"Think worth move out," I suggested.
"Agree. While here admire blinking dots, these people possibly dying," Jensen voiced.
"Give me several minutes, I'll match their spatial coordinates with planet coordinates," Chaya said. "If there Stargates, we'll find them..."
"Let's go," I clapped Alvar on shoulder. "We with you have what to do."
"I'm with you," Teyla said. "Think whoever Runners, they heard of Athosians. Possibly my presence help you negotiate with them."
"Reasonable," I agreed. "Chaya..."
Girl continued conjure over control panel.
"Don't worry for me," she answered. "Already almost finished. While you're gone, finish naquadah generator prototype."
I threw glance to glowing vertical monster. Assembled from both Lantean and Ermen technologies, it least resembled generator. And futuristic doomsday machine—yes.
Though essentially just dynamo machine rebuild from storage using small naquadah quantity we collected last week on Ermen. Not too rich ore, but chosen mine still need restore. While took what could find literally in adits. Chaya assured this suffice for some time. And also she said something about this prototype also help her enrich existing ore, need only solve problem with heat removal, nonlinear power drops, atomic substance density and... Think she just wanted I stop questions.
Chaya's naquadah generator prototype.
"Perfect," I appreciated. "Just wanted ask not carry enriched naquadah with bare hands. Don't want you start glowing. Or demask us right from ocean bottom."
Ancient finally tore from monitor and... smiled. Truly, kindly.
"Flattered you care for preserving natural radiation background of my organism, but assure—worked with more dangerous power source kinds. All will be fine. Know what do."
"After these words usually with us simple people arise very shitty troubles," I noted.
"Remind difference between us and humans?" Chaya asked.
"No need," I assured. "Comparing how people and Ancients blunder, not worth even try compete."
Chaya's smile faded. Girl pulled away from computer, then approached wall. Decorative panel slid aside, after which she took small tray with something like futuristic wristbands. Only made from something reminding rubber.
"Recognition bracelets," dryly she said, thrusting tray to me. "While prototypes with function of transmitting individual code to Atlantis Gate shield. Powered by electricity emitted by human body and tuned individually. Don't work if removed or on dead body. Called it recognition bracelet. And masked as wrist protection."
Recognition bracelet. Picture from internet.
"Additional security for passing through Atlantis Gates?" I clarified.
"Yes," Proculian confirmed. "Think Alvar and Teyla we already can trust pass through Gates without our participation. Repeat, just prototypes with one-single function. Without them can't neither exit nor enter Atlantis—shield won't allow."
"Here attach cloaking device or personal shield," I dreamily said.
"Working on studying recordings of latter," Chaya assured me. "But need understand it works exclusively on Ancient gene carriers. Can of course try remove this function, but it's key for such advanced technologies."
"Agree. Wouldn't want personal shield fall into our ill-wishers hands."
"Exactly," Chaya agreed. Seems sullen expression on her face passed. Interesting, and what was that? "Since made enemies, worth think how resolve this problem. On Gate security already worked, while this should suffice."
"And what about recognition of our with you physiological features you installed in Gate program earlier?" I inquired.
"They remain," Chaya firmly said. "Find and delete them from program would be stupidity. Need have backup in case cut off from Gates or Atlantis through Gates."
Hm... Turns out not in vain told girl how many times expedition was on failure brink because of their whimsical incoming wormholes security system.
"Curious," I admitted. "Device powered by human body electricity and transmitting special signal... It not somehow linked to Wraith transmitter, right?"
"Only conceptual ideas of body human recharge," Chaya said. "Bit later rework them and add other useful functions. And yes, you not late by chance?"
"Suspect without me not fly off," I put on one bracelets. Felt some warmth at start, but already second all passed. Seemed or this initialization system worked.
Meanwhile bracelet slightly shrank and quite tightly sat on arm, like glued to skin. But didn't hinder wrist movements, and material density enviable.
Hooking it quite easily removed, then returned in place. Convenient.
"While you prepare for mission, I'll write program for Runner search and load it to 'Jumper'," Chaya said. "It generally already ready, but need little time for frequency adaptation. Besides," she extended small connector with socket for connecting to Ancient scanner. Which also present. "You need find transmitter, plug contact into it and launch written by me program on this scanner. By plan it should analyze Runner device and calculate exact energy charge to burn transmitting antenna."
"But transmitter itself will work?"
"Till we extract it. But without antenna not dangerous to us."
"Most likely. However proposal. As soon as find and neutralize tracker, go to neutral planet. From there contact you, you fly on 'Jumper' and extract device..."
Chaya shook head.
"Used for extraction stationary surgical device. Afraid not doctor to do this in field conditions. Better if you burn antenna but without damaging power sources. Alvar lucky, but in fact can lead to health problems. Strong energy discharges not useful to organism."
And she so casually says that I nearly killed good man... Okay Genii, they headlong mudaks.
N-da, affairs-a-a...
"Already told you you're excellent person and irreplaceable comrade?"
Chaya quietly laughed and smiled.
"Repeat three times a day and head won't hurt."
"Such joke?" I alerted.
"No," Ancient assured. "Just remind self I'm sufficiently qualified for work with such devices and no need worry about this. After all from this your head hurts, right?"
"Aha," I agreed, taking rest bracelets. "Among other."
*
"Looks like cheap trinket," Alvar grimaced, putting on his bracelet on arm. Teyla already coped and both Pegasus galaxy residents now checked body part mobility.
"Our people custom weave same bracelets or ornaments for family members," Teyla said. "With such ornaments we look like one family. Or clan."
"Sounds good enough to tell interested," I decided, directing 'Jumper' through bay hatch.
Stargate already activated, but noticed Chaya stands on balcony near control center.
Touching ship comm system control panel, inquired:
"Houston, we have problem?"
"Chaya has other name?" Emmagan surprised at Alvar.
"No, this something from his home planet expressions," Jensen prompted, listening to answer.
"Just now another dot vanished," Proculian said. "Seems Wraith decided rid of their Runners."
"This bad," simultaneously with me Alvar said.
"Most likely on planet meet large Wraith quantity," Ermenian explained his thought.
Yes, I thought same.
"But we managed open Gate to planet where he is, right?" Teyla clarified. "Means they not attacked yet."
"Logical," I appreciated. "Chaya, can we hold Gates open while search?"
"Maximum time I can support Gates without additional energy feed—thirty eight minutes," Ancient answered. "After this need redial address. Recon probe indicates no Wraith near Gates. You pick him on way back?"
This while our only recon drone assembled from Ermen tech parts.
"Yes, bring back," I promised.
And in head one thought swirled...
"But we can support Gates open feeding them from ZPM?" I rummaged memory. Earthlings yes and not only in known events managed such.
"Can," Chaya confirmed my suspicions. "And you're right, only with ZPM help. Generator can't, energy output not stable enough. Sure want discharge our single ZPM for human who may not suit us?"
Fair remark. Spend energy for searches across whole planet of human who may not join us or entirely turn potential traitor... Were in known events such characters. Seemingly perky Wraith hunters, but actually rot rot.
"No," I said. "Fly to other side, there cloak and search. If on planet Wraith, pick human, just wait under cloak in economy mode, reserves for week. Longer unlikely stay there."
"Loaded search program to ship," Chaya reported. Indeed on virtual screen new software window appeared. "Can go. If Wraith already aimed at planet, no need alert them with long dialing delay. Moreover planet where predlast beacon vanished not that far from you. Six-seven hours with Wraith hyperdrive—and there."
"Then worth move," I concluded, directing 'Jumper' into 'puddle'.
Wait us, mysterious Runner. Hope you'll be fierce and loyal guy with dreads.
***
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