Even if I suggested flinging open the doors to the Council Chamber, it hardly would reduce the tension reigning here.
"Have you lost your mind?" Panic reigned on Chaya's face.
"Cooperation with Wraith," Teyla looked bewildered. "On Athos, they kill for that. And accusation of such is the gravest insult!"
It sounded like: "In our ghetto, they'd shank you, snowflake, for less!"
"As on most planets in the galaxy," Kirik supported.
"I don't like it much either," Alvar admitted. "Can't trust Wraith."
"Especially since you offered to feed him our Genii prisoners," Chaya shook her head. "That's immoral!"
"If the Genii find out, there'll be war," Teyla warned. "And they have atomic bombs!"
"Everyone spoken?" I clarified. Seeing no one wanted to add a line, I continued:
"I know perfectly well that Wraith can't be trusted. That guy," I waved toward Atlantis's brig, "may be trying to demonstrate readiness to cooperate, but right now he's pondering a plan to screw us over."
"Sc... what word is that even?" Alvar grimaced.
"Means 'deceive'," I explained.
"So why not just say that?" the Ermenian wondered.
"Leave linguistics alone," Chaya conceded. "You promised him so much we'll work for Wraith interests for ten years. For what?!"
"Do you believe he'll want to cooperate?" I smirked. "Yes, at first he'll answer our questions—but only until he figures how to escape and reach his own."
"And he'll take knowledge about us," Kirik added. "About our defenses, numbers, capabilities."
"That's enough for Wraith to destroy us," Teyla said.
"That's why we installed hidden sensors in his cell," I explained. "While he's there, we're studying him. Abilities, behavior, analyzing how he reacts to various offers. I think if we watch the recording of our conversation, we'll see none of them—neither promises of power, nor help, nor similar—particularly interest him."
"Because cooperation with us against his own will get him killed by other Wraith," Teyla said.
"Exactly," I nodded. "So his only chance for salvation is to give only the minimum that won't greatly harm Wraith interests. But he can't refuse quite specific actions."
"You're talking about reviving the Aurora's crew," Chaya understood. "Restoring bodies after stasis."
"Exactly that," I nodded in agreement. "Essentially everything we're interested in now—their physiology, biochemistry, mental abilities, hierarchy and much more—we'll get from him without his knowledge..."
"But you removed the scanners from his cell," Kirik reminded.
"That was a prop," Chaya admitted. "All real sensors are embedded in the walls and invisible to him."
"I suspect he assumes their existence," Kirik supposed.
"Doesn't matter what he assumes," I interjected. "Seems time for questions has passed, hasn't it? In that case, hear me out first, then ask questions. Deal?"
The gathered demonstrated disagreement with the plan by their looks, but no one interjected with their particularly valuable thought.
"As I said, no hope for this Wraith's sanity, or cooperation with any others—that was just bait to demonstrate our readiness to trust," I explained. "While we need him—he must believe we're going to turn him into our ally. I deliberately put him in such frames that long-term cooperation with us would be disadvantageous for him. For him, we're too weak at the moment, no point cooperating with us. He'll try to get rid of us with maximum efficiency for himself anyway, so better know it in advance and prepare. While he's in the cell—he's an info source. And yes, with his help I intend to revive the Aurora's crew. That's all the plans I have for this Wraith. No plans to destroy some Wraith to elevate another. But I need knowledge and Ancients he can bring back to life. Then you can dissect him for analyses or samples. But only after he does his job."
"But you assume we could cooperate with Wraith," Chaya noted.
"I'm not against pitting Wraith against each other and finishing off the weakened winner. This guy can help. Like any other Wraith, doesn't matter," I explained. "But until there are only half a dozen of us, including a child, until we have only one engineer who can handle Lantean tech—we're weak. And the weak are beaten by all stronger."
"You think restoring the Aurora crew's viability will make us stronger?" Chaya clarified. "Exactly restoring them via Wraith reverse feeding method?"
"Any other options?" I inquired.
But as expected, got no answer.
"To give life to someone, a Wraith has to take it from someone," Teyla voiced.
"If we believe Koschei..."
The gathered looked at me in surprise.
"Can't call our prisoner 'hey you, green-mugged!'" I explained. "He didn't give his name, so I had to make one up. He doesn't object."
"Of course not," Alvar snorted.
"Either way, for now he's our info source," I said. "And by his words, to restore one Lantean, he'll need to feed on several humans."
"He's misleading us," Teyla voiced.
"Agreed," Kirik spoke. "We know nothing about whether it's true or not. What if he just wants more strength to escape?"
"And why are we scanning him?" I asked. "Hello, guys! He's in the cell, we'll deliver food to the cell too. Sensors will record how his state changes after feeding. We'll base on that data."
"I somehow didn't think of that," Chaya admitted. "But yes, it might work. Possibly he's not even lying. Ancients—as Lanteans, so junior races—are more physiologically developed than ordinary humans. Longer lifespan, reinforced skeleton, more developed brain..."
"Sounds like an insult," Kirik grumbled.
"We can't bring them back to life with our tech," I reminded. "But Wraith can. One specific Wraith. In the shortest term, we can bring back dozens, if not hundreds of Ancients. Knowing Lantean tech no less than Chaya. Able to repair the city, help secure ourselves and allies. That way we'll grow stronger."
"And become a greater threat to Wraith," Alvar noted. "And then they'll definitely not overlook us."
Hard to argue with logic.
Memories of ruined Ermen's sights still fresh.
"We'll solve problems as they arise," I said. "You heard the general plan. We'll stick to it for now. Questions?"
"None," Jensen answered for all. "But you must understand plans are good only until their implementation starts. Then... Total anarchy and chaos."
"The alternative is just sit and silently watch the city slowly fall apart while we age and die," I parried. "I have a different vision of my future. Anyone have similar plans for old age?"
Silence suggested no.
"In that case, meeting adjourned," I summed up. "Back to work. Teyla, you said Athosians need help in camp? I think Alvar and Kirik won't refuse. They'll show the local militia a couple-three new tricks against Wraith too."
*
After a couple hours spent alone in the mess hall, I found what—or rather who—I was looking for.
Wrapped in a warm blanket, with an Ancient laptop on her knees, the girl sat on the couch, legs tucked under her. This piece of furniture was on the observation balcony adjoining the control center. And from here opened a breathtaking view of the night city.
Night, because light hardly penetrated through the water thickness. Though, if ignoring the multi-ton ocean layer overhead and the city's shield surface glare, it really might seem like night. And that we're on the surface.
Atlantis at night. A shot from the series when the city was already on the ocean surface.