For a while, they stared at each other, after which the human smiled.
"Well, you're already cooperating," he stated.
"What are you talking about?" the Wraith wondered.
"Your race can maintain mental contact at a distance," Mikhail reminded. "At a significant distance. But there's no one nearby with you. No Wraith. Which means we're safe."
"You just think so."
"As do you, that you have a choice," the human stated in an icy tone. "Tell me, little Koschei, boasting about your mental abilities, did you foolishly tell me there are only six of us, or just to brag?"
The Wraith growled but remained silent.
"And so, buddy, we've uncovered another small feature of your race," Mikhail stated with a smile. "You can't sense those in stasis. It doesn't matter whose stasis technology it is: Lantean or Wraith."
"You're spouting nonsense, human!" Koschei said confidently. "We're strong and sense everything!"
"Then why didn't you, 'all-powerful,' sense our prisoners in stasis chambers?" Mikhail inquired. "Or, for example, a Wraith on the same planet as you?"
"I sensed your woman with Wraith genes!"
"I'm not talking about her," the Lantean clarified. "You see, you're not the only Wraith whose ship crashed in this star system. There's another. More precisely, one— the Queen of the Great Union of Wraith, who led the attack on Atlantis."
"Queen of Death?" the Wraith commander was taken aback. "You're lying! She died at the very beginning of the siege!"
"You can comfort yourself with that assumption as long as you want," the human assured him. "But I'm telling the truth. I feel your brains melting. You have a strict hierarchy in society. Commanders obey queens. And you obeyed. And here, nearby, your queen is stored, one of the first Wraith in the galaxy. And you, pathetic and useless, can't reach her. Must be hard realizing you're unnecessary and worthless?"
"I'll kill you, human!" the Wraith growled. He didn't waste much on threats and stuck to short responses. He needed strength to direct mental search queries into space. If there's a queen nearby, as this beast says, they'll connect mentally. And together, they'll devise a plan...
His mind felt as if doused with ice water.
The Wraith shuddered, blinked, shook his head. Something happened. His mental abilities suddenly hit a barrier he couldn't overcome. No matter how hard he tried, his hot mind was surrounded by an icy wall. He couldn't even sense anyone beyond this cell.
"And how's that?" Mikhail inquired. "Judging by the bewildered expression on your mug, I see our device worked."
"What device?!" Koschei growled.
"The one that detected your brain waves and blocked mental abilities," the human explained readily. "Now you can't do anything at all, our 'all-powerful.' Share your sensations—how's it feel to be imprisoned for both body and mind?"
"Come into my cell and find out," the Wraith rumbled. "I promise, before I drink your life, I'll tell you everything I know. I'll help your science."
"And you still don't get it?" the Lantean wondered. Koschei looked at him suspiciously. "Well, your 'all-powerful' race has crapped itself again. You're already serving our science. Whether you want to or not, we'll get everything we want from you."
"Then why did you offer me a choice?" the Wraith wondered.
"For starters—just stalling so the equipment could tune to your brain waves," the human explained. "That'll let us deprive you of your mental tricks with human minds. And it's a demonstration that we can uncover your secrets ourselves."
"Then why are you trying to incline me to cooperation?" Koschei wondered.
"Figured it out yet?" the human wondered. "All this will take some time. And if you cooperate, you'll have a chance not to die on the dissection table as a lab rabbit."
"What's a rabbit?"
"Such an animal," the Lantean explained. "Specially bred by our scientists to test various drugs, vaccines, and so on. Useful thing. But it's not a Wraith, and we can't test various types of biological weapons against your race on it... But you— that's different."
"Decided to scare me?" Koschei narrowed his eyes.
"Outlining prospects," Mikhail clarified. "You understand, almost any Wraith will do for our purposes. Even a Wraith soldier. Though he's dumb, we don't need a genius here."
"But you don't have a Wraith soldier," Koschei reminded. "And besides, it needs controlling!"
"How great that we have our own person with Wraith DNA?" Mikhail rejoiced. "And scanning your mind during mental work helped us identify the brain zones that need developing in her."
"Wraith and humans aren't alike!"
"You're wrong, my ancient hungry friend. You emerged from an Irus bug that fed on a human. We have far more in common than you'd like to admit. So, we'll learn to control Wraith soldiers and deprive you of mental tricks. For starters. And then, we'll find a way to shut down all gates in the galaxy and activate the Attero device. Reminder of what happens to your hyperdrives?"
Koschei bellowed deafeningly, striking the enclosure in powerless rage.
"That device destabilizes the frequencies of our hyperdrives!" he barked. "Any of our starships entering a hyperspace window will be destroyed."
