A Twist in the Myth: Sereclipse

by Kashoku1

SG-1 is no stranger to the odd and unusual, but when they find themselves on a mission to a planet called Spira nothing will prepare them for the technology the world has to offer. Their first encounter with the locals is with a pair of sphere hunters known as Sereclipse, and nothing is the same when they willing to share their amazing technology with the new strangers from Earth.

1. Chapter 1

"Shimatta!" Kage growled, jumping back as a yet another fiend appeared before her. It didn't give her a moment's pause before it attacked, swiping its sharp claws at her practically bare abdomen. Effortlessly, Kage twisted out of the way and brought her sword down on the fiend's back with a snarl. "Where the fuck are all of you coming from?"

The new fiend didn't give her a moment's respite as it came around for another attack, Kage parrying its claws with her sword. She loved fighting without a doubt, but even she had her limits and she was starting to get tired. Kage wasn't sure how many more fiends she'd be able to fight before she started making mistakes, ones that could get her killed, but she knew for a fact that she wasn't giving up. She'd be damned if she ever turned back on a sphere hunt, especially not when she could see the glow of the sphere peeking around the corner ahead.

The only thing that stood between Kage and the sphere was this fiend, and it wouldn't be a problem much longer. With a grin, Kage adjusted her grip on her sword and immediately went on the offensive. That sphere was hers.

~*~

Kashoku smiled softly, breathing deeply the ocean air as she watched a few birds fly past, their wingtips just skimming the edges of waves. It was so peaceful in Besaid, which was exactly why Kashoku had chosen to keep a tent in the village even during her Sereclipse years.

Kashoku let her thoughts drift to Kage, the other half of their sphere hunting group, and wondered where in Spira she was now. When Kashoku had first departed from the group to pursue her career in singing Kage had kept her informed on where she was whenever she left an area in what Kashoku figured was the hope that the other would choose to join her again. As the years passed, however, and Kashoku continued to just cheer Kage on from Besaid or Luca that news slowly stopped coming until Kashoku only knew where Kage had been when Rikku grumbled about the Gullwings's encounters with the blonde. It saddened Kashoku what their friendship seemed to be deteriorating to, but Kashoku never voiced this to Kage when the other visited her. They rarely got to see one another anymore with their schedules - mostly with Kashoku's schedule - and Kashoku never wanted to ruin those moments by bringing it up. There was also the fact that with as busy as Kashoku's manager, Matsu, was keeping her, Kashoku never really had the time for those conversations anymore anyway.

"I thought that I would find you here."

Kashoku glanced behind her, brushing her honey brown hair back as the wind swept it into her face. With a smile at the other woman Kashoku stood up and turned to face her. "I just came out here to watch the ocean a bit," Kashoku said, stepping from the large rock she had been sitting on to the beach sand.

"It is beautiful," Yuna agreed, her eyes - one blue, the other green - bright in understanding as she gazed out at the ocean. The two women stood there for many minutes before Yuna broke the calm silence. "I was wondering if you wanted to join me at the Gunner's Gauntlet?"

Kashoku grinned happily, having missed practicing with her dress spheres in all the chaos involved in singing. "Of course! It would do me good to practice. I'm sorry I haven't been able to join you much lately," she apologized as they made their way by foot for the Gauntlet. Whenever Kashoku was free she would return to Besaid to relax and she and the High Summoner had grown into the habit of spending their days at the Gunner's Gauntlet together. Kashoku always looked forward to those days because they were when she could let out any frustrations she was feeling without the fear of being judged, but her schedule had kept her away from the island for the past several months.

"Don't worry about it. You're here now," Yuna said as she drew her Al Bhed pistols. "When I heard that you were on Besaid I thought I would try and catch you before you headed back to Luca. How long will you be able to stay?"

"Only today," Kashoku explained regretfully. "I have to be back for rehearsal tomorrow, and there's a performance later in the day."

"Then we'll surely make the most of your time here."

"I look forward to it," Kashoku laughed, beginning to enjoy herself much more now that she was with a friend. She was glad that she had called off today's rehearsal and had come to Besaid instead. Matsu had been working her like crazy and only hours ago Kashoku had been at the point of being sick of her own voice. She would probably regret running away tomorrow, but at the moment Kashoku was willing to accept the consequences. The thing she missed most now that she was famous on Spira, other than her friends, was the ability to do what she wanted; to make her own decisions without someone clucking their tongue at her in disapproval. Kashoku had until tomorrow afternoon's final rehearsal before the performance, and she was definitely going to spend that time on herself for once.

Surely she deserved just one day of freedom.

Kage dropped her sword with a clatter next to the sphere stand as she kneeled down in front of it, wincing as a newly acquired wound was aggravated by the movement. "As many fiends as I went through to get to you," Kage grumbled as she started checking the sphere over, "You had damn well better be interesting at the very least."

The realization that the sphere wasn't a dress sphere didn't really disappoint Kage so much as it annoyed her. She already had all the dress spheres that she wanted – and then some – but Kage wasn't really interested in carrying a chunk of Spira's history around either.

Frankly, she didn't give a damn what had happened on Spira before she was born and part of her was inclined to just leave the damn sphere here for some other hunter to find. Kage hadn't just spent the whole day fighting fiends to walk out empty handed though, so she went ahead and looked the sphere's information over. If there was nothing of interest, she would just sell it to some fool at a Sphere Theatre. If it was interesting though, then it'd be something to rub in the Gullwings's faces later. And one thing Kage never missed was the change to rub something in her rival sphere hunting group's faces.

Scanning over the information so she knew what important bits to rub in Rikku's face next time she saw her, Kage's eyes caught on a single phrase. "Eternal Gateway..?" she murmured, brows furrowed. Kage had never paid any attention to history in school, but even she knew that an Eternal Gateway had never been mentioned in the curriculum. "What the hell is that?"

Growing curious Kage continued on, paying more attention now as further information about the Gateway was given. By the end of it, Kage was left staring at an old map of Spira, a small grin beginning to work its way onto her lips. Whatever the Eternal Gateway was, it sounded like a huge discovery and it seemed like exactly what Kage needed to show the Gullwings who was best - Sereclipse. After all, if the Gateway had never been mentioned in school then that must mean that no one had ever found it. That was all Kage needed to know and she quickly made up her mind.

Shoving herself to her feet, Kage took the sphere, picked up her sword, and started the long walk to the exit. Lunestis, the airship Kashoku and Kage bought for their Sereclipse purposes, wasn't far from the entrance to the cave and Kage boarded it quickly, programming in her destination. Kage's first stop would be Besaid, and if she couldn't find Kashoku there, then Luca.

Sereclipse had disbanded a long time ago, but no matter what Kage still considered Kashoku as a part of the team. There was no way Kage was going to leave her best friend out of what seemed like the biggest find Sereclipse may ever make, whether Kashoku actually wanted to be part of it or not. Kage couldn't help but think of the Eternal Gateway as the hunt that could bring the two friends together again.

~*~

"I should probably go back soon," Kashoku said with a sigh. She had had a lot of fun at the Gauntlet with Yuna, but she didn't want to take up all of the High Summoner's time. She just wished she didn't have to return home yet. Despite the fact that she would be alone in the tent, time would seem to fly by once she stepped through the door until it was time to return to Luca and to the fame. Yuna glanced at her and smiled knowingly.

"To rest for the performance?"

"Yes," Kashoku nodded. "It's only a short one to promote a charity, but I don't want to be ill-prepared…"

"Perhaps a walk would help," Yuna suggested for her friend.

"Perhaps so," Kashoku agreed. "Thank you for inviting me today."

"You looked like you needed it."

"I did," Kashoku admitted. "I had fun."

"Good. Enjoy your walk, Kashoku. I think I'll return now as well and pay Wakka and Lulu a visit. Good luck in your performance tomorrow."

The two women parted ways, Yuna heading for the village as Kashoku started on the longer route to get back to her tent, not really wanting to rush back home. Kashoku's reluctance wasn't because she didn't want to do the performance tomorrow. On the contrary, she loved to sing. It was just that in Luca, Kashoku never seemed to be able to get any peace and the stress was getting hard to manage alone.

Here in Besaid, Kashoku was able to walk around without being hassled by any fans and was able to just be her. No where else in Spira was she able to have such freedom due to everyone constantly looking to her as their favorite celebrity, always waiting for her to either set an example or to screw up.

It was exhausting to deal with, especially on top of Matsu always pushing for Kashoku to make herself appeal to the crowds more. Kashoku sighed as she recalled Matsu's idea of 'appeal' and shook her head. "After this performance, I think I'm going to tell Matsu I need a break," she murmured softly, disappointed in herself for having to come to this. "I have got to get away from all of that for a bit longer than one day..."

Kashoku's attention was drawn to the sky as a large aircraft passed overhead, heading for the village. Kashoku stared after it in shock for a second before a large smile blossomed across her lips. "Kage..." Kashoku instantly regretted her decision to take the long way to the village. Kage wouldn't know that she was there, so her friend was most likely just going to perform a cursory look around and then leave again when she couldn't find Kashoku. Biting her lip, Kashoku broke into a run for the village. She just hoped that she got there in time.

~*~

Kage walked through the village in Besaid warily, keeping an eye on everything around her. She never really saw the appeal to the island that Kashoku had. True, there were many kind people on Besaid, but Kage had always been more interested in the fact that there were also many people there that she recognized, far more so ever since Sin had been defeated. The first time Kage had come with Kashoku to the village after a sphere hunt Kage had commented on that and Kashoku had smiled. Kage was just glad that it hadn't taken Kashoku much longer to realize the warning for what it was. Naïve Kashoku may be, but she wasn't stupid.

Kage just hoped that Kashoku knew what she was doing living in such a place. Although, as Kage stopped in front of Kashoku's tent she wondered if Kashoku was living there at all. A look inside the tent confirmed that Kashoku was on Besaid, but the many items Kashoku had brought with her and scattered around couldn't even begin to hide the barely lived in look the tent held.

"Well at least I don't have to go to Luca," Kage muttered, stepping in and making herself at home. She didn't know how long she was going to be waiting for Kashoku, so it was best to start getting comfortable. Kage glanced at Kashoku's sphere stand but made no move to put the sphere in it yet. Until Kashoku got there, she didn't want anybody to wander by and get a peek at it. Instead, she set about to redressing the gash on her leg which had started bleeding anew during her walk to the tent. Kage would be more than grateful when Kashoku got there to heal the wounds with her White Mage abilities.

Kage's head snapped up as she heard a set of footsteps stop just inside the tent, her sword in her hand before she even straightened up. "Get out."

The woman raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she gave Kage an interested look. "What a hostile way to greet an old friend, Kage. I just wa-"

"Go to hell," Kage cut her off coldly.

"Wanted to see how you were doing. It has been so long." The woman smiled and Kage sneered at her in response.

"Never couldn't even be long enough, Shika. Now, I won't say it again. Get. Out."

