“Not to mention that Earth isn’t the only power in the Milky Way,” Woolsey said. “I’m not sure the Wraith really want to take on the Jaffa and the Lucian Alliance.”
“And the thing is, even if they could do it, it’s still just a temporary solution,” Jennifer said. “At least it is from Todd’s point of view. He’s thousands of years old. We’d probably all be dead by the time the survivors on Earth found a way to fight back against the Wraith, but Todd probably wouldn’t be. Because they have to leave some of us alive, or they’ll eventually starve to death. And we have to keep trying to kill them all.”
“And Todd thinks this retrovirus changes the game.”
“I think it does,” Jennifer said. “If the Wraith didn’t have to kill people… okay, it’s disturbing. Believe me, having just gone through what I did with Todd, I’m disturbed. But the fact remains, there are already some humans who choose to live under the protection of the Wraith.”
“As an alternative to being horribly murdered,” Woolsey said.
“Which right now we can’t prevent. Maybe eventually we can wipe out the Wraith as a species. I have a problem with that, but it’s not going to be my decision. But right now, we can’t defend every human planet in the Pegasus galaxy. We may want to, but we can’t.”
“No, we can’t,” Woolsey admitted. “Frankly, we’re having enough problems right now just defending Atlantis and Earth. But that’s a temporary situation.”
“We hope,” Jennifer said. “Look, we’ve stopped some Cullings before, right? When we happened to be in the right place at the right time. How many haven’t we stopped? How many people have died who wouldn’t have died if the Wraith could feed without killing?”
“How many would essentially be slaves aboard Wraith hive ships, fed on again and again?” Woolsey said. “Do you really think that wouldn’t happen?”
“I don’t know,” Jennifer said. “Maybe it would, and I think that’s as awful as you do. But at least there would be a chance of coming up with something better than having the same war keep going on for the rest of our lives.”
“You’re asking me to take an enormous risk for a very slim chance that this will actually work out well,” Woolsey said.
“I’m asking you to let me find out if this works,” Jennifer said. “Here’s a cost-benefit analysis for you: how many people in Atlantis have died from being fed on by the Wraith?”
“More than I’d like,” Woolsey said after a moment.
“If this works, we could make our people immune to the harmful effects of being fed on. I wouldn’t have to send anybody else home to die that way. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s worth a lot.”
Woolsey looked at her for a long moment. “If we start down this road, there’s no going back,” he said.
“I don’t think we can go back now,” Jennifer said. “Todd’s going to keep working on this retrovirus with or without my help. Unless we’re talking about killing one of our only sort of allies among the Wraith—”
“That’s probably a strategically bad idea,” Woolsey said.
“Then he’s going to figure this out. The only question is whether we’ll have any control over how this first gets used, and whether we’ll be able to use it for our own purposes.”
“I’m probably going to get fired for this,” Woolsey said.
“Didn’t they just confirm that you were the best person for this job?”
“They’re going to wish they’d hired Dr. Jackson,” Woolsey said.
Jennifer felt her heart leap. “So can I do it?”
Woolsey closed his eyes for a moment. “You have my permission to test the retrovirus on yourself,” he said. “We’ll have to arrange another meeting with Todd to see if it’s actually effective.” He looked up at her. “You know, I’ve barely gotten back, and already I’m beginning to wonder why I wanted this job so badly.”
“Believe me, I know how you feel,” Jennifer said.
“Guide.” Queen Death’s tone was dulcet, but there was no mistaking the steel behind it, even through the subspace transmission, and he bent his head deeply in respect. “I should like to speak with your queen immediately.”
“As it please your Graciousness,” Guide said, feeling his heart leap in his chest for all that he knew there was nothing strange in his reply, “she is not aboard this ship at this time.”
Queen Death did not seem to disbelieve him, but rather smiled. “I have indeed heard that she is traveling aboard a cruiser. Is that not so?”
“It is so,” Guide said. If she had been captured…
“I understand she has met with young Waterlight,” Death said. “And I am confused as to why she has not met with me.”
“Waterlight is quite insignificant,” Guide said truthfully. “I do not think she would dare to approach you as sister to sister.”
Queen Death looked somewhat mollified, though her smile did not change, warm and dangerous as ever. “That is very respectful of her. Though I, of course, do not hold to such formality that I believe that only the elder may approach the younger! It is not such grave disrespect for the junior to speak first, provided her words are those of friendship.”
He could but nod to that. “I am sure Queen Steelflower devoutly desires your friendship,” he said cautiously.
“I am pleased to hear that,” Queen Death said. “And since she feels that she must observe the niceties and wait upon my invitation, it is incumbent upon me to provide it.” Her eyes flickered over his face. “I am sending coordinates at which I will wait for her, so that we may meet face to face as allies should, with no proxies or blades to stand between. If, as you say, your Queen does indeed devoutly desire my friendship, she will not let this opportunity go to waste.” A slow smile spread across her face. “You may tell her so, Guide. Otherwise I will not believe that her desires are so sororal.”
“Of course,” Guide began, but the transmission ended before he could phrase another word.
Ember looked at him, a crease beginning between his fair brows. “And now?” he said in a tone studiously neutral of reproach.
It could not have lasted forever, Guide told himself. Sooner or later, Queen Death would insist on seeing his queen, and he could not deny her forever. It had come sooner rather than later. But perhaps all could still be turned to his advantage.
“Find me the nearest Stargate,” he snarled. “I have a message to send.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Collateral Damage
“I do not see that we have any choice,” Teyla said. It was still weird to see her at the conference table like that, her skin tinted green and her face that of a Wraith, though not as weird as it used to be. John was getting used to it, and that was even weirder.
“How is that?” Woolsey said. It was kind of nice to see him back at the head of the table where he belonged, but nicer yet not to be there himself.
“If I do not show up for the rendezvous with Queen Death, this masquerade will be useless,” Teyla said. “I will never be able to do this again, and any future intelligence we might have gleaned will be lost.”
“And any shot at using it to get Rodney,” John added.
Jennifer cleared her throat. She looked pale, but her voice was firm. “We owe Todd,” she said. “And if we hang him out to dry about this we might as well say goodbye to our alliance.”
Ronon snorted, not looking at her. “We never should have made a deal with him in the first place. I say we let him hang. Fewer Wraith to worry about.”