Basically, concerning 'The Return'...I'm blocked.

I wrote the first half of the fourth chapter and reached a point that I don't know how to move the chapter and thus the story where I wish. ...and whats worse...while I'm trying to figure out how to get Steve and Searian moving forward thourgh the text of their story...another story idea for a completely different show/movie(Prince Nuada of Hellboy is begging me to write him a story)jumps in the way and I start pondering that instead.

I have the worse case of ADD in history when it comes to stuff like this. If I get blocked...only a little...I jump to something else for a while and end up forgetting the first story eventually. That is what happened to all of my first stories. They are STILL incomplete for this reason.

I don't want Return to end up that way, I actually do want to finish it...but I have a hard time keeping myself focused long enough to tear the block down.

Any suggestions from my fellow writers?

Well...It seems as if my two Betas wish to collaborate with each other and make Return even better. O.o Strange yes?

The good news is that the story will be twice as good...the bad news is...I don't know when they are getting it back to me so I can post it. T.T They have each others Pennames so they can do their thing and I'm just kinda of sitting doing nothing at the moment. XD It pays to already have done my piece.  *grins*

Ahh. I apologize for the delay. I really thought the beta'ing would be completed by either Monday or Tuesday. ...that was before Amaruk popped back on and said she wanted to do the collaborating thing with SnowFox. LOL!!!

I have another Beta now...but they cannot start until Monday. Then again school always comes first right? They are studying for exams. *nods* I should have the next chapter up early next week after Snowfox finishes their testing.

Alright...I have finished with chapter three of "Return." ...I actually have been finished with it for about a week now... I sent a copy to my Beta and am now waiting for her to send it back...and she hasn't yet. I'm beginning to worry a tad bit about whether she is too busy at the moment to mess with it. She did say last time we talked(a month ago or so)that she was busy with school stuff... I'm thinking that maybe I should find a substitute Beta to cover for her while she is away...? That way I will always have some one to take care of the loose ends as I write. I don't want anyone to have to wait any longer than they already have to for the next installments of my stories, because I know it can sometimes take a while for me to finish the next part of a story.

I'm sort of a whim writer I guess. XD

*coughs* I couldn't help it. I loved their interaction. It made me laugh...a lot!! Mostly at Mckay's distress. *glomps Todd*

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Claimer: Ditto.

Beta'ed by Amaruk Wolfheart of the Wraith. I am so grateful to you my friend!

The Return

Chapter two: Gift

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Atlantis sat in the middle of an ocean surrounded by three ornamental azure alien ships. The entire scene was immersed in the ethereal silvery glow of the moon which appeared close enough to touch. Stars shown like jewels in the ebony night, and a warm breeze caused the ocean to gently lap at the base of the great city.

By all external appearances, the scene evoked feelings of tranquility and peace…but inside the city, a completely different feeling came to mind: one of panic and fear.

In a less-used section of Atlantis, an odd pair shuffled down the dark corridors toward the city’s main control room. Searian was currently being half-carried, half-dragged alongside the tall Wraith. Steve had quickly grown weary of her slow hobble and had taken matters into his own hands. Thus, her current situation. She hadn’t protested too much. She was obviously still very afraid of the Wraith, but her ankle strongly protested the abuse he put it through. It hurt her terribly. It was more than just a little broken, it was shattered. Curious how fragile the human body could be. Once a few corridors back she had let out a low moan and been immediately rebuked by the irritated Wraith. She hadn’t made a noise since.

They had encountered only one more of the strange intruders since leaving the lab in which Searian had discovered the Wraith. He had been only too happy to dispatch that one just as he had the first, quickly draining it of its life. The young woman hadn’t watched the second time; she had learned her lesson after seeing the process back in the lab. She still couldn’t block out the strangely melodious screams.

Steve came to a quick stop at the end of the corridor, his long white hair fluttering to rest around his lean frame. Keeping himself and the human as much in the shadows as possible, he cautiously scanned the area. After a few minutes of silence, he looked back at the auburn-haired woman. She flinched at the calculating look on his face. Whatever he was thinking probably had something to do with his planand she still hadn’t a clue as to what it was. He hadn’t told her anything, but then he was a Wraith and probably didn’t think her worthy or capable of understanding.

He smirked. She flinched. What’s so funny? I find absolutely nothing funny about this situation.

His smirk widened until he was grinning like a Cheshire cat, fangs bared for all to see. Of course, there was only one there to witness the impressive array of teeth.