Shika's bright green eyes darkened as she gave Kage an angry look. "You ungrateful little bitch," she snarled, her anger twisting her features until her attractiveness faded. "Who are you to think you can just leave whenever you want? We're giving you another chance here and you act like this?"

Kage simply shifted into a fighting stance. "Kage, think reasonably here," Shika tried, attempting to hold back her anger. "What good are you without us?"

"I find it funny how you just used 'good' in a sentence referring to you," Kage said.

"Kage!"

"Get out, Shika, or I swear I will kill you here and sleep all the better for it," Kage threatened, her dark blue eyes serious.

"Deny it all you will, Kage, but you know it's true. You run around here killing fiends and finding spheres, but that's an empty existence. You have no purpose as long as you do that. You're just wasting your immortal days screwing around, letting your talents go to waste!"

"As much as I appreciate your concern, Shika, it's my life and I'll live it how I want to. And for the record, I'd rather those talents went to waste than use them for you again."

"You're making a huge mistake, Kage," Shika warned.

"That mistake was made many years ago. Now I'm just fixing it," Kage said, smiling thinly.

"You don't understand the chance you're being offered here, Kage. If you were anyone else, we'd have already killed you. The only reason I haven't personally slit your throat is because-"

Kage lunged at Shika, bringing her sword down in an arc in the exact spot where the woman's neck had been before she'd dodged backwards. Shika glowered at her from outside the tent, her hands near her hidden knives but not willing to pull them out in public. "Try it, Shika, and yours will be the first body to hit the floor," Kage said, her voice deathly soft.

"If they weren't protecting you," Shika growled, "you would have been buried long ago."

"Go fuck yourself."

Shika spit on the ground near Kage and stormed off leaving Kage to frown after her. Who the hell had Shika been talking about? The only person on Spira that would even give a damn if someone killed Kage or not was Kashoku and Shika certainly wouldn't hold back on the singer's behalf. With a frustrated sigh, Kage banished her sword and practically collapsed onto a chair as she began to remove her wound dressing. The fast approaching footsteps reassured Kage that she wouldn't need it anymore.

"Kage?" Kashoku asked, just slightly out of breath as she hurried into the tent. When she saw Kage staring at her, she closed her eyes in relief. "I'm so glad you're okay…"

"And I wouldn't be why..?"

Kashoku ignored her friend's grumpiness as she gave her a tight hug. "One of the villagers said they had seen you head here and that you were injured… When I saw Shika leaving, I was worried she had taken advantage of the situation and had done something."

Kage snorted derisively. "I could be half-dead and Shika still wouldn't be able to do anything to me, Kashy. You worry too much."

Kashoku said nothing, switching to her White Mage dress as she took a look at Kage's leg. "Kage, you need to be more careful," she murmured as she cast a healing spell on Kage. When she pulled back, Kage looked as good as new.

"And here I thought I was being careful in not hunting those assholes down and killing them all," Kage said calmly as she stood up and headed for her bag.

"Kage," Kashoku frowned, her large brown eyes filled with concern. "You promised me you wouldn't start anything with them."

"I didn't!" Kage snapped, throwing her bag to the side as she held the sphere she had found earlier. "Shika just invited herself in and I showed her out nicely, when what I really should have been doing was silencing that mouth of hers forever."

Kashoku sighed and pulled Kage into a hug. "I just worry about you, Kage. They've left you alone for the most part since you quit doing their dirty work, but… I don't want them to tempt you into starting something that you can't come out of."

Not wanting to talk about this any longer, Kage pulled away from the hug and headed for the sphere stand, Kashoku following her curiously. "Did you find something on your last hunt?" she asked, letting the argument drop.

Kage's features brightened and she threw a quick grin back at her friend. "Hell yeah I did. This is actually why I came to find you."

Kashoku made a show of pouting, although she really was a bit upset that Kage hadn't come just to visit her. "Is that the only reason you came?"

Kage rolled her eyes, but humored Kashoku anyway. "I guess I might have missed you a little bit, too."

Kashoku smiled, her mood lightening also as she noticed Kage's veiled excitement. "You really found something good, didn't you?"

"Kashy, if it was bad, it would be sold by now," Kage snorted. After a moment, she smiled and looked back at Kashoku. "But yeah… I really think I did, Kashy. I was actually wondering if… Never mind," Kage cut herself off. "Come look at this first."

Kashoku furrowed her brows for a second, wondering what Kage had wanted. Deciding she could find out in a little bit, Kashoku joined Kage beside the stand and watched as Kage activated the sphere. Beside her, Kage was grinning like a fool, staring at the sphere with the sort of eagerness they had both held on their very first sphere hunt, something Kashoku hadn't seen her have for more years than she could remember. Curious, Kashoku shifted her gaze to the sphere as it began retelling of the Eternal Gateway, quickly enrapturing her with its brief description.

"Eternal Gateway…" Kashoku murmured. "It's in Old Spiran." Kashoku turned, giving Kage a quizzical look. "Have we ever found a sphere in Old Spiran before?"

Kage shrugged. "I never really noticed," she admitted. Kashoku's smile said everything. "Hey, if you're asking me, you must not have noticed either!"

Kashoku's eyes shone with mirth as she turned back to the sphere to spare Kage. "I'm pretty sure they've all been in New Spiran, but I wasn't sure about the ones you've gotten lately."

"We'll assume they were in New Spiran," Kage said, staring at the old map of Spira that was projected as though it were a puzzle she wanted to solve. "That does lead to the question of why this one isn't, though…"

"The map is old, isn't it? The land is still so young and mostly in one piece. Spira is a relatively young planet, but this…it is almost as if this was created at Spira's birth," Kashoku eyed the map curiously.

"Well," Kage shrugged, "It makes sense, doesn't it? Old people preferring to put their spheres in Old Spiran. We use both languages so casually nowadays I hardly tell the difference what I'm speaking anymore.

"I suppose so…"

"You know what that means, though, don't you, Kashy?" Kage asked excitedly. "Whatever is through the Eternal Gateway is important if it's this old! We've got to find it now."

"Kage, it could be anywhere on Spira…"

Kage shook her head. "The map the sphere is showing is of Spira and, as you can see, gives a pinpoint for where the Gateway is," she said, pointing out a part of the projection that Kashoku hadn't seen until then. "One guess what the first problem is."

"Drift," Kashoku said. "The land formation has changed and drifted since this was made. That shouldn't be too hard to adjust though. If we just compared this map to a current one of Spira, we should be able to figure out the general area of where the Gateway is hidden."

"We?" Kage asked, grinning.

Kashoku quickly realized what she had said and cast an apologetic smile at her friend. "Sorry, Kage. I got caught up in the moment and forgot that this isn't what I do anymore."

Kage's frown was instant. "Kashy… I know you're really into this singing crap and I support that I guess, but… I really want you to join me on this one. As big as this find is, don't you think Sereclipse deserves to find it?" Before Kashoku could say anything, Kage jumped to her feet, determined to ward off any excuses Kashoku might make. "Hell, you don't even have to rejoin after this. It could just be for old times' sake or something. But I really want you to work with me on this, for this to be our find."

Kashoku frowned, biting her lip as she thought about it. She had to admit, the Gateway, which seemed to hold something important if Kage's theory was correct, was very tempting to go after. And really, the chances of Kage finding it now that she knew it existed were nearly 100%. That Kage had stopped to come and ask for Kashoku's help meant that her friend really did want her there despite how much they had drifted apart in the last few years. Maybe, though, this was Kage's way of acknowledging that drift and her attempt to fix it. That alone made up her mind.

Kashoku smiled at Kage, instantly abating the worry in the blue eyes. "When are we going?"

"The moment we figure out the destination," Kage responded promptly. She couldn't believe that Kashoku had accepted so easily! Kage couldn't stop the grin from forming on her lips again. Maybe there was hope for Sereclipse after all, even if Kashoku never hunted with her again after this.

Kashoku had figured Kage would say that. The bigger the find, the sooner Kage always liked to start on it. Kage really was paranoid about other sphere hunters getting to her prizes before her, even when she knew she'd be the only one hunting for a particular item. "You do realize, Kage, that if what we find benefits all of Spira, we can't keep it to ourselves."

Kage snorted. "Like hell! You forget that whatever is behind the Gateway wasn't supposed to be found."

"We don't know that for sure, Kage," Kashoku reminded. "But if what we find is best left hidden, then I suppose we'll just leave it there."

"Not keep it?"

"Kage, you're hardly the person who should be keeping anything that is bad enough to be hidden from all of Spira," Kashoku laughed.

Kage sighed heavily, blowing her long blonde bangs out of her face in annoyance. "You're a pain in the ass to hunt with, Kashy. Why do we have to share what we find with anybody?!"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Kashoku said simply, smiling as she listened to Kage grumble some more. Kashoku hadn't realized how much she had missed her friend until now. She had no idea how she was going to handle it once this hunt was done and over with and they both went back to their separate lives. And speaking of separate lives…

Kashoku sighed, "The one hitch in all of this is that I've got a performance tomorrow afternoon."

"So cancel it," Kage said, rolling her eyes.

Kashoku bit back a sharp comment and calmed herself. "No. I'm not going to disappoint my fans like that, Kage. Look, why don't we just figure out where we're heading and then we'll worry about my concert after that," Kashoku reasoned. "It's only noon now so we can easily start looking today and just work until tomorrow afternoon. If we haven't found the gateway by show time tomorrow, it's just a small charity event so it'll only take about an hour out of the search. I'll return right after it and we'll continue on looking."

Kage shrugged, not really caring. "Fine, whatever. I'll go get a map."

Kashoku just sighed. When Kage returned, Kashoku took the map and began comparing them, letting Kage flop down on her bed. After a few moments, she smiled, marking a spot on the current map. "I think I've got something."

"Wonderful," Kage said, rolling onto her side to peer at the two maps over Kashoku's shoulder. "Care to share?"

"If you look, Bikanel Desert is really close to where the Gateway was marked as having been. Going by the paths the other landmarks took I'd say it's a pretty safe bet to say that that's our place."

Instead of saying anything, Kage watched Kashoku's face closely, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Kashy… You're planning something and I have the distinct feeling that I'm going to want to say hell no to whatever it is."

Kashoku sighed and put the current map of Spira down carefully. Turning to face Kage, she put on her game face. "What I'm thinking," she said slowly, knowing that Kage wasn't going to like her plan, "is that we should talk to Nahla and get a search set up."

"I can live with that," Kage said grudgingly, her sharp eyes still watching Kashoku closely.

"And, though I know you won't like it, that we should ask the Gullwings for help."

"I knew it!" Kage jumped from the bed angrily. "You want to let the Gullwings in on this?! How could you even suggest that to me?!"

"Kage," Kashoku said exasperatedly, "Rikku knows the Bikanel Desert. If the Gateway really is there, she'll be a big help."

"Oh yeah, I can see it now," Kage sneered. "She'll find it by tripping over the damn thing while trying to figure out where the hell she is. Rikku isn't worth counting on, Kashy. We should just do this ourselves."

