Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter who is the property of the great JK Rowling or the Stargate world which belong to MGM, Scifi, and the creators Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright. Dialogue is barrowed from episode 'Acension.'
A/N: This goes AU during the Final Battle and references are made to the first four stories in this series. I have previously posted this story on Granger Enchanted, but stopped at chapter twelve because of beta problems. I have a new beta who is helping to get me back on track and is looking over ch. 13 now. I will post a chapter a day until I am caught up, after which updates will not be as quick to come.
Chapter 1 Monday, part 1
Monday 10:23am Relative Mountain Time for Earth
Tendrils of hair that had escaped their confines plastered themselves to her neck as they met the sweaty skin that had been exposed and caused a persistent itch to make itself known. Breathing in the hot dry air, Hermione ignored the discomfort of her crouched position and tried to still her movements as the sounds of footsteps grew nearer.
Peering around the rocks they were hidden behind, Hermione watched as a small party of Jaffa marched by in pursuit of their wayward prey. Kurtis, who was pressed against her in the limited space, gave the signal and the group slowly began to move forward. Keeping a firm grip on her P90, Hermione reached behind her, grabbing the hand of a young boy of about five, and helped him down the incline as the rest of the escapees followed.
Keeping their pace steady, Scott took the lead, casting about a wary eye for more patrols as they worked their way back to the Gate. Her nerves, already on edge from trying to keep an eye on both her surroundings and on the group of kids they had rescued, became even more frayed at their slow progress. The group consisted of twelve Jaffa children from ages two to fourteen: the oldest was Kar'yn, who had proved to be a tremendous help in keeping the others in line.
They continued to cut a path through the woods as the heat of the sun beat down on them, causing Hermione to become drenched in sweat and the hands gripping her weapon to slip. The tension was thick as more time passed, and the group finally found themselves closing in on the Gate's position.
There was a unit of Jaffa guarding the ring. Coming to a halt, SG-11 drew together in a whispered discussion to plot a course of action. They couldn't risk waiting for their check-in time to pass and wait for the SGC to send back-up, not with this many Jaffa in the area. Their best chance was to take the risk while only a small guard was stationed at the gate, and fight their way to it. Scott outlined some basic ideas in the dirt, but it looked like it would basically be a firefight the whole way. "Hermione, you get those kids organized. We are going to have to make a break for it and they are going to have to keep up."
"I got it." Charged with her duty, Hermione set about explaining the situation to the kids. Most were still too shocked by their situation that they didn't react to her news; a couple of the younger ones, however, began to cry.
Before they really got going, Kar'yn spoke in a motherly tone, cutting off their tears. "Shhhh, shhhh, everything will be alright. You are Jaffa and will be brave. You will stand tall and you will face our enemy and you will not show fear."
The words seemed to work and the kids quieted and Hermione addressed the girl. "Thank you."
Kar'yn inclined her head in acceptance before once more turning her focus back onto her charges. All the kids looked to her as their leader and Hermione knew that the young woman took that role very seriously.
The MALP hadn't shown anything in the general vicinity of the gate before SG-11 arrived on the planet and began their survey of the area. Hermione took some routine soil samples, but otherwise didn't spot anything of interest. The team made the decision to follow a well worn path into the woods to see if there was a village in the area, especially after spotting the fresh footprints in the dirt.
They could hear the clattering of armor before catching sight of the first Jaffa standing guard outside of a camp. After swiftly taking cover in the brush, everyone held their breath and waited, hoping they hadn't been seen.
No alarm was sounded.
Scott made a series of hand gestures to everyone, directing them to keep low and move in for a closer look. Kurtis and Kyle took off to flank the camp while Hermione and Scott made their way up an embankment to get a clearer view of the terrain below.
The camp was obviously not a permanent residence: the shelters were temporary and it was just not large enough to be a true Jaffa village. It basically looked like a military training camp for some Goa'uld's army. The strange part was that there appeared to be a large number of children amongst the men and no women in sight. As she watched, Hermione saw a young girl bring a platter of food to one of the men. Jerking the plate from her grasp, the Jaffa backhanded the girl, who fell to the ground and cowered away. An older girl swept in to the child's aid and got her out of the way as the Jaffa who had assaulted the girl laughed. He said something to the older girl which Hermione couldn't make out from the distance she was at, but she clearly understood his next move when he grabbed the girl in a vulgar manner while she struggled away.
