Disclaimer: Don't own Stargate. Don't own the characters. Don't own any merchandise. Don't own any rights. I pretty much don't own anything.
Author's Notes: Welcome to my second attempt at Fanfiction! (My first being a Naruto fic under a different alias) A couple things to note. In my time line, it goes Ark of Truth, Continuum, then Season 4 Atlantis, and then we pick up after that. There are however flashbacks. Anything about Continuum in this fic is purely how I would have written it, so don't worry about spoilers on that front.
Additional Information: Pairing will be Cam/Sam. If you can't handle this pairing, be warned, it will be heavily laden with it. (Also, some Daniel / Vala)
Rating will be M, just because I don't know where I'm going to take this thing. It's more of a precautionary measure than anything.
I have been rather out of practice when it comes to writing, since the past year has been spent in physics and chem laboratories. I've gotta work myself back into the zone I was in a year ago, so please bear with me on that. Anyway, on to the story. Enjoy!
Prologue:
SGC: Present
She could hear the buzz as her alarm began to sound and rolled on her side to hit it, hoping a whack would teach it some manners. She just couldn't bring herself to get out of bed, not now, not today. The last thing she wanted was to get up, get dressed, and head to the briefing room. She'd run through this routine too many times to count, but today was different, today, she would have to face him; a prospect which had plagued her all night. One which had deprived her of some much needed sleep.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice." She mumbled groggily as she swung herself out of bed. It took her a few minutes to find the energy to walk to the bathroom and start on her morning checklist.
Shower. Check. Teeth. Check. Clothes. Check. She hesitated for a moment as she looked down at the porcelain of her sink."Come on. You can do this." She almost chanted to herself, hoping that in the process, she would will her composure into place.
Minutes passed as she stood there, now focusing on her reflection in the mirror. Staring deeply into her own blue eyes, she attempted to remain in control. That's what she did; that's who she was. She didn't let her emotions get the better of her, and this should be no exception. But it was, and she knew it.
Breaking her concentration, she left the bathroom and took a seat on her bed; this time, fixing her gaze on a speck on the floor of her quarters. "I don't know if I can do this..." she half whined as she ran her hands over her face, and through her hair. "I don't think I can face him..." she continued. "Not after what I did to him."
Antarctica: 9 Months Ago
It had taken Col. Mitchell, Col. Carter, General O'Neill and Daniel an unprecedented amount of luck to track Baal's mother ship, but finally they managed to locate it at the southern end of the globe. Finding it, and reaching it however, had been two completely different tasks.
The four of them had found themselves in a series of events mimicking the movie, The Terminator, a point Cameron didn't let the rest of his team forget. Baal had gone back in time in order to change the future. He had succeeded in claiming Vala, now Qetesh, as his bride, as well as snagging Teal'c as his new first prime. However, out here on the frozen tundra, he was after an even bigger prize: the ancient technology which had allowed SG-1 to defeat the armies of Anubis. And now, the only things standing in his way, were Cameron Mitchell, Samantha Carter, Jack O'Neill, and Daniel.
"So, I take it this is the part where I suggest we split up?" Cam announced after SG-1 had successfully infiltrated Baal's vessel by stealing a tel'tak, and boarding the ship.
"For the plan to work, we'll need to plant the C-4 in the engineering bay, and blow it as they are about to break atmosphere. As long as we can cut power to their engines, the re-entry should be sufficient to destroy the vessel." Chimed Sam.
"Alright, alright. Mitchell and Carter, you two go and plant the C-4. Daniel and I will see what we can do about Teal'c and Vala." O'Neill instructed in a hushed tone as the group huddled behind a mountain of containers.
"Well, that sounds all fine and dandy, but how exactly are we going to convince both Teal'c and Vala that they aren't who they think they are. I mean, who's to even say Vala is still Vala. Qetesh could still have complete control over her." Daniel interjected in a matter-o-fact way.
"Well, this isn't exactly uncharted territory Daniel. How many times have we had to do this exactly?" O'Neill shot back.
"General, with all due respect, if we're going to get this done, we'd better get going soon. Every minute we stay here, Baal is getting closer to reaching the Ancients' outpost. And I'm pretty sure we don't want that." Quipped Cameron with a rather frustrated look on his face.