"And prolong the hunt for who knows how long? Kage, please think about it. You just don't want to share whatever we find and you know it. If what's through the Gateway can help Spira in the long-run, don't you think we should share it?"

"That would depend entirely on what was actually through the Gateway," Kage said coldly, furious with Kashoku for even suggesting asking for the Gullwings's help. Kashoku may be friends with the trio, but Kage sure as hell wasn't and Kashoku knew that! The other should have known better than to suggest working with the Gullwings on something that would be the ultimate victory over Sereclipse's rival sphere hunting group.

Kashoku closed her eyes briefly. She knew Kage wouldn't want to agree to this, but why did she have to be so controversial about it? "Kage, if you really don't want to share anything with the Gullwings, then we can just fight them for whatever is there. Or if it makes you feel better, we can steal it."

"You mean I can steal it," Kage sneered. "You're useless as a thief, Kashy. I might as well do it myself."

Kashoku clenched her fists, eyes flashing. Kage may be upset with her, but that was absolutely uncalled for. "Kage, I know you don't like this idea, but you have no right to treat me like this!" she snapped. "When you're out sphere hunting, you can treat whoever how you want to, but don't you dare act as though I don't deserve to be treated properly. I am your friend and you know I'm just trying to help here. So unless you want to just find the Gateway on your own, I'd advise you think about your words before you spit them!"

Kage met her gaze icily for several minutes before Kage finally looked away. Most people would have accepted that sign of defeat as an apology, but Kashoku wasn't most people. She put up with Kage's attitude a lot and didn't mind it most of the time, but she wasn't going to let an insult slide. Kashoku had always wondered if part of the reason Kage acted the way she did was because no one had ever called her on her attitude.

Kashoku broke from her musings as she heard the barely audible apology. She could ignore the 'Although you are a crap thief.' that followed since it was actually true. Sighing, Kashoku continued on. "Okay, so maybe you'd be stealing it alone, but it's always an option. I know how much you enjoy outwitting Rikku and rubbing it in her face later…" Of course, Rikku did the same thing whenever she outwitted Kage, but Kashoku didn't think she needed to bring that up, especially when it looked like Kage was actually considering her words now.

"So we don't actually have to share anything with them, right?" Kage asked.

"I suppose not..." Kashoku admitted hesitantly. She almost found herself hoping that whatever the Eternal Gateway led to was better kept secret from Spira, if only to prevent the drama that would ensue.

"So really, we'd just be using them to get to the Gateway faster," Kage pressed, a slight smirk tugging at her lips.

Trust Kage to focus on something like that. If that belief got the other to willingly work with Yuna, Rikku, and Paine without any more fuss, though, Kashoku could live with it. "I would really prefer to say it some other way, Kage, but yes, I suppose we are."

"Excellent! I'm all for it then, Kashy," Kage said, full out smirking now. "It's not every day that I get to have the Gullwings do my dirty work while I skip out with the prize."

"That's assuming there is a prize to be had at all," Kashoku reminded. "You only get to keep it if it's acceptable for Spira."

"You know, Kashy," Kage said coolly, "you really should come sphere hunting with me more often. I'd forgotten how much you piss me off."

"Kage, I thought we had agreed that if whatever is there is best left hidden, we weren't going to take it."

"You did," Kage nodded. "Then I realized which was more likely out of it being acceptable or not acceptable for Spira, especially since it'll be you deciding."

"Kage."

"Fine, fine," Kage grumbled. "We'll leave the damn thing alone if Your Majesty says so."

Kashoku smiled and couldn't help but tease her friend. "I'm so proud of you, Kage."

Kage rolled over and turned her back to Kashoku, showing quite clearly what she thought of the other at that moment. Kashoku laughed and stood up. "I'm going to go speak with Yuna about our request. Do you want to come?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be before she even voiced the question.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Just thought I would offer..."

"And here I thought thinking required one to use their brain," Kage sniped, but her words didn't hold any real barb to them.

"Funny, Kage," Kashoku sighed. "I'll be back soon."

"Have fun with that," Kage called uncaringly.

~*~

Wakka and Lulu's tent wasn't very far from Kashoku's, so it didn't take very long for her to arrive. Luckily, Yuna was still there. Ever observative, Lulu was the first to take notice of their guest.

"Well this is a surprise," Lulu said quietly. "Hello, Kashoku."

Yuna and Wakka both looked up at the woman's words, Yuna sending Kashoku a soft smile as Wakka greeted her cheerfully, his blue eyes shining brightly. "What brings you here, ya?"

Kashoku smiled at them all. "I actually wanted to propose something to Yuna and the rest of the Gullwings." Seeing the looks they exchanged, Kashoku added, "It's on behalf of Sereclipse."

Yuna stood and turned to Kashoku, her confusion clear. "On behalf of Kage or..?"

"On behalf of us both," Kashoku said softly.

"But I thought you quit, ya?" Wakka said.

"I did. It's just for this one mission," Kashoku explained.

"Kage has invited you and the Gullwings?" Yuna asked, not quite sure what to make of the situation.

"Well," Kashoku said, "she invited me, actually. But the invitation has since been extended to the Gullwings."

"That alone has caught my interest already," Lulu said.

"What is the request?" Yuna asked.

"Earlier today, Kage found a sphere detailing of an Eternal Gateway, something I think we can all agree that we've never heard of before." Kashoku waited until they all nodded before continuing. "The map it gave was old, but I was able to match the area it marked the Gateway as being hidden at with a general area on my map at home. The Bikanel Desert. Rikku would be a huge help in searching for the Gateway since she knows the Desert so well, but having you and Paine along also would be more than welcome. Especially since we all know how well she and Kage get along…"

"I find it a little hard to believe that Kage agreed to this," Yuna said after a moment.

Kashoku groaned softly. "Don't remind me of that. Just know that she agreed and I got a lot of attitude for it. We both decided though that whatever secret the Gateway held, it would either be taken to benefit Spira or left if it was better off being hidden away."

That caught all of their attention. "You think it's dangerous?" Wakka asked seriously.

"We don't know," Kashoku admitted. "Kage has a theory that it was hidden to be kept away from the majority, if not all, of Spira."

"Unusual theory," Lulu commented. "What caused it?"

"Mainly the fact that the sphere was in Old Spiran," Kashoku sighed.

"Old Spiran? Are you sure?"

"You think I wouldn't be?" Kashoku laughed. "No, it was definitely in Old Spiran. Kage hadn't even noticed, but then again, most everyone reads both languages with the same ease so I can understand that I suppose."

"I've never heard of any spheres being in Old Spiran before, though," Yuna said, frowning. "Even if we don't take it with us though, I definitely think we should at least see what the Eternal Gateway contains." Yuna stretched out her hand to Kashoku with a smile. "The Gullwings accept Sereclipse's offer. We can even take Celsius if you like."

"Sure! Let me go get Kage and we'll meet you at the transport sphere."

~*~

Collecting Kage hadn't taken more than a few minutes since the sphere hunter was always ready to leave at a moment's notice. Kage had always kept her traveling pack light, preferring to keep carry only what she needed and leave the rest on Lunestis. Kashoku on the other hand usually had her bag stuffed with items Kage used to take and hide just to see if the other would even notice they were gone. Luckily for Kage, Kashoku hadn't unpacked much since she had arrived on Besaid and only needed to throw a few things into her bag before she was ready to go. The two friends headed up the hill for the blue transport sphere and only had to wait a few minutes before Yuna showed up.

"You guys ready up there?" Yuna asked through her communicator.

"Ready for Yuna as always!" Brother, the Celsius's pilot, said through the communicator. Brother was Rikku's brother and Yuna's cousin. Despite their relation, he also had a crush on Yuna.

"Don't worry, Yuna, we're ready. The three of you can come on up any time," Buddy's soft voice came on. He was an Al Bhed like Brother and Rikku and was basically the co-pilot for the Gullwings.

The three girls touched the blue sphere and were immediately transported onto the Celsius. The hunt for the Eternal Gateway had begun.

~*~

"You have no idea where you're going!" Kage snapped, stopping in her tracks.

Rikku turned and frowned at her. "I do too! I'm telling you, if it's anywhere, the Gateway is-"

"Absolutely nowhere near where you're leading us! Kashy, this is pointless. We've been around half the Desert by now and we've found nothing! We're just going in circles as our guide leads us wherever the hell she gets the whim to go next!"

"Well that sphere was old! How do you even know that this Gateway is still around here anymore?" Rikku snapped back.

"Rikku has a point…" Yuna said softly, trying to diffuse Kage's anger. "If the Gateway was supposed to be a secret, there's a high chance that someone found out about it not long after it was hidden and got to it before us."

"Hidden secrets are often found quicker than open truths are," Paine added quietly.

"Damn it!" Kage hissed, kicked at the sand.

Kashoku stood a bit away from the group, staring at the map of the Desert that she had borrowed from Nahla, the head of the campsite. They had all changed into their Thief dress spheres as it gave them a better ability to move across the sand which left much more of her skin exposed to the hot sun. The singer could feel it burning. "Guys," Kashoku called. "Has anyone tried Cactaur Nation?"

"No," Paine said. "But what could possibly be there? All that's there beside the millions of Cactaurs is that stupid cave they call sacred ground."

"And if you were hiding something," Kashoku said, "that you didn't want found, where would you put it?"

"Where no one would, or could, go…" Yuna murmured, her eyes widening. "Of course."

"Are you kidding me?" Kage groaned. "That's so fucking obvious!"

"Exactly," Kashoku said. "We never looked there because it was unreasonable, but even if it wasn't, we'd ignore it because it would seem too easy."
"If the Gateway is in the Cactaur Cave, though, how the hell are we supposed to get to it? The cave is sealed by Cactaur magic and they don't let anyone in."

Kashoku bit her lip for a moment. "I'm sure if we talk it over with the Queen, we can come to an agreement…"

"Worth a shot," Kage sighed.

When they got to the cave, Kage immediately volunteered Kashoku as the one to speak with the Queen, citing that it was either that or Kage would do the negotiating. Kashoku reluctantly agreed to go and was relieved when Yuna volunteered to go with her. Thirty minutes later, the two returned smiling.

"So, do we have a go?" Kage asked, beginning to feel excited again.

"Yep!" Kashoku grinned.

"Only two can go, though," Yuna added.

"Oh, well, that sucks," Kage said flippantly, catching Kashoku's eye and motioning for her to go ahead into the cave where she'd follow. The look Kashoku threw at her friend was less than pleased. Frowning, Kage stayed where she was.

"I think you and Kage should go," Yuna said softly to Kashoku.

"What?" Kashoku stared at Yuna curiously. "Why?"

"Well, Sereclipse was the group that discovered the sphere. It's only fair, don't you think? Besides, we really didn't help much-"

"That's for damn sure," Kage grumbled.

"Just be sure to share the goods!" Yuna laughed, throwing Kage an amused look.

