A/N
STORY SET DURING THREADS.
There are some/ a lot of spoilers of this episode (Threads) and the 2nd part of 'Reckoning' if you haven't seen it. My own take on between the gap's from the original story.
Disclaimer, I do not own stargate or affiliated with the Stargate franchise, I will not be receiving any funds from this story. I do not own any of the characters or references.
I have written some fiction before, a very long time ago. Any mistakes are my own. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter One,
The Replicators stood motionless, silencing the eerie squeals emanating from them. Almost frozen in time, the millions, if not billions of mixed metal blocks joining the replicators together, suddenly became stuck. Like a child's friendly game of stuck in mud. Each one possessing the ability to make many more of their kin, strangely seeming to favour the likeness of earthen bugs, spiders, beetles, although thousand times larger than those residing in Earthen gardens. Beneath their metallic feet lays calming red sand, just moments before each movement kicking up a tiny red sand storm. Among the landscape spent bullet casings, buildings and historic ruins lay silent. Reminiscing over the events happening before them, only seconds ago bullets flying in all directions. Direct hits scattering the replicator's inert blocks under the small red mist. From behind cover humans and rebel jaffa stood confused, not understanding why or how these destructive bugs have stopped only a few more seconds and their positions would be compromised; the battle would be lost. Without wasting this miraculous turn of events. The leader Colonel Samantha Carter and comrades continue their attack. Defending the entrance to a hidden tomb, home to an advanced powerful weapon; built by an advanced alien race known as the Ancients. Within the tomb preparing the weapon a Tok'ra and ex two star General Jacob Carter, with the help from a Goa'uld named Ba'al. Ba'al had to leave before; they could finish preparing the weapon. The replicators have managed to gain several Al'kesh and Ha'tak ships, using them in a fire fight with Ba'al's fleet, right above the planet. Looking over at the computer checking if their actions have reduced the frequency needed to eradicate the Replicators from existence. With each pushing of the large squared stone buttons, getting closer to the achieved frequency. While outside the replicators have seemed to snap back into the living, advancing forward towards the tomb, hell bent of reaching that weapon before them. Each side fighting to the death!
"Dad" shouted Colonel Samantha Carter.
"Almost there Sam" Jacob Carter shouted back through the radio.
"DAAAD" Colonel Carter shouted once more.
"0.36 Sam"
"That's close enough Dad, hit it" Colonel Carter replied, continuing to fire her beloved P90.
With that Jacob hit the button located to his left at full force. Moments later a pulsating blue wave of pure energy was released around him. At that moment the Stargate dialled, coming to life with a familiar blue kawoosh, indicating an established connection. The baby blue shimmering light, reflecting around the vicinity, like a puddle of water, in its perfection telling all that see it of a stable wormhole.
Suddenly, the pulsating blue wave went through Colonel Carter, pushing her slightly forward with the force leaving her and her comrades, otherwise, unharmed. The energy wave pushing forward not caring what is in its path, like a tsunami. Heading towards the replicators, Carter looked on, clenching her jaw in the hopes her plan will work. For if it doesn't the fate of the entire Milky Way galaxy will be doomed. Edging closer to the replicators the energy wave hit the incoming replicators with its full force. Unbeknown to them what that wave will do. The Replicators arrogantly push forward, believing the human's wouldn't have figured out what how the weapon works. With one leg touching the energy beam, following through its whole structure, leaving nothing but metallic dust in its path. The wave flying through the Stargate, through the thanks of Ba'al's software opening a wormhole through the entire Milky Way galaxy. Each planet jumping into life, the wave encompassing every planet it can reach, in turn destroying all the replicators in one foul swoop. The Tau'ri humans of earth, with their strong alliance with the Tok'ra, Asgard and newly formed Rebel Jaffa have fought once again to save the galaxy. Fought hard and achieved victory two victories today, the religious birth place of Da'kara, once more freed from the Goa'uld and now the free Jaffa has reclaiming its former home.