It wasn't until Scott seized her arm that Hermione realized she had tensed up, preparing to charge in and stop the Jaffa. With a sharp shake of his head, he pulled her away from the scene. Holding in her outrage for the moment, she followed, not wanting to cause a disturbance.
Clicking his radio, Scott called Kyle and Kurtis. "Blake, come in. What's your position?"
"We are about 50 meters from the southernmost tent. They appear to be using it as a base of operations," came the cracked reply.
Scott was silent for a moment, obviously coming to a decision as he stared into Hermione's pleading eyes before pressing the button on his radio to respond. "Keep covered, but try to get closer. I want to know what's going on in that camp."
"Yes, sir."
The waiting was difficult. Hermione knew that, logically, there was very little that they could do but bid their time and see what the others discovered. Keeping a lookout on the camp, they both studied the movements of the inhabitants while their teammates scouted the area. The sheer amount of children present boggled her mind.
Something was very wrong here.
In the short time she had been working at the SGC, Hermione had learned a lot about Jaffa culture from both Daniel and Teal'c. Children were prized and fiercely protected; they were never treated so callously or brought into a potentially dangerous situation like this. What had made this group bring them here?
Kurtis's voice sounded over the radio. "Sir, they are in a holding pattern for the moment. We got close enough to hear their conversation and it seems they are waiting for another group to arrive through the gate, bringing more captives. The kids are being held all have different symbols than the rest of the Jaffa at the camp."
With a furrowed brow, Scott sent back a reply. "Circle back and meet up with us up on the embankment."
"Understood."
Receiving confirmation Scott turned his focus back to the young woman. "What is your opinion here, Granger? What the hell is going on?"
"I'm not sure. This is very atypical behavior for Jaffa. Children are prized and protected; I have no idea what has caused this group to deviate from the norm. I would like to see the symbols the others were able to catch a glimpse of; it will help me to narrow down what Goa'uld they are in service to." It was the best she could offer without more information. Not sure how to phrase her request, she proceeded cautiously. "Sir, they are just children; is there any way we could-"
He shook his head, ignoring her. "Lewis and Blake will be here shortly."
Dropping the subject for the moment, Hermione let herself mentally review what they had learned so far, but kept drawing a blank. The shifting of the brush caught the pair's attention as the rest of her teammates joined them at their vantage point.
Once they were settled, Scott ordered, "Blake, draw some of the symbols for us in the dirt."
He used his finger, and Hermione watched the symbols take shape as he explained. "The first is the one all the guards are sporting, the rest are what we saw on various kids." He locked eyes with her, and Hermione could see the confusion displayed in their depths, looking to her for an answer. "I thought Jaffa who serviced different Goa'uld didn't associate with each other unless a new system lord claimed another's territory."
"I don't have an explanation for you; I am just as confused by this situation as you are," Hermione answered with a frown. Refocusing on the symbols that Kurtis had laid out for her, she continued. "This, the first one, is the mark of Nut. In Egyptian mythology, she was the goddess of the sky and heavens and protector of the dead. She was also the mother of Osiris, apparently a very devoted one by all accounts. The other symbols Moloch, Apophis, Nerti and a few others I'm not sure of."
An uneasy silence fell at her words since everyone was familiar with the story of Osiris and her involvement with the Goa'uld. It was how she had come to the attention of the SGC, when Daniel had visited his old alum matter and discovered evidence of a Goa'uld getting loose from an artifact. Osiris had taken control of her colleague Sarah and escaped.
Scott proceeded to put Hermione on the spot again with another question. "Can you think of any explanation for this gathering, Granger?"
Shaking her head in the negative, she responded, "I have no idea."
He gave her one last searching look before making his announcement. "Let's head back to the Gate before the next group arrives, or they remember to post a guard."
Her objection was immediate. "But, Scott, can't we-"
"It's too dangerous. We don't know enough about the situation and we don't even have enough people to mount a rescue operation. Our priority is to get back to the Gate without being caught and before our check-in has passed. The last thing we need is the SGC sending in back-up and alerting the Jaffa to our presence when we can still slip away undetected," Scott said, breaking into her objection.
Not listening to his reasoning, despite knowing he had a point, Hermione pressed on. "That is just wrong. Something is obviously not right down there and we can't just sit by and do nothing."
"She has a point, sir," piped in the previously silent Kyle.
"No. I've made my decision; we are heading back to the Gate. If Hammond decides it is worth the risk, we can come back; but until then, move out," commanded Scott, keeping his gaze fixed on Hermione.