"Sure, you bet," Kage said with a fake smile.

"Yuna, you should know better than to expect Kage to share anything she finds in there with us," Paine commented.

Yuna laughed. "It was worth a try."

"No, not really," Kage snorted.

"You better at least tell us about it!" Rikku said, staring excitedly at the cave entrance.

Kashoku smiled, "We will. I don't know how long we'll be in there, so perhaps you should wait on Celsius…"

"No way!" Rikku grinned. "I'm going to be right here waiting until you get your butts out here. Yunie may be fine with nothing, but I'm expecting part of that booty!"

"Why?" Kage sneered. "You didn't do anything but help my tan."

Kashoku grabbed Kage's wrist and pulled her over to the cave entrance before any fights could break out. "Keep in mind," Kashoku said in amusement, "that they're our ride back."

"Whatever," Kage sighed.

The Cactaur Queen released the seal on the cave and let the two in. A few feet into the cave and they quickly realized the problem.

"I can't see a thing," Kashoku murmured, feeling her way along with the wall.

Kage frowned, keeping a hand on Kashoku to make sure they didn't lose one another. "I can make out some things, but not a lot. Honestly, how the hell are we supposed to find the damn Gateway if we can't see where we're going?"

"Maybe that's the point," Kashoku suggested. "Maybe this is another way to prevent the Gateway from being found."

"Well whoever hid the damn thing is starting to piss me off," Kage growled as she stumbled on a bit of the cave floor that stuck up. Beside her, she heard Kashoku stumble as well. "Oh, yeah, might want to watch your step right there."

"Thank you, Kage," Kashoku said sarcastically. "Very helpful of you."

Kage grinned cheekily, but the effect was lost since it wasn't like Kashoku could actually see her. "I think my eyes are beginning to adapt," she said softly. "I'm starting to make out more of the cave. Still not very much, but at least it's something."

Kashoku's heavy sigh said everything before the girl even opened her mouth. "I still can't see anything but black..."

Farther ahead in the cave, a heavy shifting noise began, drifting back to them as the sound bouncing off the walls. Kashoku and Kage both froze, staring blindly ahead as a locking mechanism sounded, followed by further grinding. "Kashy..?"

"I heard it," Kashoku whispered as another locking noise followed and she changed back into her Gunner sphere.

"Empty cave my ass," Kage growled, changing back to Warrior and summoning her sword. "If someone's already gotten to the gateway, I'm going to be pissed."

"I don't think the Queen has let anyone else in, Kage... She seems surprised by Yuna's and my request for entrance."

Kage swore beside her. "It could be another defense then for all we know. It wouldn't surprise me if the sphere's creator put up a safeguard."

"Should we keep going?" Kashoku asked softly, the tip of one of her guns brushing Kage's leg as she edged closer.

"Not sure... It's hard to say when I don't know what the hell is up there," Kage responded with a frown. "I say let's do it though. Whatever it is obviously isn't ready to do anything yet, so hopefully we'll still have the element of surprise if we need it."

Kashoku nodded and the two continued to move towards the noise as further grinding and locking sounds echoed down towards them. "I count six locks so far," Kashoku murmured.

"What are the chances it's going to 100?"

The grinding noise seemed like it was right on top of them and as they turned a corner, the two could only stare in awe as they noticed the large ring in the center of the room.

"I think we found the Gateway," Kage murmured.

Kashoku nodded, unable to take her eyes off of it. "Why is it lit up like that though?" she asked as the piece in the center of the ring's outline stopped shifting, the upside down triangle on the top shifted before lighting up as it locked into place.

Kage frowned, switching to her Gunner dress immediately as she realized her sword wouldn't be much help with something like this. "Defense system, maybe?"

Anything Kashoku was going to say in response was cut off by a loud whoosh as a blue surge of energy sprang out of the ring before being pulled back in, leaving what looked like a wall of water in the center of the ring. The light the energy was exuded filled the entire room, illuminating everything.

"What the hell is that?" Kage asked Kashoku quietly, only to discover her no longer there. Glancing around frantically, Kage spotted her friend approaching the Gateway. "Kashy! What the hell do you think you're doing!? You saw how far out that thing can reach! Get back here!"

Kashoku glanced back at Kage with a reassuring smile, but she jerked back towards the Gateway when there was a weird slurping noise. Standing in front of the Gateway's wall of water was a man with a pack of what was probably gear on his back and, more importantly, a gun on hand. By the time the three others who emerged from the puddle next and the original man noticed Kashoku, she already had both guns aimed at them. Taking cover behind a bit of rock, Kage silently watched what was happening from her cover. If the four even seemed like they were about to fire their weapons at Kashoku, she was ready to back her up.

"Oh, no, it's okay!" the first man said quickly setting his gun down on the ground and lifting his empty hands for Kashoku to see. "We're not here to hurt you. We mean you no harm." Kage was proud to see Kashoku only frowned slightly at the man instead of putting her guns down like Kage had been afraid she would. Way to stay cool in the face of danger, Kashy.

The puddle of water behind the group of four chose that moment to disappear, leaving them all in absolute darkness. Tense as the situation was, Kage smirked slightly at the muted 'I hate when that happens.' that immediately echoed through the room. A few seconds later, three beams lit up a portion of the cave, the two in the back of the group dancing their lights along whatever they could. Kage was beyond dismayed to see that Kashoku hadn't taken the opportunity to get the hell away from the group.

The man with slightly graying hair shifted and eyed Kashoku's guns warily, his own pointed right at Kashoku's chest. The only reason Kage didn't shoot him immediately was because his light source seemed to be attached to the top of his gun. Understanding didn't keep Kage from sighting him with her own gun though, just in case. "What are the chances that you not shooting us in the dark means that you won't shoot us now?" he asked Kashoku conversationably. Kashoku just shifted nervously, her gaze darting from him, to the first man, to the woman and man in the back.

"She seems to think we're an enemy," the first man said, glancing from the other to Kashoku.

The man raised an eyebrow and glanced down at his gun. "I wonder where she could have gotten that idea, Daniel... Why don't you do us a favor and fix this situation before somebody gets nervous and twitches a finger."

"Your men are that loose of finger?" Kashoku spoke up hesitantly, a small bit of humor in her voice.

"Not... usually," the slightly graying-haired man said. "Only when they have to be." His eyes searched the room for a moment before he eyed Kashoku, no actual malice in his features. "Do they have to be?"

"I would prefer they not be, actually," Kashoku replied carefully.

"Um, I'm Daniel. Daniel Jackson," the gunless man said after a few seconds, gesturing to his other teammates as he said their names. "This is Colonel Jack O'Neill," - the graying-haired man - "Major Samantha Carter," - the only female - "and Teal'c." - the huge black male in the back - "Could we… talk for a second? We're not here to hurt you, or anyone else. We're just explorers."

Kashoku hesitated only for a moment before saying something that Kage would have hit her for had she been down there.

"Only if you lower your weapons first."

"Why don't we lower them together," Colonel O'Neill suggested, eyeing Kashoku's two guns. Kashoku inclined her head and slowly began to lower her weapons, Colonel O'Neill mirroring her actions and the two behind following his lead although somewhat reluctantly. With the guns lowered, the lights were also centered on the ground, and the room was once more almost completely black.

"Well… This sort of sucks," Colonel O'Neill said in the darkness.

"Perhaps," Kashoku suggested softly, "it would be wise to take this conversation outside."

"Well," O'Neill began, "that would depend. Is there light outside?"

"When I entered the cave, the sun was up."

"Great! Lead the way then."

Kage narrowed her eyes. No fucking way. Kashoku wasn't seriously going to lead – lead – the group of armed strangers out into the light, was she? Did she not realize that by the time she took her first step out of the cave, they could shoot her?! With a soft growl as the three beams – soon joined by a fourth as Daniel no doubt reclaimed his weapon – began to move towards the exit, Kage prepared to follow them.

"Do you might if we use our flashlights?" Daniel asked hesitantly.

"The lights on your weapons?" Kashoku asked.

"Yeah…"

Kashoku bit her lip, and then glanced at where she thought the way out was. "Alright, but one of you shall have to walk with me. I'm not immune to the cave's darkness and I can't see to find the way out."

"Oh, I'll do it," Daniel volunteered. He smiled slightly as he stepped up next to Kashoku, his gun lifted and shining in a beam ahead of them. It only took a few seconds for them to locate the cave's exit and the group of five began to slowly make its way towards the outside, Kage following as silently as she could.

"What's your name?" Daniel asked, wanting to fill the silence around them.

"Yoshiko, Kashoku," Kashoku said. "Doozo yoroshiku."

"Beg your pardon?" Colonel O'Neill asked.

"Doozo yoroshiku," Daniel said absently, staring at Kashoku curiously. "It's Japanese."

"Japanese?" Kashoku asked, giving Daniel a surprised look.

"Oh, that's what we call the language you just spoke," he responded.

"I see. And you speak it?"

"Among other languages, yes," he smiled. "I'm actually a linguist, a person who speaks and studies several different languages."

"How many do you speak?" Kashoku asked curiously.

"Twenty-three."

"You have so many where you are from?" Kashoku exclaimed. "On Spira we have very few."

"Our planet is really diverse," Daniel said in explanation.

"Your planet? You mean you came from another world?" Kashoku asked in shock. "How is such a thing possible?"

"Well, we travel through the Stargate – the, um, large ring that we came through – and it allows us to visit other worlds that also have Stargates by creating wormholes in the galaxy to connect the two points together."

"The sphere that led me here referred to your Stargate as the Eternal Gateway," Kashoku said. "It mentioned none of what you've just told me however."

"Eternal Gateway…" Daniel murmured. "The 'gateway' part is rather obvious, but the 'eternal'… That must be referencing naquadah."

"Naquadah?"

"What the Stargate is made of," he explained. "It's extremely rare and actually doesn't exist anywhere in our solar system, to give you an idea of how rare."

"Daniel, perhaps we shouldn't tell her everything right now," Colonel O'Neill called from behind. "After all, you have to leave something to talk about when we get outside."

Daniel winced, picking up on the subtle 'shut up, Daniel' in the Colonel's tone. "Right, sorry."

The rest of the walk was in silence, and soon the group could see light ahead. Shutting off their flashlights, the four who had come through the Stargate half-lowered their weapons and followed Kashoku out into the sunshine.

"It would be a desert, wouldn't it?" Colonel O'Neill muttered.

Kashoku changed into back into her Thief sphere and almost relished the feeling of warmth on her skin compared to the chilled cave. When she turned back to the four travelers she noticed their looks of confusion. "Oh, I'm sorry. You must not have dress spheres where you come from, either."

"Daniel," Colonel O'Neill said with a slight cough as he took in the sudden change of wardrobe into something he'd find at a beach in Florida at Spring Break, "Stop starring."

The man with the glasses scowled, "And you aren't?"

