPM back to the case they'd found it in. Everyone in the city was disappointed and well, pissed off that the damn thing had made the shield malfunction. He'd told Zelenka it wasn't really a ZPM, it was just different enough to cause all kinds of screw ups.

He thought if he just had more time, he could make it work, but after the shit storm they went through just taking down one hive ship... Rodney shook his head and latched the case. They'd had casualties and he needed to focus, among them was their brand-new Colonel Dillon Everett.

The guy had been unlikeable from the moment he stepped through the gate heading up the reinforcements from the SGC. He'd relieved Elizabeth of command and acted like everything they'd been through the past year hadn't mattered. Then...then he finally got a clue. Just in time to get fed on by a Wraith. He'd only lasted a few days, lost his cockiness, and then lost his vitality.

Rodney picked up the case, tired of being lost in thought. Tired of being tired. Tired of everything. God, he needed sleep. At least he was alive though, or it felt like he was alive. No way he'd feel this tired if he was dead, or in a coma. Hmm. A coma. Bates was in a coma, sleeping peacefully in sickbay. Unless he'd been passed through the stargate back to the SGC.

He took the case and the knock-off ZPM and started to carry it back to storage. His mind still bouncing around, worried about this and that. And worried about Ford. Ford who was missing. It had been a long week, and all Rodney wanted was a sandwich and a nap.

xxx

Willow was able to determine several possible jump locations and they made their plans. Nothing like a little guerrilla warfare with a cloak and shield. Peter took the Triskelion to the first predicted location with a crew and lay in wait for the Wraith.

He sat in the pilot chair on the bridge and glanced at Michael Czajak. “Mike?”

Mike nodded. “Scanning for human life signs. Humans on board every hive ship.” Mike told him.

Peter grimaced; he'd been accused of many things...but even he didn't like the idea of killing people aboard enemy ships. People who were already having the worst day of their lives. “Target the last ship on the left side of the V.”

“Locked, beaming them out and into the den rooms.” Mike assured him.

“Good.” Peter hit the intercom. “Ronda, when I uncloak us, shoot it down...NOW!”

Their cloak came down and he felt Rhonda's connection through the pack bonds buzz as she used her drones to destroy the hive ship. Its human cargo was safe aboard the Triskelion and Peter felt proud of that.

Mike shot a grin over his shoulder. “Got'em. We have a kill.”

Peter nodded and took them into hyperspace before the Wraith could attack them. “Contact the others.” He ordered. “Tell them it worked, but I don't know how many times we'll be that lucky.”

xxx

Oz had the Beowulf at the second jump point, with Cordelia on weapons and Jonathan at the bridge controls. Kyle had Fenrir, Harmony on weapons and Amy on the bridge. Both war ships lay in wait, cloaked and shielded. The 11 hive ships came out of hyperspace but they didn't attack right away.

Oz spoke over the comm to his crew and Kyle's. “They may be expecting us to beam away their cargo.”

“So we're not doing that this time?” Kyle asked.

“No, we're not. Jono?”

Jonathan looked a little green, but determined. “There's two ships with hardly any humans on board.”

“Show me.” Oz commanded, and Beowolf showed him which ships on the screen. “Kyle, you see that?”

“Yeah, we'll get the left while you get the right?”

“On three.” Oz confirmed. “One. Two. Three!” Both ships decloaked and attacked, Cordelia and Harmony used the drones to take out the two least human populated hive ships.

Jonathan gave a thumb up. “We have a kill.”

“Same here.” Amy said from the Fenrir.

“We should run now.” Kyle said.

“I agree.” He grinned when Kyle entered hyperspace first, and he followed half a second behind.

xxx

“Something's happening.” Rodney announced, looking at the deep space sensors in confusion, wondering if he was imaging things.

Elizabeth came up beside him. “What now Rodney?”

He pointed at the ships on the screen. “There's only 9 hive ships heading our way now.”

She joined him in his confusion. “They shouldn't have reached the last jump area yet.”

Zelenka huffed. “They haven't...but...they're gone.”

Rodney snapped his fingers. “It’s like someone is...taking them out.”

“Someone else?” Elizabeth asked.

“Look at our records.” Zelenka brought them up. “Look, at the first jump, a hive ship was destroyed. Then at the next jump, two more were taken out.”

Teyla shook her head. “Who could be doing this?”

Rodney frowned. “I really don't care, just as long as they keep doing it.”

Zelenka seemed to agree. “Someone stopped a hive ship before, before the original three even got to the satellite. Maybe it’s the same people?”

Elizabeth finally smiled, just a little. “I hope our guardian angels keep it up.”

xxx

The next two jumps, they did nothing, the wraith would undoubtedly be on alert. Instead Xander was at the last jump point before Atlantis with the Lycaon, their flagship. He was in the pilot chair. Tor was in the weapon's chair. Carly was on the bridge controls and Amber was in the dens.

Buffy had the Lupa. Heidi was on weapons. Devon was on her bridge, and Wendell had the dens. Both war ships were hidden by their cloaks, the Atlantis ship lying in wait was totally unaware of them.

Xander didn't contact the new ship, kept comms strictly to their own. “Guess they decided to do a sneak attack too...though they may have lost the element of surprise because of us.”

