Chapter 1
Daniel, Sam, Teal'c & Katya had just arrived back at SGC.
"Welcome back" said General O'Neill
"Thank you O'Neill"
"Well come on T anything interesting happen?" Jack asked quizzically. Teal'c saw him raise an eyebrow and knew that Jack like to jest with him. In fact Jack did that with a lot of people to generate a sense of togetherness, and camaraderie. Good qualities in a leader.
"I'll give you all one hour to clean up and we debrief in the meeting room at 17 hundred hours" and off he walked, presumably towards his office.
Katya, looked at SG-1, and the general, how at ease he made people. She knew things had just gone tits up, and not in a good way. She sighed to herself and went to her quarters for a towel, right now she thought a shower would be fan-bloody-tastic. Sand just gets everywhere.
One hour later they were all sitting in the briefing room, next to the General stood another man, to Katya he looked unbelievably handsome; and not human in the least. He was wearing SWAT trousers, with combat boots, and grey t-shirt, and a bullet-proof jacket. Katya wondered if he was really that paranoid.
Mark was about to say something, and he noticed that the vampire couldn't take her eyes off him. What was her name again, mmmm, oh yes Katya. He remembered her, a century old vampire, give or take a few years. "Well folks, I spoke to Daniel a half hour or so ago, and he mentioned the name 'Atavus'. Is this right?" Mark noticed that he got a show of nods, and agreement. "I've had the opportunity to make a few calls"
"Talks like a women, really"
"Thanks Jack"
"My pleasure"
Mark was beginning to notice that there were a few smiles around the table, and decided to go with his friends levity "Well no change there then eh Jack. Now as I was saying the word 'Atavus' as far as I can tell refers to a species of vampire. They are very old, and may be spacefarers. But they do predate humanity according to the files. The case according to various diary entries etc I've just read refer to a 16th Century Knight beheading one". Mark pressed a button on his laptop and a sketched drawing appeared showing what an Atavus looked like, with it's 'magical' claws, "while they do not need blood to feed, they actually drain the life energy of a person by plunging said claws into an individuals heart. Some of the slightly less reliable tales make reference to instances of cannibalism. So it would safe to assume even vampires or mutants can be drained. Any questions"
"Where do you get all this good stuff?" asked Jack.
"Since I got past the books 'Spot the Dog', and I suppose you only read the magazines about Paris Hilton?"
"You don't know what you're missing" said Jack.
"Actually, I know her family quite well been to a few of their parties, but that's beside the point"
"Son of bitch"
"Don't worry Jack next time I'm invited I'll take you along"
"You're a buddy. Now any serious questions?" asked Jack.
"Can I have a look at your reference books about the Atavus?"
"Sure Daniel, it's on DB anyway, makes it easier to interface"
"That's database Danny boy" said Jack in his helpful tone.
"How do you kill one" asked Teal'c
"They do not have the weaknesses of ordinary vampires. Neither silver, Kneblasch, a type of poison will not work. They are 'daywalkers', so I'd stick to either shooting enough holes in it and then beheading it, or blow it up"
"They walk in the day"
"Yes they do Katya. It is possible to make vampires into daywalkers, but the how is a closely guarded secret to those that know, if they are still alive"
"The vampire nation would 'kill' to get that information" said Katya. Mark noticed that she reduced the emphasis on the word 'kill' a bit, and knew what she meant.
"How would you know they predate humanity since we are the only real ones to have developed libraries to hold our records" asked Daniel.
"Some of the information is in old 'demon' dialects and scrolls that were scanned in. Took awhile, but I've given the access codes to Jack to make it available to you Daniel. When it comes to languages, you're far better than me"
"Oh thanks".
"Anyway Jack. That's all the information I have. I have to go. Everyone be careful, it sounds like it is getting dangerous out there". With that Mark started to walk out of the room and stopped at the door turning back, "oh Jack, are we still on for monthly fishing trip next Thursday"
"Yep"
Katya noticed that as he left she started to breath properly again.
"I didn't know both of you were going fishing" inquired Daniel.
"Oh yeh, gives us a chance to swap a few secret files, beers, a story or two, and discuss women lying on any nearby beaches"
"Are we all invited then?" asked Daniel eagerly.
"If you want to come fish. No grouching like you usually do, and yes there will be fish this time. Actually you know one of the others anyway, an old scholar friend of yours"
"Who?"
"Adam Pierson"
"He's only one that supported some my of ideas about the pyramids"
"I know. Anyway, as we have no idea where the Goa'uld went with the sarcophaggai of the Atavus, as far as I'm concerned it is business as usual. When you meet one, then you can panic. Questions", Jack asked, and got general shakes of the heads; "good, then you'll be leaving for your next destination in about four hours. At the other side of the gate you'll be meeting Jacob and proceeding onwards with him on on Al'kesh. See you in four hours. I have a call to make to the President"