Teal'c whirled around, startling the other four, and pointed his gun at the center of the cave. Kage stood halfway in the light, her own guns on him in her Gunner sphere. "Kage-chan!" Kashoku exclaimed, rushing to her friend's side. "Kage, they're not enemies. Please lower your guns."

"No, they say they're not enemies. Don't be such an idiot, Kashoku! Not everyone tells you the truth, especially not when you have your guns on them. I can't believe you actually walked out here with three of them armed behind you!" Kage snapped, not lowering her weapons. Behind Teal'c, Carter and O'Neill both had their guns raised and sighted on Kage, ready to fire if she did.

"We don't mean you any harm," Daniel spoke, trying to defuse the situation. "Like I told Kashoku, we're just explorers."

Kage laughed derisively. "You're trying to tell me that he is an explorer?" She jerked her head to indicate Teal'c, who merely raised an eyebrow silently.

O'Neill leaned over slightly, not lowering his guard at all, and murmured to Daniel, "Bad example."

"Kage, please, they just want to learn about us," Kashoku said, glancing between the group and her friend, all of whom – except for Daniel – seemed ready to shoot any moment.

"I've heard that line before," Kage growled. "That guy learned what the inside of an Al Bhed looked like. Why don't you tell your little friends to try something original?"

"Hey!" Colonel O'Neill snapped. "I don't know who you've met in the past, but we're not those people. We didn't come here to hurt anybody. We're just exploring the neighborhood."

Kage sneered. "With guns?"

"Sometimes people don't like us," O'Neill admitted. "But we don't shoot first."

"Really?

"Really," O'Neill stressed.

"So tell me," Kage asked calmly, "do you kill first?"

"Kage! Stop it!" Kashoku yelled, putting herself between the group and Kage's guns. "This isn't called for! They came here peacefully. Please don't make them reconsider that."

"We're not bad guys here," Daniel stressed, taking a step towards Kage after setting his gun down again. Kage didn't even look at him as she switched her left gun's aim onto him.

"Don't. Move."

"Kage, please," Kashoku repeated, hating to see her friend act like this. "Please, give them a chance."

"Fuck no."

"Look, we can leave," Daniel said, trying to pacify Kage. "We'll just go back home and take this planet off our system. We can do that, and we'll never come back if you want."

"Daniel, no!" Kashoku said sharply. "You came here to make friends. You don't need to return because of Kage."

"Actually, I'm thinking we do," O'Neill said, his gaze riveted on Kage and her guns.

"Kage, that's enough! Put your guns down now."

Kage's eyes flashed as she glared directly at Kashoku. "Uh, no. Why should I, Kashoku? They're not safe to leave on Spira. They need to just go back to wherever the hell they came from."

"They are no more dangerous than others on Spira and at least they only carry their weapons for protection." Kashoku's voice was quiet, but the intensity in it drove the meaning home.

"You have no way of knowing that," Kage hissed.

"Kashoku Yoshiko is correct. Our weapons are carried in our defense," Teal'c said calmly. "Had we wanted to cause harm to anyone, we could have easily killed her within the cave, yet we did not."

"Because it would have been stupid," Kage sneered.

"Look, kid, if it'll make you happy, we'll go back but first lower your guns," O'Neill ordered.

Kage opened her mouth to tell the man to go to hell, but Kashoku reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Kage-chan, please… Just trust me and give them a chance. Not every person who goes around with a weapon is bad. You should know that; you're always armed."

"And not every nice person should be trusted!"

"Kage, I'm just asking this one thing of you. Please just do it for me."

"Kashy, I swear, if this turns out badly…"

Kashoku smiled brightly now that Kage was reluctantly lowering her guns. "Thank you, Kage," she said softly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kage snapped, banishing her guns. The three lighter skinned ones of the group stared at her in shock, whereas the other merely raised an eyebrow curiously. "You three! Put those the hell away before I make you."

Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, and Teal'c exchanged looks before O'Neill shrugged. Warily, they lowered their P-90s and relaxed a little. "I guess we should be going," Daniel said regretfully, staring out at the desert around them. He hated when they came so close to learning about a planet and had to leave.

Kage sighed in annoyance from beside Kashoku as the shorter girl gave her a look. "Fine! You can stay," she snapped. "But if you try anything and I see it, I'll do worse than kill you."

"We wouldn't want to be a burden," O'Neill commented sarcastically.

"You've been one since you came through the Gateway," Kage said coolly. "Why start to care now?"

"Kage…" Kashoku sighed.

"You said to lower my guns. You said nothing about me having to be nice," Kage said stubbornly. "Speaking of nice, where the hell are the Gullwings? Did I hear wrong when they said they were staying out here to wait for us?"

"No…" Kashoku said, frowning as she looked around and didn't see the three girls. "Rikku did say she'd wait…"

"Well they better get their asses back over here with the hovercraft because I'm not fucking walking back to camp," Kage growled. "The sooner we get back on the Celsius, the sooner your friends and we can chat."

"The Celsius?" Carter asked.

"The Gullwings's airship," Kashoku explained.

The blonde woman was just opening her mouth to ask what their version of an airship was when a loud shout came from the right. "Speaking of the Gullwings," Kashoku smiled.

The three women hurried down the desert towards them, grinning broadly. "You're back!" Rikku yelled happily. "What did the Gateway look like?"

"Like a big ring," Kage said with a roll of her eyes.

"Who are these people?" Yuna asked curiously, letting her eyes drift over them and their dark uniforms.

"They came through the Gateway," Kashoku said with a grin, "from another world."

"Another world?" Yuna asked, staring at the four curiously, fingers twitching as if ready to summon her weapons.

"That's so cool!" Rikku grinned, completely oblivious to any kind of threat the new strangers might pose.

O'Neill grinned back at her, amused by the girl's energy.

"Kashy's already made friends with them," Kage groused.

"Great!" Rikku said, wasting no time in introducing herself. "I'm Rikku."

"My name is Yuna. Pleasure to meet you," Yuna smiled.

"Paine," Paine said simply.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill," Colonel O'Neill said. "This is Major Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c."

"Do you mind if we bring them up to the Celsius to talk?" Kashoku asked.

"Not at all," Yuna smiled. "I'll go ahead and radio Brother and let them know that we're coming."

"Let's go," Kage said, motioning for the group to move it. "The sooner you get on the damn hovercraft, the faster we can get back to camp and onto the Celsius."

"Hovercraft?" Colonel O'Neill asked, perking up in interest.

"Do you not have them on your planet?" Kashoku asked.

"I wish," Colonel O'Neill sighed wistfully.

The group boarded the hovercraft and rode back to camp quietly, the trip made endurable by its shortness. Once at the camp, the group used the blue transport sphere and transported onto the Celsius. When the tour of the airship was offered, even Kage toned her attitude down a little bit as they explored. She hated the Gullwings, but even she had to admit that they had a nicer ship than her own Lunestis.

By the time they all settled into the cabin, Kage had actually held two civil five minute conversations with the group of explorers, something that pleased Kashoku to no end. Apparently Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter's interest in the airships was something they had in common with Kage, and the woman had actually volunteered a few answers to their questions when she knew them. Kashoku was beginning to hope that Kage would learn to accept the four explorers.

O'Neill leaned back in his chair and whistled as he took a good hard look at the interior of the ship's cabin. "Our airships are nothing like this. What I would have given to have flown this in the Air Force. So, where are we going exactly?"

"We don't have a destination at the moment," Yuna stated.

"Landing somewhere would give you room to cause damage. Here you are contained and you can't run from me," Kage said with harsh blue eyes.

Kashoku shook her head slightly with a low sigh. "Kage, please. I just thought it would be nicer to hold our discussions aboard the Celsius since you seemed so enamored of it."

"Kashoku, do you mind if I ask you a little bit about your culture and history?" Daniel asked.

"I wondered how long you would hold out on that, Daniel," O'Neill said.

"Of course. What would you like to know?" Kashoku asked.

"Everything! About your people, your history, your cultures…everything."

"The people are mostly dumb and stupid, our culture was blown out the window a long time ago, and our history is filled with Sin and lots of people dying. Does that work for you?" Kage asked as she spun around in her chair.

"Ignore her," Kashoku frowned. "Not much is known about our history prior to some 1000 years ago. Then our cities were large and heavily influenced by machina; powerful machines. However, machina caused several feuds between our peoples. Our two largest cities, Zanarkand and Bevelle, declared a machina war on one another. It was a humiliating defeat for Zanarkand but worse things came from it than defeat…"

"Sin was born," Yuna stated softly.

"Sin?" O'Neill asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. Sin was a large creature that traveled Spira killing hundreds every day…For a thousand years we had to live in fear. It is what Yevon wanted. Sin was his way of punishing us for the war. We went into a life of exile with no machina and a devoted faith to Yevon."

"So I'm assuming that was your religion?" Daniel asked.

"A false religion," Yuna stated sternly.

"I wonder if he was a Goa'uld," O'Neill stated to Teal'c.

Teal'c lifted his head slightly. "Indeed. But I have never heard of the Goa'uld using creatures as terrifying as Yuna has described."

"The Goa'uld?" Paine questioned.

"Every time we come in contact with a planet with a religion we have discovered that their supposed God or Goddess has been a Goa'uld; a parasite that takes a human host," Daniel explained.

"Are they evil?" Kashoku asked.

O'Neill snorted. "Very."

"Wouldn't surprise me then if Yevon was one of these Goa'uld," Paine mused.

"Well, I think we found out what Kage's problem is," Rikku jested.

"HEY!" Kage reached around and pulled at Rikku's hair.

"Hey! Let go! That hurts!" The Al Bhed whined.

"Kage!" Kashoku snapped.

Kage let go and folded her arms. "She deserved it."

Daniel shifted his glasses. "If you don't mind me asking…is Sin still around?"

"No, thanks to Yuna," Kashoku smiled.

"You killed Sin?" Carter asked somewhat surprised.

"Not alone, of course," Yuna smiled. "But yes. I was a summoner. One could only become a summoner if they were truly devoted to their religion. If approved by the Fayth then a person would be granted the power to wield aeons; powerful creatures to aid in Sin's defeat."

"Cool! Where can we get one?" O'Neill asked with lit up eyes.

"Once Sin was defeated the Fayth disappeared and took the aeons with them. Thankfully there is no real need for them anymore," Yuna said.

"Although one would come in handy when I'm sphere hunting. I had several nasty ones come after me when I found this one," Kage held up the sphere that mentioned the Eternal Gateway and twirled it around in her hand.

"Sphere hunting?" Daniel asked.

"It's a profession here on Spira. All of us here are sphere hunters," Kashoku began.

"Except you-," Kage broke off her sentence as Kashoku gave her a harsh stare.

"I was a sphere hunter…Spheres are a way of people to record our past. They are hidden all throughout Spira and we as sphere hunters go around collecting them to uncover Spira's history," Kashoku explained.

"Except I could give a fuck about Spira's history. I collect them for dress spheres. And before Mr. 100-Fucking-Questions asks, dress spheres give someone special abilities during battle; black magic, white magic, you name it," Kage shrugged.