Cheers erupted within seconds as the realisation of victory takes hold. Colonel Carter joins in with the celebrations, seconds pass as she realises her father is not among them. Turning around her eyes focused on her father slumped over the machine. Worry becomes her, shouting out, calling her father's name as loud as she could over the chants of victory. Still her father stays still. Colonel Carter runs back inside the tomb towards her father, she reaches behind him placing a hand across his back, making sure he is breathing. Her hand feeling his fast rapid breathing, walking around to face him, worry and concern highlighting her face she watched as her father held his head within his arms.
"Dad, Dad, are you okay?" she asked, uncertainly within her voice.
"Huh!" Jacob Carter grunted looking up to the eyes of his daughter, confusing spread across his face.
"Dad, what's wrong" Her voice sounding more worried.
Jacob becoming more alert standing fully, looking around his surrounds, slowly coming back into the grips of reality, remembering the events that just took place.
"Sammie, what happened? Did we win?" Jacob eventually replied, more groggily than he'd hopped.
"Dad, yes we won, we did it! The replicators are space dust. Are you okay?" concern still spread in her face, holding on to his arm to stabilise him, although, he didn't need it.
"We did, well done kiddo!" A big grin filled his face as he continued. "I'm fine Sam, really I'm okay... I'm just tired, nothing Sel'mak can't handle." Patting her arm to try and reassure her.
Moving slowly, he made his way out of the tomb, looking at the spectacle around him. Al'kesh ships now landing, in any open space it can find, more Jaffa joining in the loud cheers of victory, relishing the sights of their new home.
Pinkish auburn clear skies, surrounded by historic sandstone buildings, pillars all encompassed by a large circle at the base of Da'kara's spiritual man made mountain top, at the food through an archway of pillars, leading up the stairs sits the Stargate. All around, cheering Jaffa leaving the confines of the Al'kesh. A truly breath taking sight. Among the cheering jaffa Sam and Jacob can see two men, Jaffa, in particular, being greeted and congratulated. Jaffa shaking the two men's hands, bowing their heads, as they make their way towards Sam and Jacob.
Stepping up towards the tombs entrance covered head to toe in metal armour their distinctive gold snaked emblems embedded in their foreheads. None other than Bra'tac and Teal'c holding out their hands to shake Jacob and Sam's, bowing in unison, before Teal'c closed the gap between Sam pulling her into a welcoming hug.
"Colonel Carter, Jacob this is indeed a great victory. Congratulations!" Teal'c bowed his head to convey his thanks.
"It is indeed Teal'c" Sam's eyes widened, her face erupting in to a larger smile.
"In all my years, I never thought this day would come. Certainly not in my life time! You are wise Teal'c to place your loyalty among the Tau'ri" Bra'tac stated.
"Teal'c we should head back to the SGC, inform General O'Neill of what has happened." Sam spoke replacing her hand on her father's arm.
"He cannot Colonel Carter, Teal'c must stay, he is the reason the Jaffa have earned their freedom. We must establish a leader. Teal'c must remain." Bra'tac said solemnly.
"Indeed" Teal'c confirmed raising his eye brow up at her, acknowledging his mentors wise words.
"Master Bra'tac is right Sam, It is important for the Jaffa nation to establish themselves. It may take some time, but is an important step, for our united alliances." Jacob gripped Sam's hand before turning to the Jaffa men and continued. "If there is anything the Tok'ra can do to aid this transition, please let us know." He finished, walking between the two Jaffa, placing his hand on Teal'c's shoulders, a silent gesture of best wishes.
Teal'c watching as Jacob passes him, arching one eyebrow as far as his face would allow, he turned back towards Sam's direction.
"Is Jacob Carter unwell?" Teal'c queried.
Sam grinned at him, but focused her sights on her fathers' back, heading slowly in the Stargates direction.