“I know perfectly well that your kind are not brainless, human. There is no need to inform you of my strategy. You need not do anything in order for it to succeed,” he hissed with a knowing look.

“What…?” Searian stared wide eyed at the Wraith before her. “I didn’t…say…a-anything!”

“Not physically.” He cocked his head and continued to stare at her with the Cheshire grin.

“Ph-physically…? What do you…!” She paused as realization hit her. “You can read human minds?!”

Steve hissed in amusement. “No… Just yours.” The calculating look came into his eyes again. “You are somehow different than the rest of your breed.”

“Different?”

“Your thoughts are as clear as water to me. I have never come across a human with such acute telepathy. You were not aware of your gift?” The grin returned.

She was embarrassed at his apparent jab. “N-no… I wasn’t.” Pink rose to her cheeks.

He snorted and turned his attention back to the corridor ahead. “Your enemy is called the Neolus. They scavenge technology, similar to the machines you called ‘Replicators’ in your home galaxy. Of course, they have their own advanced technology as well, and they are very efficient in blending all of the different equipment together, creating a seamless whole – as you have already seen. Physically, they are weaker than Wraith. They don‘t heal as we do.”

Searian flinched at the mention of her galaxy. Oh no.

Steve let out a dark chuckle. “Oh yes, human. I see everything your mind has to offer.” He glanced back at her, smirking. “You will continue to help me long after this small endeavor.”

The young woman felt like she was going to be sick.

John Sheppard sat with the rest of his team a few corridors down from the jumper bay.

Minutes after the failed attempt to get the jumpers out of the bay to defend the city, the room had been crowded by their alien “guests.” They had simply opened the bay doors from the outside and flown in using small azure-colored ships. The ships were strangely shaped – a sort of oval that tapered to a dull point in the back.

The whole situation rather infuriated John, especially after they had fought so hard to get the bay doors open themselves.

“They can’t just swoop right in like that. It’s gotta be cheating,” John whispered from his seat on a crate, staring straight at the entrance to one of the many supply rooms of Atlantis. He shifted his grip on his P-90 to make for a more comfortable position and a clearer shot at the door. His gun hadn’t left the door for very long since they first arrived in the room twenty minutes before. “And did you see those ships? Not very threatening at all – they kind of looked like a flattened top.”

Ronon gave him a blank look from his crouched position by the door. His gun remained in its holster, though he was ready to reach for it at any time.

“A top is a child’s toy. It has a string that connects to the top and a point that sits on the floor. When you pull the string, it spins.”

“Doesn’t sound very fun to me,” Ronon replied with the same blank look.

“If it doesn’t include beating someone up, of course not.” John shrugged. “Besides…it’s a child’s toy.”

“I don’t think making fun of their ships or talking about toys is going to help us get out of this mess,” Rodney mumbled anxiously from his corner. He rubbed his arms in an attempt to calm himself. “The city should have picked them up. The recent calibrations I made to the long range sensors magnified their power ten fold. Its been working fine up until now.” He crossed his arms agitatedly.

“They have technology we have not seen thus far. It is likely the sensors did not pick them up because of that, is it not?” Teyla spoke softly. She stood close to Sheppard.

Rodney sighed miserably. “Probably… But still, they should have picked up something! An electric disturbance, abnormality…a blob! Something! Even the smallest blip. Three ships can’t just be completely invisible! We saw them clear as day on the sensors when they entered the atmosphere!”

“We can be invisible. Why can’t they?” Ronon asked, looking up at Rodney.

“Because…” Rodney stood stock still, trying to think of a reason. After a few moments he finished lamely, “It’s not fair.”

“They most likely dropped whatever they where cloaking themselves with once they entered the atmosphere.” John sighed. “And what’s not fair is the fact that we are stuck in a food supply room instead of weapon supplies. We only have three P-90s and Ronon‘s Power Ranger blaster.”

Ronon gave John another blank stare.

John shrugged again. “It’s a television show.”

“Haven’t seen that one.”

“Well, at least we won’t go hungry,” Rodney said matter-of-factly, leaning over to pick an apple out of a crate by his side.

Ronon, John, and Teyla stared incredulously at him as he took a large bite out of the shiny red fruit.

“What? I eat when I’m nervous!” Rodney muttered defensively through a mouthful of apple.

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Ahh. Chapter two, short and sweet. Sorry for that but I have found it is easier for me to update with shorter chapters than with a terribly long one. Heh.

Because it's cool. ...and I can. ^^ WOooooo! Go Wraith!