"The rest of us care about Spira's history, though, Kage," Kashoku frowned.

"Wow. So you all do basically what I do back on Earth. I'm an archaeologist," Daniel began, "We go around collecting artifacts to help us better understand our past."

Kashoku smiled. "It does seem that we have something in common then!"

"Do you have to fight fiends every time you come in contact with one of your artifacts?" Kage asked.

"Not exactly…" Daniel blinked.

"Then they are nothing like us, Kashy," Kage said leaning back in her chair.

"You are so incorrigible, Kage." Kashoku sighed and turned her attention back to Daniel. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"

"Yes!" O'Neill held up a hand. "You said magic. Like…what exactly does that mean? Abracadabra? Like, you changing clothes spontaneously in the middle of a desert?"

"Magic as in spells," Kashoku began hesitantly. She couldn't fathom a world without her magic. "And all I did was change dress spheres. When one changes spheres they change clothing. Black magic deals offensive spells such as casting fire, thunder, and other elements. White magic is defensive and can heal wounds."

"You can cure wounds with magic?" Daniel asked. He might have believed it if they were confused about the Goa'uld healing with perhaps a healing device, but something told him this wasn't the case.

Kage rolled her eyes and pulled out a knife. "How about we just show you?" She slit a deep cut into her flesh without even wincing.

Kashoku winced slightly and shook her head. "I prefer that not be the way we put on a demonstration…" She placed her hand over the profusely bleeding wound and it began to shine a bright blue. When the light dimmed the wound was completely healed.

The three lighter skinned members of the team gasped and even the large one showed a shocked expression. Carter leaned forward to get a better look and then up to Kashoku. "How did you do that?"

"White magic learned from the White Mage dress sphere. This is the kind of thing a dress sphere can do. Kage, despite the multiple wounds she gets, is too stubborn to learn the white arts. I do not currently have the White Mage sphere equipped but special rings allow us to use minimal abilities from dress spheres while in another." Kashoku pulled off the white glove to show a small and simple ring on her finger.

"Can anyone learn these abilities?" Daniel asked.

Kashoku nodded, "Yes. It can take a long time to master but it is well worth the rewards."

"How can we get one of these dress spheres?" Carter asked. She really wanted to her hands on a White Mage dress sphere for Janet. It would make the doctor's life so much easier if she could cure wounds like that…not to mention the lives it could save.

"You'll have to go on a hunt and find one," Kashoku said.

"Can you guys take us on one, then?" Daniel asked.

"No can do. You'd have to go on a sphere hunt for that and I'm sure as hell not taking you and the Gullwings have better things to do," Kage said.

"Then I shall take them," Kashoku said.

"And when, exactly, do you plan on taking them, Kashy?" Kage asked.

"I can do it now."

"Oh really? Because I think I remember you having a performance in say….ten minutes from now?"

Kashoku looked at her watch and her eyes widened, "Oh no! Matsu is going to kill me! It'll take us at least ten minutes just to get to Luca!"

"Don't panic quite yet, Kashy," Buddy said from over the intercom. "We got a distress call from Luca saying their singer was missing so I took the liberty to stop by."

"Thank you!" Kashoku called as she immediately sat up and headed towards a big blue sphere. "I'm sorry, bye!" She put a hand on the sphere and disappeared.

Daniel blinked, "Performance?"

"Remember when I said she wasn't a sphere hunter anymore? That's because she ditched me for a singing career." Kage's mean expression broke for a moment to a sudden flash of sadness, but it didn't last long. "She's always doing this. She's never around anymore."

"If you don't mind I'd kind of like to hear her," Daniel said cautiously.

"Daniel?" O'Neill asked.

"Jack, we've never encountered a race with pop culture or well…anything like this! Their planet is as close to modern day Earth as we've ever encountered. I think we should get to learn as much as we can about this planet," Daniel said.

"Daniel, if I didn't know better I'd think you think she's hot," O'Neill said with a serious face but a jesting tone. "I saw you staring in the desert."

Daniel's blue eyes widened and his mouth dropped. "W-what? No! No! And of course I was staring; she changed clothes out of no where!"

"You've completely ignored all of us and these other lovely ladies during the entire conversation. Your eyes have been on Kashoku the entire time. By the way, does she have a nickname? Kashoku is really hard for me to say in my old age."

"Kashy," Kage said not taking her eyes of Daniel.

"Daniel, are you blushing?" Carter asked with a slight smile.

"This is ridiculous!" Daniel said, turning his back to SG-1.

"You know, I was just kidding, but now I think he really does think she's cute," O'Neill said mildly amused.

Kage got out of her seat and shoved her face right into Daniel's. "Don't even think about it. Don't come within ten feet of her or even think about touching her. Got it?"

"Kage, don't you think you are being a little too protective of her? You never even see her but once a year and here you are trying to control her life," Paine said.

"Do I make myself clear?" Kage asked, ignoring Paine's comment.

Daniel's brow furrowed, almost taking the words as a challenge. "Yeah."

"Good." Kage backed off and headed towards the elevator leaving the cabin.

"Geez. Who pissed in her Cheerio's?" O'Neill asked.

"She is quite hostile," Teal'c agreed.

"I think you have to realize that Kashoku is really Kage's only friend…She's just protective over that. The mere thought of Daniel, someone who just arrived here, wanting to get close to her-,"

"But I wasn't!" Daniel cut Yuna off.

"I didn't say you were," Yuna responded politely, "but Kage thought you might be and got defensive. Don't take Kage's words seriously. It is her actions that you have to worry about."

"I find it somewhat difficult to believe that Kashoku Yoshiko would ever be friends with someone such as Kage Yamino," Teal'c said.

"We all do," Rikku sighed.

"If you still want to catch her performance we should probably hurry. I'm sure there will be a big crowd," Yuna said.

"Alright," O'Neill sighed, "let's make Danny boy happy and go."

Daniel was overwhelmed while walking through the busy city of Luca. "Wow! This is incredible! The architecture is simply amazing and look at those big furry guys. What are they?"

"Ronso," Paine said. "I'd stay away if I were you."

"Daniel, do I need to put you on a leash?" O'Neill asked. He was not in the mood to have Daniel beat up by some furry lion that stood on two legs and have to drag him back home to the infirmary. It was best to keep the archaeologist reigned in.

"Here we are," Yuna said as they approached a large dome. "Like I thought…long line and no tickets left. Don't worry, I can get us in."

"How?" Carter asked. There were hundreds of people waiting outside the large dome and probably thousands inside it.

"Yunie defeated Sin! She gets whatever she wants!" Rikku said cheerfully.

Yuna laughed softly. "Makes me seem sort of selfish, doesn't it? Stay here for a moment." Yuna scurried up to one of the soldiers guarding the entrance and spoke to him several moments before returning. "We've got the okay. Let's go and see if we can find a seat somewhere."

The dome was dark and loud. Very loud. O'Neill covered his ears as they walked through the rows of cheering fans. He was way too old for this kind of excitement. Hordes of Jaffa he could handle. Hordes of screaming people he really didn't have the patience for. After giving up on finding seats and just standing the Colonel finally spoke. "She's quite popular isn't she?"

"Unfortunately!" Kage shouted over the noise. She already had a headache from having to deal with the Gullwings and the so called explorers and this was not making it any better.

"You really don't like the fact she's a singer, do you?" Daniel asked.

"As if that weren't painfully obvious!" Kage retorted.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," a male speaker over an intercom began, "Welcome to Luca Stadium and the annual New Yevon Elixer Charity event! We appreciate all donations and know that all proceeds will go to rebuilding Spira and making it happier place for all its citizens. Without further ado, the reason you all came here: Yoshiko Kashoku!"

The crowd erupted into screaming again as laser lights began to light up the stage and music began to play. Lights centered at the stage as Kashoku's form appeared in a bright light on the stage. "Ikuze, Luca!" The crowd roared in response. "Saa ryoute o hirogete, issho ni to o tataite arukou. Hashiridasu toki ni wa koko e kite tomo ni hajimeruyou! Okay!" As soon as the instrumental began again Kashoku's outfit changed into another pink makeup.

"She sings in Japanese?" O'Neill asked.

"You mean New Spiran? Of course, it's her first language," Kage shouted.

"Does everyone here speak it?"

"Not exactly! I'll explain later when I can hear you!"

O'Neill gave the archaeologist a strange look at his fixed gaze upon the singer on the stage below. Even a nudge didn't break the trance.

At the sounds of Kashoku's "Domo Arigatou!" and her exit, SG-1 quickly filed out of the crowded dome and waited by the benches until Kashoku came running out to them dressed back in the previous outfit she had been wearing; short skirt and revealing halter top. "I'm really sorry I left you guys up on the ship like that! I had no idea that we had spent a complete day searching for the Eternal – Stargate – and talking to you on Celsius. Matsu would have been really angry if I had missed this. Everyone would have been angry…"

"The world wouldn't have stopped revolving if you hadn't shown up, Kashy," Kage said.

"Why can't you just be supportive?" Kashoku asked.

"If you want my support, Kashy, then take up sphere hunting again!"

"Is this what this was all about? To get me to join Sereclipse again?" Kashoku really felt the anger build up inside of her. "Kage, you know that I'm devoted to my singing. I like making people happy with it. I never could give that to people with sphere hunting because you never wanted to help people. You used it for your own selfish needs!"

"Incase you have failed to notice, Kashy, that is what sphere hunting is all about! It isn't about getting there first but who can steal it from the other! It's about being dirty and not playing fair! It's not about helping people! Come on! Even Yuna has stolen a sphere from someone else!"

"To help people!" Yuna said in her defense.

"It doesn't matter!" Kage hissed. She grabbed Rikku's arm and pulled a knife on the Al Bhed's throat. "Take me back to my ship or I'll shut her up for good."

"Hey, let me go! Yunie! Let's just take her back!" Rikku pleaded.

Yuna sighed. "Kage, we would have taken you back if you had just asked. Please let Rikku go." Yuna looked to Kashoku with apologetic eyes. "You coming?"

"No. Go ahead and take Kage back so she can settle down. I'll stay here with them," Kashoku motioned to SG-1.

Kage turned on her heel and began walking off with not so much as a good bye. The Gullwings ambled behind in no rush to meet up with the frustrated woman.

"I'm really sorry about all of this…Kage usually is mean to people but never this bad. I don't know what has gotten into her," Kashoku said softly. She had been looking forward to spending time with Kage again but now she was second guessing herself on that.

"Well, if it makes you feel better I really enjoyed listening to you sing," Daniel said with lowered eyes. "I especially liked the ballad…do you write your own lyrics?"

Kashoku gave a soft smile and nodded. "Yes. I sometimes compose my own music, too. And it does make me feel better to know that at least someone enjoyed the show. Kage's never been real supportive of me." Kashoku sighed and walked slowly over to a railing that overlooked the ocean. Brown eyes stared across towards the port and let the salty wind blow her hair. "She's trying to make me feel guilty. Maybe I should be."