Not willing to back down, she opened her mouth to try again, when a sudden disturbance in the woods nearby drew all of their attention. A Jaffa stepped into view and caught sight of them bringing his staff weapon forward preparing to fire. Dodging out of the way of the blast Kyle and Kurtis opened a hail of their own fire onto the guard, dropping him in less than a second. Not waiting for the rest of the camp below to react to the sounds, they took off into the trees.
Several blasts followed them and they returned the fire before losing the other guards that had been in the vicinity. Taking cover in a dry ravine, they waited for further pursuit, which never came.
As time ticked by, they cautiously followed Scott's lead, circling back around the camp toward the direction of the Gate, which they had been fleeing further from. As they got closer, the noise level increased with sounds of staff blasts and crying, and the smell of smoke was in the air.
Picking up their pace, they were met by the sight of several children crouching in the brush, hiding. At their approach the kids started trying to make a break for it, but Hermione and the others managed to corral them before they got away. While the men continued to scout the area Hermione was left to strive to calm the group and speak to them, hoping to find out what had happened. What she got were fearful murmurs as the kids clung to each other, clearly frightened by her.
The guards were still investigating when she heard the slapping of bare feet hitting the ground running toward her position. Placing herself in front of the others she took a stand as the girl who she had seen stop the Jaffa from attacking her friend earlier, ran from another Jaffa guard. Waiting for the opportune moment she squeezed the trigger and watch as the bullets slammed into the man, stopping him in his tracks.
Rushing toward the girl who had fallen to the ground and had thrown her hands up, probably as protection against the loud sound of gunfire, and tried to help her up, but was rebuked. Hermione relaxed her hold on the P90 and let it hang by its strap hoping to reassure the girl, but she continued to edge away. Struggling to get the girl to cooperate in hurried Goa'uld and join the others proved to be a challenge until another Jaffa came charging onto the scene.
Pushing the girl out of the way, Hermione didn't have time to aim before the Jaffa was upon her using his staff as a club. She didn't know why he wasn't blasting at her, but she used the good luck and slipped into a modified fighting stance.
She side-stepped the blow, allowing the momentum of the attack to unbalance her opponent, and delivered a swift kick to the back of his knee as he passed by. He stumbled at her strike, but quickly recovered and swung his staff around. It caught her in the side and she fell, letting her body roll away to lessen the impact. Struggling to stand, she avoided another swing by twisting out of the way, and went on the offensive. Gripping the staff as it once again came her way, she forced his arms up. She stepped inside his defenses to ram her foot into his stomach; Teal'c had always told her it was a sensitive point for any Jaffa. The blow bent him over and she used all her strength to push him back, maintaining his grip on the staff forcing him to his knees. He didn't break his hold on the weapon like she had hoped and shifted his weight to the side, letting her be pulled off balance, and swiped her foot out from under her.
The blow sent Hermione crashing to the ground next to the Jaffa, but before he could strike her again, the girl that had previously been forgotten surprised him by lunging at his back. Thrown off guard, he still managed to knock her away, but Hermione used the distraction to get a hold of her sidearm, which was strapped to her thigh, and fired.
Keeping an eye on the body, Hermione struggled to stand while maintaining her aim despite the fact that at point blank range it was very unlikely he hadn't sustained critical damage. Gritting her teeth as her ankle almost gave out, she turned her attention back to the young girl who was staring at her.
The silence stretched as the two studied each other before a commotion from the woods drew their attention. She breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out to be nothing more that her team running back after hearing her weapon go off. Scott was quick to inform her of what they had learned as Kurtis helped her with some field medicine to brace her ankle. "It looks like several tents suddenly caught fire, throwing everyone into confusion. There are still some Jaffa trying to put out the fires, but the kids, I am going to assume, all took off at once, causing most to pursue them further, splitting their focus, since some had already gone after us."
The girl chose that moment to speak up. "We had planned to burn them when most were asleep and use the chappai to return to our home worlds. The sound of fighting caused many to leave camp and I chose to not wait."
"Is everyone here?" questioned Scott studying the group.
The girl had already edged toward the rest of the kids and taken up a protective stance in front of them. "Everyone is here."
Nodding, Scott continued on. "Great. We need to use this confusion and make our way to the Gate. Lewis, you take point. Blake, cover our retreat. Granger, can you walk?"