"He mentioned he is tired. I think he's just been under a lot of stress. Sel'mak is handling it. Thanks Teal'c... I think we should contact the SGC, General O'Neill will need to know you are staying put and that the mission was a success." She said Grabbing on to Teal'c's strong masculine arms.
Allowing her to hold onto his arm, Teal'c escorted her through the crowds towards the stargate, catching up with Jacob in the process. Coming up to the DHD, Jacob pressed the seven symbol address to earth.
Moving her arm to shoulder reaching for the all too familiar button on her radio, Carter spoke.
"SGC this is Colonel Carter, over." Looking across to her father holding on to the DHD for support, patiently waiting for a response; a few seconds had past, still no response.
"SGC this is Colonel Carter, please respond." This time catching Teal'c's concerned glaze. She was just about to call again when the radio sparked to life, an all too familiar voice echoing through.
"Carter! Been a bit busy here, I assume the plan worked?" O'Neill responded.
"Yes sir" she giggled.
"As if there was any doubt! What ya waitin' for? You're clear come on through."
"Actually sir, Teal'c has requested to stay on Dakara, to help the free Jaffa." Carter can almost hear the Generals brain, working over the paperwork this presented.
"Urm, Sure you bet'cha'! You and dad come on through, debrief in half an hour... Oh Cater, Mind where you step when you come though; still cleaning up."
"Yes sir, thank you sir... Erm clean up?" Carters facially expression says it all glancing between her dad and Teal'c.
"Er yeah Carter, we had a bit of a bug problem. I'll explain during the debrief"
"Yes sir, be through shortly, Carter out." Smirking slightly at the usual dry humour, Carter turned to pick up her packs and her fathers, saying her goodbyes to Teal'c.
Shortly after another brief hug and helping her dad up the steps they walked through the shimmering blue puddle event horizon. It wasn't long before the Jacob and Colonel Carter arrived at the SGC. Lost for words looking at each other and then around the compound, they couldn't quite believe what they were seeing.
Hundreds of spent casings scattered all over the floor, bullet holes imbedded into the walls. Silver dust sprayed throughout, chunks of metal missing from the ramp, scattered glass. But above all, perhaps the best sight, the sight of General O'Neill dressed head to toe in full combat gear. Carter couldn't help but stare it has certainly been a while since she seen him dressed like that, oddly she didn't realise how much she did actually miss him donning the combats. Carter was that focused on his bare arms showing through the combats, okay maybe not full combats, she corrected her thoughts; she missed his big honking, glossy eyed smile, seeing her in one piece. Something that Jacob didn't miss at all.
Jack couldn't help but steal a few seconds of checking his second in command over, he always loved the post mission Carter look. The tiredness and stress she always tried to hide, the few stray strands of blonde hair sticking out in places. He could tell that she had been stressed and under immense pressure, she always ran her fingers through her hair when she was deep in thought trying to solve a problem. Studying Carter so thoroughly he almost missed the strained look on Jacob's persona, he clearly need to lie down, his face looked completely ashen.
Walking down the stairs, slightly quicker than his knees would have liked, he walked into the corridor coming face to face with Jacob. Seeing that sam was holding on to his arm only concerned him more.
"Jacob! Is everything alright?" Jack questioned, concern resonating within it his voice.
"Yes, fine Jack Im just tired is all. It's been a very tough few days, nothing Sel'mak can't handle. Although I would like to go to the quarters and rest – if that's okay?" Jacob replied, sounding weaker than he intended.
"Yeah Sure... Whatever you need Jacob; head to the infirmary first get the post obs' done. Carter my office debriefs." Jack signalled to two airman standing guard, ordering them to take Jacob to the infirmary. Being the boss around here certainly had its perks, when the time was needed.