"Exactly," Mikhail nodded. "The Ancients activated it, tested it, but shut it down because it also affects Stargate operation. They explode upon activation during the Attero device's operation. And destroy planets. What a trouble... But imagine how easy it'll be for us to wipe you all out if we neutralize the negative effects? Gates will survive, your ships will either explode or can't use hyperdrives. And our ships will just track and destroy you one by one. And such extermination can go on for years. Since you can't escape us via gates or ships."
"Our organic hyperdrives simply can't have another working frequency," Koschei concluded. "Ruthless."
"That's what I mean," Mikhail nodded. "As you see, our tactics changed over ten thousand years. Cooperate—I'll spare your life. More than that, perhaps we can become allies. You'll lead a hive that's chief among the rest. Together, we'll eliminate excess Wraith, and your hive will have enough humans to feed in any situation. Of course, if you even look sideways at us, we'll give you a proper thrashing."
"Since when do Lanteans negotiate with Wraith?" Koschei asked suspiciously. "You offer me cooperation, my own hive, even ready to allocate humans for feeding... There are only six of you—what can you achieve?!"
"For example, study your physiology, learn what circumstances aid feeding and fix them," the human said. "And then, while the rest of the Wraith are in hibernation—and that's where they are now—we'll spread the drug across all your feeding grounds. And when Wraith come for food, it'll be unpalatable to them. Possibly even poisonous. You'll die one by one."
"We'll sooner exterminate the planets where the food is tainted!" the surviving Wraith laughed. "Destroy dozens of peoples, but the rest will be our feeding base. Everything will fall into place. The weak will die, the strong will grow stronger."
"Yes, that would work," the human smirked. "If only a few planets get the vaccine. And if all?"
Koschei bared his teeth.
"Wraith still have fifty years to sleep," the human estimated. "In that time, the vaccinated will birth one or two, maybe more generations. And all will inherit the anti-feeding drug. And we'll, safe here, just watch you starve to death. But you can stop my plans for your extermination. Just give me what I need."
"You're offering me to help you, revealing my race's secrets to destroy us more effectively and not waste time getting info from me unwillingly?" Koschei twigged, noticing how the Lantean pulled a scanner from his pocket clothing and activated something on it. In the far corner of the cell room, some lights flashed and went out.
Now he had no doubts. The cell was dimly lit to hide the equipment the humans installed here from his perception. While Mikhail stalls, they're scanning and studying him. Getting all the data they can.
If this continues, he'll become completely unnecessary to them. And then they'll kill him.
Or they're offering him to become a traitor, cooperate to kill his race more properly. If other Wraith learn, he'll become target number one for them. Cooperation with humans, helping them fight his own brothers... That's a crime of the highest order.
Agree, and there's no way back. The first Wraith commander or queen who learns what he did will kill him.
Options aren't many—either refuse and die after becoming unnecessary, or help and study them, seek escape paths. If he can take valuable knowledge with him.
"M-m-m," Mikhail's voice sounded. "What fascinating information is coming from you, dear friend."
"What are you talking about?!"
"I already said we're scanning you, right?"
"You did."
"So, we found out here," the Lantean tapped his device's display, "that Wraith inject a special enzyme into humans during feeding, making them strong for a certain time."
A bit of Wraith physiology.
Koschei instinctively hissed a threat through parted jaws. What else did these humans manage to learn from him?! Koschei casually turned his right hand to look at the spot under the skin where the enzyme pouch was located. Yes, there was an injection there too. They took a sample of his feeding enzyme as well.
And that's just the beginning!
"And I got curious—why do you strengthen us during feeding?" Mikhail mused, pacing around the cell. "Helping your food during the feeding process by giving it strength... No altruism from your side, of course. I think there's something else... Come on, Koschei, don't pull a Wraith by the feeding sucker, help with brainstorming. You're already starting to understand—you either climb into the noose right now, or later report to your own that you helped us understand Wraith and find a way to destroy them. Your comrade who tried to make humans 'tastier'—they finished him without hesitation."
"What guarantees that helping you won't give you a weapon against my people?" the Wraith asked.
"My word."
"A human's word," the Wraith burst into laughter. "And what should that mean?"
"Exactly as much as yours," Mikhail cooled his ardor. "In fact, I only need you for a few experiments, no more. Help me—I'll help you. Refuse—I'll disassemble you into DNA chains and stabilize the weapon that will destroy you all."
"Stabilize?" a gurgling roar tore from Koschei's throat. "You said you plan to create it. So you already have it?"
"A prototype exists with one race living in Pegasus," the human replied. "You understand, I won't tell you its name or world coordinates. But I can visit them and help refine it. With our technology... By the way, you'll understand tests will be needed. Ready to volunteer?"
"R-a-a-a!!" the Wraith roared, stepping back from the cell. "Don't think you've cornered me, human! Cooperation with you is death for me!"
"Of course," Mikhail snorted. "And refusal is death even more so. But as I said—cooperation gives you big chances to eliminate all who can harm you."