Standing, she tested the ankle and frowned at the twinge of pain that action caused. "Not fast enough."
Scott looked at Kurtis and revised his earlier order. "Blake, help her; I'll take the rear." Redirecting his focus onto the group of kids he resumed giving directives. "Follow the lead and stay together."
"Why should we?" questioned the same girl who obviously was the leader of the escapees. The question wasn't directed at the Lt. Colonel, but at Hermione who she hadn't once broken her examination of since the others had arrived.
Looking the girl in the eye Hermione answered. "We can help you." The girl still wasn't moving and she added with a pleading tone, extending her hand, "Trust me." Everyone stood silent for a moment waiting. Hermione felt like a bug under a microscope as the girl scrutinized her before taking her hand.
As they began their trek through the woods, the girl stayed close to Hermione continuing to study her. Trying to ease the tension for the girl since she hated the feeling of being on display, she spoke. "By the way, since we didn't have a proper introduction, my name is Hermione."
The girl sent her one last probing stare before offering a response. "I am Kar'yn."
They made a stand for it once everyone was in position. While the kids kept hidden, Kurtis, Scott and Kyle began the assault on those guarding the Gate, while Hermione stayed back to provided cover fire. The six Jaffa didn't go down easily and the firefight lasted several minutes before the last one was taken down.
As soon as it was clear Scott began waving her forward yelling at everyone. "Move it people! Come on! Go! Go!"
Limping as quickly as she could, she was joined by Kyle who helped to pick up one of the younger children and run across the clearing for the Gate while Kurtis began dialing. They had to move quickly; the firefight was sure to draw the attention of the patrols in the area and the last thing they needed was to be trapped out in the open.
Before Kurtis could complete the dialing sequence, the Gate activated with a kwoosh, shooting out its vortex of energy, which soon settled into a shimmering surface that resembled a pool of water. Two Jaffa stepped out of the event horizon to be met by a hail of fire by her team as Hermione had all the kids drop low to the ground to avoid any stray fire. Keeping one eye on the fight in front of her, she cast her gaze into the surrounding woods in case a patrol showed up, drawn by the sound.
Two more Jaffa appeared, followed by a troop of kids who scattered at the sight of fighting, the momentary panic helped the Jaffa to be able to make a run for the forest for cover before returning fire. The kids' confusion also succeeded in splitting everyone's attention as more guards walked through the Gate and were able to get out of the direct line of fire, making a break for the trees as well before the Gate shut down.
Minutes ticked by as the fighting continued with them being pinned down by the two groups in the woods, neither side stopping, before Kurtis used his position behind the dialing device to once again punch in Earth's address. This time it worked, reactivating the Gate and encouraged SG-11 to further press their opponents, resulting in three Jaffa being taken out shortly thereafter. The lighter resistance allowed Kyle and Hermione the chance to begin directing the kids to the Gate once they sent their code through so that the iris would not be closed on them.
Kurtis and Scott took an effort to cover their retreat with more fire while Kyle took the first batch through to give the control room some warning. The remaining kids that had arrived with the Jaffa guard didn't know what to do, so Hermione rallied Kar'yn to help her herd them along. "We don't have much time I need you to help me get control of everyone who is left and get them through the Gate before more troops arrive."
Kar'yn broke away to do just that, grabbing a hold of a couple kids cowering on the ground and shoving them toward the Gate. Hermione did the same yelling out orders all the way. "Get to the Gate. Hurry! Faster, faster!"
It took longer than she would have hoped, but eventually everyone was sent through and Hermione was able to fire off a few shots while Scott and Kurtis made a retreat. Taking the hand of Kar'yn who had stayed with her, Hermione let herself step into the event horizon after making sure her teammates were following.
The landing in the control room was a little jarring as she adjusted to the new surroundings; beside her, Kar'yn stiffened at the strange environment. Most of the Marines stationed in the control room had been pushed back by the onslaught of refugees pouring through the Gate, but were still in a position to defend against an attack. Tightening her hold on the girl, she quickly guided her down the ramp to make room for the last arrivals. Spotting Kyle's questioning look, she spoke addressing everyone, "They are right behind me, coming in hot."
A few tense seconds passed before Kurtis came rolling through the Gate followed by Scott stumbling backwards with his weapon still directed at an unseen enemy shouting. "Close the iris!"
The titanium alloy metal slid into position across the Gate, hiding the shimmering surface from sight. Several thuds struck the shield before the Gate cut off.