Heading back up the stairs to the control room, and then to his office; Carter following closely behind. Sam surveyed the area. The replicators must have been near seconds of taking over, glittery metallic dust was everywhere. She could see Siler, fiddling with the Iris controls, holding a mini vacuum under his arm, the image of tiny replicator remains between the buttons and hidden cracks and crevices sent shivers down her spine.
Arriving into his office, Jack motioned his hands for Sam to enter; closing the door behind them.
"So, Carter. Congratulations on beating the Replicators. What happened?" Jack asked moving around his desk, to sit in his big boss chair.
"Thank you sir, as you know our search led us to Dakara, the Jaffa were successful at beating Ba'al. Then we searched and came across some ancient writing under the foot of the mountain. Me and Dad worked on it for several hours, until we discovered it was a riddle..."
"Oh the Ancients and their riddles." He interrupted smirking.
"Anyway we got the door open and then started to work on the machine. Actually sir, the controls were very similar to the one that cause the time loop, that you and Teal'c were stuck in."
"Oh really!" Jack remembering a specific memory he had tried to forget, but still haunted his dreams.
"Yeah, erm anyway. We had to get to the right frequency and that's when Ba'al showed up and helped, a bit. I asked him for the program he used to infect the stargates network using Felgers virus; to see if he could use that to dial the every gate within the network simultaneously. He agreed, he came back as a hologram requesting permission to beam to the planet it upload it. To which I declined and told him to run me through it instead. Soon after we did that Ba'al said his ships were under attack from the replicators and that the replicator ship was on its way. It landed on Dakara shortly after and then we fired at them, Dad then shouted he hit the mark and I instructed him to hit the button. The gate dialled a blue wave of energy went though us, cremating the replicators. The next thing Teal'c and Bra'tac along with other free Jaffa landed and started cheering we came trough and that was it" Carter clarified, sucking in a big breathe of air, somewhere between their conversation she stopped breathing.
"Amazing job Carter well done, I need you to go to the Infirmary for your post obs then there's a few tasks that need to be sorted here. If you're up to fixing doohinkys, Siler made a mess of things trying to dial us out. Then some down time is needed for you." He said while bringing up the latest paperwork of repairs needing to be fixed.
"Yes sir, erm what exactly happened here?" Carter asked.
"Well we had an incoming wormhole, the iris failed to close replicators came in, had us corned of. Siler was stuck in one of the labs during the evac' i might have gotten to blown stuff up. Couldn't get to the self destruct and then got locked out of the program. Siler tried to dial out but we couldn't. Next thing there was an incoming wormhole, a blue wave and we kicked arse. That's pretty much it now, just plenty of repairs and paperwork. And I guess wait until Danny boy shows up.
"Sir Do you think Daniel escaped?"
"Probably, knowing his luck. He's probably trying to work out how to get back home."
"Actually sir I don't think Dan..."
"Argh Carter I don't want to hear it. It's been a long day, and it isn't over yet. Still loads of work to do, before we can be fully operational, and then we can work up a plan to get space monkey back. Until then, I want a full report on my desk by tomorrow morning."
Jack motioned for her to leave, looking down starting to pretend to go back to his paper work. Only when Carter left, shutting the door behind her, he allowed his anger to be released. All he wanted to do is walk over to her, scope her up into a massive congratulatory hug. Reassuring her that Daniel would be okay. He couldn't do any of those things. Placing his head in his hands in pure and utter defeat he growled, striking his hand across his desk, sending everything in its path on the floor.
"Damn It" he shouted, thumping his closed fists on the table, angry at himself for losing his temper.
Unbeknown to him, Jacks outburst was heard through the door. Carter felt the same initial anger; she slumped behind Jacks office door, jumping up away when she heard the loud crash. She assumed being the contents from his desk, either that or something being smashed against the door.
Not knowing what to do your say to him anymore things have become remarkably strained since she showed him the ring. As the day gets closer and closer, the doubts within her remarkable mind grow stronger and stronger.