Daniel was the only one that joined her by the rail with the rest listening from afar. "Why should you feel guilty? Singing is obviously your passion. Shouldn't you do what you want to do?"

"Maybe…but what if what you want to do isn't the best thing for everyone else? After school the two of us parted ways for a long while. During that time Kage got involved with the wrong sorts of people…I'm afraid that without me she'll go back to them or worse; they'll come to her." Kashoku sighed. "I'm sorry that you've seen this side of her. Once you get past the initial…barrier…she's a great friend to have."

"Maybe she just has the same fears as you do. It seems to me that she cares a lot about you and just doesn't want to lose you. You remind me somewhat of Jack and I when we first met…we hated each other. We constantly butted heads and argued but we are really good friends now. I'm sure things will work out once she cools down."

Kashoku gave Daniel a large smile. "Kage was wrong about you all. I can tell that you are all good people. You especially have good intentions. Thank you."

Daniel returned the smile. "If you don't mind me asking, how long had you and Kage been together sphere hunting?"

Kashoku shifted her position, turning her back to the rail. "Hmm…a long time. I guess about thirty years."

"Thirty? How old are you?" Carter asked.

"Eighty-one," Kashoku said as if it was no big deal, but the reactions she got said other wise. "Is that uncommon among your people?"

"Eighty-one? No. Looking like you and being eighty-one, yes!" O'Neill said.

"I suppose then your people are not immortal."

"I do believe you are one of the few races we have encountered that is," Teal'c said.

"We aren't born immortal," Kashoku explained. "Our scientists were able to construct an immortality potion by experimenting with Sin and the Fayth's makeup. We began using it a few years after Sin's defeat. So many people had died that it was kind of a way to preserve ourselves…"

"Any chance we might be able to get a hold of the potion?" O'Neill asked.

"That might be tricky," Kashoku pondered.

"Quick question, actually," O'Neill said. "You sung in Japanese – New Spiran Kage called it – but you speak to us in English…"

"Oh, we are conversing in Old Spiran. Everyone speaks Old Spiran, and the majority speak both. Despite the name, Old Spiran is still very much alive. It refers more to our ancestors. Those that first were here on Spira spoke the language we do now. After Sin was born there was a new era in which a new group of ancestors emerged who spoke New Spiran."

"The newer ancestors, those that spoke New Spiran, did they look more like you instead of say, Paine," Daniel asked curiously.

Kashoku nodded, "Yes. I am of New Spiran ancestry and Paine of Old. Nothing other than the language is really known of our ancestors…It's as if it is all one big mystery. Most of this planet seems to be as such. Anyway, I feel the need to do something for you after the way Kage has been acting. If you still have an interest in finding a dress sphere I can go on a hunt with you."

"Didn't Kage kind of take our ride?" O'Neill asked with distaste at the memory of the woman.

"I'm a celebrity," Kashoku grinned. "I think I have my own airship. Come on, it is waiting in the docking bay. We can get to it using a transport sphere." Kashoku motioned for SG-1 to follow her through the busy crowd of Luca. As soon as they reached it she pulled out what looked like a communicator. After pressing several buttons she smiled. "There, Wing is position to pick us up. Just do like you did with the Celsius and put your hand on the sphere." Kashoku winked and wasted no time before transporting up to her ship.

"Well, you heard the girl," O'Neill shrugged and put his hand on the sphere before transporting up.

"It's no Celsius," Kashoku said as the rest of SG-1 made their way up, "but it'll defiantly serve our purpose."

"I thought you said it was in a docking port," Daniel asked as he looked over the interior of the ship and noted how it was different from the Celsius.

"It is. The docking port is in the air," Kashoku smiled. She took a seat in front of the control panels and a map appeared. "Let's see…Ah. I'm getting sphere readings from the sacred ruins on Mt. Gagazet."

"Sacred? As in forbidden? Doesn't that usually mean we shouldn't go there? Like, no trespassing?" O'Neill asked.

"Well," Kashoku began turning in her chair, "Kage was correct in her assessments of sphere hunters. Trespassing on sacred ground is just part of the game. If it comforts you to know, I am on friendly terms with Kimhari, the Ronso elder in charge of the mountain. He has let us on the sacred grounds before." She paused for a moment as she concentrated on the control panel. "I've set a course for the mountain. Prepare yourselves for battle. One never finds a sphere without a fiend accompanying it."

"Has it not been some time since you have last fought, Kashoku Yoshiko? Will you be prepared?" Teal'c asked.

"There might be a long drought but that doesn't mean it can never rain again," Kashoku stated.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "I do not believe I see the relation."

"She means that even though she hasn't fought in a long time it doesn't mean she can't do it ever again," Daniel translated.

Teal'c inclined his head in understanding. "I see."

There was a long silence once Kashoku stopped talking. Daniel took great notice of her discontent. "What makes you different?"

Kashoku lifted her head and frowned, "I'm sorry?"

"What makes you different from everyone else Kage hates? It seems she has a lot of...well hatred inside of her. Why doesn't she hate you like she does us or the Gullwings for that matter?"

"It's a long story."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude…"

Again there was silence.

"There wasn't a difference at first…" Daniel's head lifted up when Kashoku began talking. "She hated me. No…hated isn't a strong enough word. She loathed me. But then our parents were killed in the same attack by Sin and something happened…I don't know if it was just that we now had something in common or if we just needed someone to take comfort in that really knew how we were feeling, but that was when we just clicked."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know your parents were dead," Daniel said apologetically.

Kashoku smiled softly. She knew that he really meant what he was saying. A beeping sound went off and she was brought to attention. "We're at the top of the mountain. Come on, let's go get you guys that sphere. Hopefully it'll be a dress sphere."

"Are not all spheres dress spheres?" Carter asked.

"Unfortunately, no. Dress spheres are actually very rare." Kashoku noticed their disappointment and tried to cheer them up. "Don't worry, though. I'll keep going on hunts with you until we find you one."

"We really appreciate all that you are doing for us, Kashoku," Daniel said.

"Yeah, we aren't used to this kind of generosity, believe it or not. Most people blow us off when we ask for technology," O'Neill snorted recalling memories of the Tollan and the Nox…oh and he couldn't forget his favorite race of people; the Tok'ra.

"You really shouldn't be thanking me until after I get you that sphere. Come on. We need to hurry before it gets dark. It'll be much tougher then."

Kashoku led them across the rocky ledges of the mountain to where waterfalls could be seen gliding across the slick surfaces of the rocks. "My bet is that the sphere is probably in the temple up ahead so we'll check there." It took some rock climbing to get to the small and dark temple but everyone managed to get there. "Alright, let's see…Just look for a big orange glowing thing or any trapped doors that might lead us to it."

"You mean something like that?" O'Neill pointed.

Kashoku turned to see a platform jut out from the wall and a brightly glowing sphere placed on top. With a heavy frown she approached it and looked at it carefully. "That's odd. I don't ever remember this being here."

"Isn't the point of the spheres to be hidden, Kashoku Yoshiko?" Teal'c asked.

"I suppose, yes…but we haven't been attacked by anything yet. In all my years of sphere hunting this is a first." Kashoku didn't like this one bit. She had a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach and her feelings were usually right. It wasn't that there was no fiends, but that the sphere was out in the open for even inexperienced hunters to find.

"Don't jinx a good thing! Grab it and let's go," O'Neill said hurriedly trying to quickly usher them out.

"May I see the sphere for one moment?" Teal'c asked. Kashoku removed the sphere from the platform and handed it to him. He looked it over carefully before speaking. "Daniel Jackson. Do you recall the communication device Apophis used to communicate with his Jaffa on the Ha'tak vessel?"

"The round sphere?" Daniel asked.

"Yes. Do you not agree that this sphere holds a strong resemblance?" Teal'c held out the orange sphere for the archaeologist to see.

"Yeah, it does," Daniel said while shifting his glasses to get a good look.

"What does that mean?" Kashoku asked.

"The Goa'uld steal technology from other planets to make their own. The fact that their communication devices resemble yours is evidence that they have been to your planet in the past," Teal'c said.

"There are no records of them in any spheres we've found," Kashoku stated.

"It is possible that none of your people even realized that one was here," Teal'c said.

"Alright enough chit-chat, will ya? Let's just head back to the ship before a fiend shows up." The colonel was very impatient, especially when such matters could be discussed back on the ship where it was safe from anything wanting to kick his ass.

"Very well, we will go." Kashoku took the sphere and placed it in a hidden pouch within her belt. The bad feeling was still strong within her, but maybe the fiend had already been defeated by a previous hunter. Though, that wouldn't explain why the sphere was still there. She shrugged the matter off and began following the explorers outside the temple. Before they could make it out Kashoku found herself bumping into Daniel as the group suddenly halted. The large man had stopped with his hand raced as a signal.

"Teal'c, what is it?" Carter asked.

"Death gliders."

"What gliders?" Kashoku asked.

"Do you mean as in like Goa'uld death gliders?" O'Neill asked.

"What other death gliders would I be referring to, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked somewhat confused.

"Never mind! Why the hell did they show up all of a sudden? I thought you had said they'd never been here before!" O'Neill snapped at Kashoku.

"You are the first ones to ever visit our planet according to any sphere or records we have!" Kashoku said in defense. "Trust me, I've seen and read everything!"

"Why now?" Carter asked readying her P-90.

"The sphere…" Daniel trailed off. "It must have been a communication device that let Apophis know we had come. How the hell did he get here so fast? He must have been nearby already. Or maybe it was us coming through the Stargate?"

"Crap. Alright let's hurry back to the ship before we meet any-,"

O'Neill was interrupted by several rings piling up on each other on the center floor of the temple. As they lifted back up several men had taken place. As soon as they laid eyes on SG-1 and Kashoku they pointed their weapons at them. "Jaffa, Kree!"

"Alright kids, time to go!" O'Neill began firing at the Jaffa with Teal'c and Carter following suit as they began backtracking out of the temple.

"Come on!" Daniel grabbed hold of Kashoku and began running out of the temple with Kashoku behind him only to find themselves face to face with more Jaffa. "Oh this isn't good."

"Why do they look like Teal'c?" Kashoku hissed. "Is he one of them? Did he lead those men here? Are you all lying?" Daniel said nothing but only pulled her out of the way of fire. "Daniel!"

"We aren't lying!" Daniel said quickly. "I'll explain later!"

"I want an explanation now!" Kashoku said, yanking her arm away from the man and giving him a harsh glare. She'd be damned if Kage had been right about all of her suspicions.

"DANIEL!"

Daniel turned his head and saw the blast coming towards them. "Watch out!" Wrapping his arms around Kashoku he pulled her out of the way of fire, but he knew he hadn't been as lucky to escape it. The painful burning of his flesh told him so. As his back hit the ground he let out a scream from the pain of the wound.