Buffy came over the comm. “So what do you want to do? Let them know we're here and coordinate an attack?”

“No. When the Wraith come out of hyperspace beam out as many people as you can and run for it.”

Buffy hesitated. “You sure?”

“They'll be so distracted by you the other ship can do whatever it is they're gonna do.”

“Giving them back the element of surprise. What about you?”

Xander grinned. “I'll be the hidden surprise.”

xxx

When the Wraith came out of hyperspace John did a double take. There were 9 ships now instead of 12. Caldwell glanced his way. “Weren't there 12 headed to Atlantis before?”

“Yes Sir, there were.”

“We have a ship decloaking.”

They looked ahead and John felt his jaw drop. He'd never seen a ship like it before, she was blue with swerving red and gold lines on her sides. She was bigger than the Daedalus and the hive ships and shaped like a capsule.

“New ship is...scanning the hive ships?”

A woman's voice came over the comms. “Colonel Caldwell, this is Novak.”

“Go ahead.” Caldwell told her.

“Hermiod has seen the new ship, he's saying it’s a Furling War Ship.”

“Furling?” Caldwell asked.

“Yes sir.”

John frowned. “What the hell's a Furling?”

Caldwell looked at him. “They were allied with the Asgardians and the Ancients thousands of years ago.” He hit the button again. “Are they beaming weapons aboard the hive ships?”

“No.” Novak answered. “...Hermiod says they're beaming things out.”

“Like what?” Caldwell demanded, however she didn't answer, because suddenly the blue ship opened a hyperspace window and was gone. Caldwell shook his head. “Launch the first weapon.”

“Weapon launched.” Novak confirmed. They all watched as the first hive ship went up. Then the second. The remaining hive ships altered course.

“Take us right at them.” Caldwell ordered.

“Yes Sir.”

Novak came over the comms again. “Sir they've found a way to jam us! We can't beam nukes onto their ships anymore.”

“Shield emitter down forty percent.”

Damn, they weren't gonna make it. John thought...then another hive ship blew up. “What the hell happened?”

“Another ship just decloaked.”

John saw it, another blue capsule ship, and it moved to intercept the hive ships. About half of them broke away to follow it. It fired at another hive ship with what looked like drones and took it out.

“Incoming message!”

“What is it?” Caldwell asked.

“Just a second, it’s in Ancient...our new friends say to run for it.” A third hive ship blew up.

“What's our shield status?” Caldwell asked.

“Less than twenty percent.”

Caldwell nodded. “Get us into hyperspace.”

They ran for it, and John hoped their new friends made it out too. He wanted to thank them someday, they'd need to be alive for that.

xxx

Xander watched the other ship leave and did the same, leaving behind some probably very angry wraith. Once they were in hyperspace he asked. “Did they get the package?”

Carly gave him a thumb up over her shoulder, her eyes glued to the bridge consoles. “The note is even in Ancient so our cover won't be blown. All they know is that the Furlings are back in town.”

“Good.” Xander sighed. “Let’s go home.”

Carly finally looked over her shoulder at him. “Peter and Buffy have passengers.” She reminded him.

“And they're each going to a different compound, and each compound is fully stocked, cloaked and shielded.” He countered. “The refugees will need a day or two to let things sink in. We'll get them settled or resettled after that.”

She nodded in acknowledgment. “So, home.”

“Home.” He agreed.

xxx

Epilogue

“It’s going to work this time, right?” John asked.

McKay rolled his eyes. “Yes. Now that we have an instruction manual the Furling Battery Crystal we found at the satellite is compatible with Atlantis.”

“But not the Daedalus.”

“No, but now we have a backup...and maybe with some studying we can make it compatible with the Daedalus.

John frowned. “They said not to 'fiddle' with it too much, and since the Furlings saved our butts, I think maybe we should follow the note.”

“The Furlings have been out of action for thousands of years, what do they know?” Rodney grumbled.

“They looked pretty active to me.” John countered. “We know they took out six of the twelve hive ships there at the end...and probably one of the original three that were headed for us.”

That drew McKay up short. “Well. Yes. There's that.”

“Who knows how long they've been here, or how many hive ships they've taken out over the years.”

“Yes, yes. They'd still be a lot more helpful if they would just talk to us.” Rodney muttered.

“Maybe they're shy, what with the text message.” He clapped McKay on a shoulder. “Just don't blow up the gift they gave us...again.” Then he walked out of McKay's lab.

“I didn't blow it up the first time!”

John grinned and yelled back. “Get some sleep!” As he walked away though his thoughts were on the Furlings. He'd gotten a history lesson from Elizabeth.

The Furlings were part of the alliance between the Ancients, the Asgardians and the Nox. No one knew why the alliance fell apart though. At least not until the Asgardian, Hermiod aboard the Daedalus said something about the Ancients pissing the Furlings off. Then he'd clammed up.

John shook his head. He was starting to think more and more that the Ancients were a bunch of asses. He really didn't want to meet any more of them. He also really wanted to know what the Ancients did to the Furlings to piss them off. And where the hell had they been all this time? So many questions...but what John really needed now...was some sleep.

XXX