Walking away from the door, she hurried down to the infirmary, deep in thought over everything that has just happened over the last forty-eight hours. It's been a whirlwind for sure. Impending doom, the fate of the whole galaxy, Daniel being AWOL, Jaffa finally having their freedom, all in a day's work she said allowed before reaching the infirmary doors.
"Dad! Are you okay?" Sam said concerned. Shocked that he, was laid in bed and a nurse taking his blood pressure.
"Hey kiddo, I'm fine really. It's been a long few days nothing rest wont sort." Jacob replied reassuringly.
"Dad, are you sure? This is not like you at all." She questioned again, moving closer to his bed, taking his hand into hers.
"Im sure Sam, nurse tell her."
"A few days rest and he will be back to his usual self, I've taken some bloods, pressure is a bit high, but other than that he is in perfect health." Nurse Joy answered.
"Ya' see I'm fit as a fiddle. Quit worrying kiddo" Jacob laughed.
"Ok dad, I've got some fixing to do around here. It appears as if the Replicators; tried their luck here as well..." pausing seeing the sly smirk on her father's face. "I know what, were they thinking?" Sam smiled at her father for the first time since they activated the weapon, he smiled at her.
Nurse Joy came around the bed leading Colonel Carter to an empty bed beside her fathers. She sat her down starting on the routine post mission check up. The routine search for Goa'uld entry marks, bloods being taken, temp and blood pressure. Another nurse came in the cubical, with a message from General O'Neill. Sam has been ordered to the control room. Sam knew what it was about before even getting there, no doubt Siler needing help with the Iris software. As smart as the man is, sometimes he can be a little slow at working out the problems.
Walking at a abnormal pace, almost a sprint she reached the top, of the stairs to the control room, only to wish she could walk straight back out again. The control room was a mess; it looked as though Siler got a bit too carried away with that vacuum.
"Colonel Carter, Im sorry...Erm, Im not quite sure how to put this back together, General O'Neill wants the gate fully operational in a few hours." Siler apologised.
"Well you better tell him it's going to take a bit longer than that. What did you do vacuum every wire?"
"I wanted to be thorough; I never want to see those bugs again."
"Go tell him, I'll be as quick as I can." Sam ordered.
Without saying anything else Siler disappeared. Carter definitely didn't want to see O'Neill at all today, with the mood he's in now. Cracking on with the task at hand, picking up a screwdriver.
It took her almost three hours to repair the control console, the Iris now fully operational and the computers are half way through the gate diagnostics test. Gave same ample time to eat her favourite blue jello and down a nice big cup of coffee that General O'Neill personally brought to her. He had a good vent at Siler; he seemed to calm down a bit when he saw Carter there under the console, doing her magic to fix everything again. The SGC is truly in debt to this outstanding woman, without her half of the protocols and systems wouldn't even exist. Once this program is finished, Sam's new mission she ordered herself; a nice steaming hot shower followed by going to her quarters to sleep.
Jack came out of his quarters after a few well rested hours of sleep, he was called back into work apparently some problem with the new blast door, he needed to resolve. Jack rubbed his eyes, stretched, jumped out of bed into his private bathroom, washed his face; put his shoes back on opening the door. Only to hear a scream, making him jump in turn, bumping full frontal into a freshly showered Carter. That on its own isn't uncommon. Since all of SG-1 shares the same corridor to their private quarters. What was uncommon was the fact she had very skimpy lose fitted pyjamas on.
"Carter, what are you doing still on base?" Jack startled.
"Oh, er... Well it's a bit, er late to go home, and im a bit too tired to drive my bike home." Sam replied trying not to sound too nervous.
"Wouldn't Pete be wondering where you are?"
"Erm no we don't live together and he's... erm never-mind. Goodnight sir."
Not wanting to talk anymore she opened her door turning around giving O'Neill a smile and shutting the door behind her. 'Yep this couldn't get anymore worse' he thought, heading straight back to his office, yet another day another dollar.