"You want to destroy most, if not all, of my race and think I'll help you?" Koschei roared.
"I think you didn't drink life from humans on your ship, finish off your own crew, to die on a lab table," Mikhail said insinuatingly. "You want to live. Like all of us. I'm offering you a chance to survive and grow stronger. Imagine, dealing with competing hives won't fall to you, but our ships? Eliminate other claimants to feeding grounds and become the strongest Wraith in the galaxy."
"A Wraith whose life and position depend on not revealing our cooperation secret," Koschei smirked. "Not a very joyful prospect. I don't believe you'll let even my hive continue feeding on humans! They're your descendants! That's inhumane from your viewpoint!"
"Yes," Mikhail didn't bat an eye. "But imagine—we have enemies among humans too. And as you noticed, there aren't many of us. What if I toss you coordinates of planets where my enemies settled? You can feed on them without issues. And my ships won't come to orbit and kick your regenerating ass. Isn't that a deal?"
"Enemies will run out someday," the Wraith noted. "There aren't that many humans in the galaxy. And the Pegasus galaxy isn't that big."
"Enemies never run out," Mikhail objected. "But don't plan for the future, my friend. After all, we can always create new humans."
"We destroyed the device the Ancients used to seed the galaxy," Koschei recalled. "And we don't have millions of years for you to build a new one and plant new life."
"Why need a new one?" the human clarified. "There are plenty of ways to increase human numbers. Or, studying your physiology, make vaccines for humans not to kill you during feeding, but so they don't die from it. And then the key reason humans hate Wraith disappears, don't you think?"
"Utopia," Koschei snapped. "We tried something similar but couldn't."
"Or just didn't have time, since Lanteans followed your trail wanting to destroy you," Mikhail reminded. "If we agree, we'll do it together. Solve a common problem. And then humans and Wraith will go their separate ways. You won't need to risk hunting new food, we won't invent new ways to destroy you. The deal can be adjusted with new opportunities. After all, on our side is all Lantean science's might. And that's a lot of information."
Koschei didn't take his eyes off the human. Thoughts swarmed in his head, one more cunning than the other. At the moment, the human had him against the wall. Either cooperation—and possible death later. Or refusal—and death in the near prospects. His offers are tempting, of course... but too optimistic. If what he proposed to eliminate enmity between humans and Wraith is feasible, only in the distant future.
And until then, so much can happen... Alliances are made and broken. The strong switch sides with the weak. But that won't happen if he dies on a lab table.
"The enzyme is injected into the animal's body so painful sensations during feeding don't kill it before we take all its life forces," Koschei said.
"Yes, I'm aware," Mikhail nodded.
"Then why did you ask me that?" Koschei wondered.
"Testing your honesty," the Lantean admitted. "I think you're already pondering how to deceive me and use the deal for your interests."
The Wraith bared his teeth.
"As if you're not thinking how to use me for maximum gain," he smirked.
"Believe me—I need less from you than you from me," Mikhail assured him. "The future help offer is just bait for peaceful coexistence. Don't want it—fine, we'll war. With everything we have. And this time cloning facilities won't help you."
Koschei looked closely at his interlocutor. Wraith cloning facilities were used during the war with Lanteans to quickly increase Wraith numbers and gain advantage over the enemy. But they required enormous energy. And Wraith couldn't produce it themselves. Only Lantean energy sources captured during the war allowed that and much more.
"You know a lot about my race, human."
"I warned you."
"And that makes it even more doubtful you really need my help," Koschei narrowed his eyes.
"I'm just saving time," Mikhail spread his hands.
"But my help will have its price," the Wraith warned. "I need to feed. And you'll give me different quarters, not this cell!"
"About the latter—first show your usefulness in one matter, then we'll see how to solve your housing issue."
"And about feeding, no objections?" Koschei wondered.
"As I said—I have enemies," Mikhail smiled. And he did it like Wraith do. "I saved a couple for a snack. Specially for you."
"Then bring them here!" Koschei demanded. "I'll taste their life, and then we'll talk!"
The human shook his head negatively.
"First you'll tell me about the feeding process, Koschei," the Lantean said in a tone brooking no objection. "I want to know everything about it. And also, can you not only take life but give it. And yes, I know you can. I'm interested in how effectively this can be applied to humans who've spent a very long time in stasis."
The Wraith looked at his interlocutor with curiosity. Looks like Mikhail's words about knowing many Wraith secrets weren't empty bravado. Reverse feeding is one of Koschei's race's greatest secrets.
"Deal, human," the Wraith said. "I'll tell you something about reverse feeding. Then you'll give me food. And only after that I'll finish my story."
"Sounds like a plan," Mikhail approved. "So, is aging in stasis reversible?"
"Yes," Koschei reluctantly admitted. "Like any other. We can return strength and youth to weak bodies. And we did it for our spies among humans many years ago..."