Kashoku gasped as she saw the severe burn and the smell of smoke. Pushing herself slightly away from the body she saw another blast coming. Reacting quickly she made a circling motion with her arm that created a blue shield around her. The blast never made it past that. Kashoku looked towards SG-1 and flung her arm out. A shield formed in front of each of them protecting them from the incoming blasts. "Hurry and kill these men so we can get Daniel back to the ship for healing!" Pulling out her own guns she began firing away at the Jaffa alongside the travelers until there were finally no more in sight.

Teal'c and O'Neill immediately made their ways towards Daniel and helped him to his feet. "Think you can make it?" The colonel asked.

"I'll try," Daniel hissed through the pain.

"The wound is too great for me to heal here! We have to hurry him back to Wing!" Kashoku said as she immediately took off.

With Teal'c and O'Neill helping Daniel they made it to the transport sphere quickly and back up to Wing. Daniel was laid gently down on the floor while Kashoku made her way to a platform on the dashboard of the ship holding several spheres. She fumbled through them for a moment before picking one out and causing her outfit to change into a white, revealing, robe with elaborate designs. Making her way next to Daniel's side she quickly began fumbling with removing his vest and jacket and lifting his shirt enough for her to see the wound. She flinched in unison with Daniel as she touched the wound to assess the damage. Closing her eyes she let her magic flow through her and into the wound. The light that surrounded her and Daniel was brighter than the one that had been used on Kage and much larger. It lasted several moments before it stopped to reveal Daniel's wound was completely healed. Kashoku let out a deep sigh of relief before slumping forward into Daniel's quick arms.

"Are you okay?" Daniel asked worriedly as he sat up with Kashoku in his arms.

"I'm sorry," Kashoku said slowly as she regained her composure. "Magic drains your energy, especially a strong spell such as that one." She turned her head in embarrassment as her cheeks began to flush. "I'm very sorry! I didn't mean to get you hurt I was just confused and upset! I'm still confused!"

"Teal'c is a Jaffa; those people we saw earlier," Daniel said.

"But like your people I have abandoned my faith. I believe the Goa'uld to be false gods and no longer serve them," Teal'c explained.

Kashoku turned her attention back to Daniel as his hot flesh met with the bare area on her arms. His eyes were understanding and held no anger in them from what she could see. "Again I will apologize. I didn't know…I will try and take more care in my actions during the future."

"Mistakes happen, kid. Thankfully you were able to correct it," O'Neill said. "Not to mention you had some kick ass powers out there."

"I do believe that you would be the kid in this relationship, O'Neill," Teal'c pointed out.

"It's a metaphor, Teal'c…" O'Neill sighed and moved on. "Those blue things…what were they?"

"A protection spell. It's a high level spell that only masters can use. Depending on the strength of the caster it will protect from outside attack for a certain amount of time," Kashoku explained. "I should have cast them as soon as the attack begun…"

"Look, there are bound to be more death gliders on their way. We should probably warn your people so they can defend themselves," O'Neill said.

Kashoku nodded and pushed her way from Daniel, blushing, as she stood. Her clothing disappeared to reform her Gunner outfit as she took seat at the control consol and began vigorously typing away at the buttons. Several minutes later she turned, "Sightings of the gliders have already been made and sphere hunting groups with battle class ships have been dispatched to deal with them. However, there is another problem…they've detected a ship in our orbit."

"Apophis's Ha'tak vessel," Teal'c said. "It will no doubt attack once word of resistance reaches it."

"It is a good thing then that our machina cannon at Mushroom Rock can destroy it then, isn't it?" Kashoku smiled.

"You have a gun that can destroy ships from space?" The Air Force colonel liked the sounds of this planet more and more by the minute. "And would you perhaps be willing to share this lovely little device with us?"

"That's more Kage's area of expertise than mine…" Kashoku frowned apologetically. Her eyes caught the glimmer of flashing Japanese characters on her screen and grinned. "You see? The ship has been destroyed."

"Whoa! Sweet! You think Apophis was on that ship when it blew up?" O'Neill asked.

"I do not believe we possess such luck, O'Neill," Teal'c said. "Apophis himself most likely did not come, but instead sent a ship in his fleet."

"Eh, probably right…"

"I'm worried about Kage, though…If you don't mind I would like to go check on her," Kashoku asked.

"Do you even know where she is?" Daniel asked.

"I've located her ship so I'm guessing that is where she is. It is most likely we will encounter some of those ships on the way so I'll activate Wing's automatic lock on system to take care of them for us."

"You mean it hunts down the bad guys and shoots them down for you?" O'Neill wasn't quite sure how that worked, but if it did it, who was he to complain?

"Yes. You program the image of the target object and the ship will automatically destroy any that it sees. I really can't tell you much past that. You'll have to bring the matter up with Kage…" That was, of course, if she was even willing to talk about the matter. Kashoku sighed. She really hoped that her friend was in a better mood but something told her that the woman's short temper would only be flaring more now that they had been attacked. When Kashoku was right she was right.

As SG-1 and Kashoku transported themselves down on land they were greeted with a destroyed ship and a flaming Kage. Thunder rolled loudly and lightning struck swift on the dark plains they were in. O'Neill wondered if the weather was supposed to be like this or if it was just reflecting the sphere hunter's mood before them.

"Those fucking bastards destroyed Lunestis!" Kage hissed as she shot several bullets into a dead Jaffa for good measure. "I told you this would turn out bad! I fucking told you!" She pointed her gun at Teal'c's head and fired.

"KAGE!" Kashoku flared. The bullet had failed to pierce the woman's quickly cast protect spell. "It isn't want you think! I thought so too at first but you have to listen to them!"

"I tried it your way Kashy and it got my ship destroyed! Now we do things my way!" Kage however was not able to get another shot off as Kashoku stepped right in the way of her gun and her face. "Move!"

"No! They are good people! Teal'c helped us fight off several of his own kind when they attacked us. He abandoned his faith to his gods like we did to ours! Daniel even risked his life to save mine!"

Kage's gun pointed towards Daniel over her friend's short body. "What did I tell you about getting near her?! I swear to god if you touched her I will cut off every single one of your fingers one by one!"

"What?! Are you placing restraining orders on people against me now?" Kashoku groaned in frustration. "Kage, please, just stop for one moment! None of them have attacked you like you have them! I think that is enough evidence they aren't going to hurt you because I know I would have already with the way you are acting if I were them!"

"Maybe you should, then! You never could stand up for yourself!" Kage hissed. She was always standing up for her friend because the singer could never grow a backbone and do so herself. Kage was her personal bodyguard and she wouldn't have any more of it.

"I don't have time for this!" Kashoku clenched her fists and turned her back to her friend. Several more gliders passed over but were slowing near by. She gasped as she noticed the gliders lowering by a near by forest. "Oh no! They are entering Macalania!" She took off at a sprint towards the forest entrance leaving the rest in the dust.

Kage growled. "Her and that god damn forest! I should let those things burn it to the ground." But despite her words she drew sword and began running after her friend. As much as she hated the sparkling beauty she knew it wouldn't be in her favor if she let it get destroyed.

"We should probably follow, sir," Carter said.

O'Neill sighed and nodded. "Let's go take care of them, then." He patted his P90, life long friend in battle, and puffed out his cheeks as he blew out air. "I'm really sick of Jaffa. We need something new to fight…"

Kashoku reached the group of Jaffa just outside the entrance to the blue and green forest. Without hesitation she drew her guns and began firing while casting a protection spell at the same time to ward off the blasts from their weapons. Even when she had taken care of that group, however, she was knocked on her back by the leader of another group.

Lightning struck the Jaffa that was about to come bearing down on Kashoku. His body fell to the ground to reveal Kage standing behind him. "You are stupid, you know that?"

"So are you!" Kashoku struck back. She couldn't keep count of the times Kage had rushed into things without a rational thought and things have turned out badly.

"No, I'm insane. Stupid and insane are two very different things." Kage lifted a hand and summoned more of the electric magic to her aid to finish off the remaining Jaffa in their presence. "There. Your precious forest is saved. Happy?"

"Yes…" Kashoku sighed as SG-1 finally caught up with them. Taking several looks around for remaining Jaffa she found herself satisfied. "I think we got-ah!" The woman was caught off guard, protection spell down, and was shot in the back.

"Kashy!" Kage cried out. The lightning was replaced by burning flames in her hands and was hurled at the Jaffa that had shot her friend, burning him to a crisp as if it he were simply a lump of coal. After the threat had been eliminated she wasted no time getting to her friend's side. "Shit, shit, shit! Kashy, wake up! Come on! You have to cure yourself!"

Daniel and Carter rushed to her side immediately while Teal'c and O'Neill took point. Carter looked at the wound with a worried face. "Can you heal this?"

"No! Weren't you paying attention when she said I didn't know any white magic?!" Kage's voice was less angry and more in a panic. Never before had she had to worry about not having access to curing magic. Kashoku had never been knocked out in a situation where she was badly injured and needed healing like this. "We have to find Yuna, or another healer, now!"

"Do you even know where one is?" O'Neill asked.

"Kage we can help her but you need to get us back to the Stargate," Daniel said calmly, but the panic was drawn out all across his face.

Kage hesitated. O'Neill was right. In all the chaos it could be hours before they could locate Yuna or a healer. "Did she bring you on Wing?"

"Yes."

Kage nodded swiftly, "Yeah, I can get you there. I know the ship."

"Alright, then let's go." Daniel carefully scooped Kashoku into his arms as to not touch her wounds and followed Kage to the transport sphere with the rest of the team on hot pursuit while battling the Jaffa behind them.

As soon as everyone was aboard Wing, Kage took control and flew the airship to Bikanel as quickly as humanly possible. No one wasted anytime getting out and heading straight into the cave through the sand and the now cold desert as it grew dark. Carter took point through the cave with her light shining brightly as they moved deeper inside. As soon as the Stargate was in sight she moved towards a panel in front of it and began punching buttons that lit up in conjunction with the locks on the gate.

The blue water whooshed and settled in place while Carter punched buttons on a device on her wrist. "Alright, sir, we are good to go." The blonde soldier headed on through first followed by Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c, and then Daniel.

Kage stepped up to the blue water and looked at it hesitantly. She had no clue what the hell she was about to step through or what would greet her on the other end. Maybe this was just another trap. Those explorers had probably set this whole thing up just to get the two on their home planet where they would be held hostage. "Shit. I'll worry about that later. Kashoku first!" Closing her eyes she jumped through the puddle and landed on a loud ramp. Slowly opening her eyes she found herself at gun point of several soldiers. "I knew you were all lying!"

"Would you shut up?!" O'Neill waved his hands at Kage in frustration. "We are trying to help Kashoku here! Stand down!" He motioned for the soldiers to lower their weapons.

The doors opened on the left and a large bald man walked through angrily. "Colonel, what the hell is going on here?"

Daniel shoved his way to the bottom of the ramp with Kashoku still cradled in his arms. "We need a medical team down here, now! Her pulse is fading!"

Kage's eyes widened. "No….Kashoku."