"Alright, alright. Just remember, after you're done, head to the rendezvous point on the ice shelf. Don't worry about Daniel or I, just worry about getting the hell out of here." O'Neill explained as he tapped Daniel on the back, signaling he was ready to set this half-baked plan into motion.
"Good luck Sir," Carter said as Jack and Daniel began to move out.
"You too."
And with that, both Col. Mitchell and Carter made their way to the engineering room. They had to work diligently not to be seen by any Jaffa patrols. It seemed this place was crawling with them.
Foot by foot, deck by deck, the duo clung to the safety of the shadows. More than once, Cam had nearly thought their cover was blown. These Jaffa had stone cold expressions on their faces. He hated not being able to read someone. A couple times, one of Baal's minions had looked directly at him, but he couldn't tell if they'd noticed the two members of SG-1 or not.
Suddenly, Cam raised his fist, giving the motion for both to stop. "Sam," Cameron barely whispered. "How much further?" he asked with a rather impatient look on his face.
"It's a few decks below our current position. Just follow my lead, and don't fall behind." Sam replied as she took point, a little annoyed at her companion's impetuousness.
After what had seemed like forever to Cameron, both he and Sam had finally made it to the door behind which the central core of the ship's engines laid. Cameron quickly got out a fiber optic scope and wound it under the door leading into the room. Slowly, the picture of the inside of the room came into view on his end.
"Alright, we've got 2 Jaffa guarding. Shouldn't be too tough, one of them even has their back to us," Cameron whispered to Sam. "I got right, you take left." He finished, as he motioned for them to breach.
Sam hit the controls on the door, and before the guards could register what happened, both Carter and Mitchell pumped several rounds from their P90's into both Jaffa's torsos. Each man fell to the ground in a heap.
"Nice work." Came Cam's voice.
"Thanks, you too. Now lets get the charges set." Sam replied as they both dropped their gear, and began wiring the explosives.
It had taken them about a quarter of an hour to properly rig the room to detonate. Upon finishing, Samantha decided to whip out her laptop in order to finalize her calculations.
"Alright, we're done. Let's get out of here." Cam stated while Sam seemed to be transfixed by her PC. He snapped his fingers in front of her head. "Sam? Hello?" Mitchell tried again, this time grabbing her arm.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, right, sorry. This should be sufficient to knock out their engines. Let's head out." Sam replied, as she slung her rifle around her back, still reading the screen.
Upon leaving the newly sabotaged room, Cameron took point this time, a little irritated that Sam still had her eyes glued to her damn computer.
They had made their way down the hall when Sam suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Wait, something isn't right here." She stated. "I'm getting some anomalous readings coming from the engines."
"Sam, there's no time, we have to get out of here." Cam started.
"We can't. We have to go back. I need to check something." Sam tried to explain as she turned around, and took off back down the hall.
"Sam! SAAAAAM!" Cam called out with a rather loud whisper. "Ah, hell!" He yelled, as he followed after her.
Sam didn't know what these readings meant. The power being fed through the engine's network was increasing slightly, but steadily; and there didn't seem to be an explanation for it. She ran a few theories through her head as she dashed down the hall, back to the room they had just finished rigging, but nothing made sense to her. "If this increase stays on its projected path, then..." She mumbled to herself before heading through the door, and right into a patrol of Jaffa.
The warriors, who had been inspecting the bodies of their fallen comrades, quickly turned their attention to the intruder.
"Awww crap." Sam stated with wide eyes.
"SAM! DOWN! NOW!" Cameron yelled from the doorway as he opened up on the patrol, managing to nail two of them before the others leaped out of the line of fire.
While still on the ground, Carter quickly scrambled back out the door while under Cam's covering fire.
"So, can we go now? Or do you want to take in any more of the sites!" Cam yelled as his gun ran dry, and he retreated behind Sam.
"Cam! Behind you!" Carter yelled, as another patrol, this one alerted by the firing, took up positions at the end of the hall the two SG-1 members had taken refuge in.
Cameron went prone, as Sam dropped to one knee to begin returning fire on their newly arrived guests. Both Colonels fired volley after volley at the ever increasing Jaffa down the hall, as they tried to create an opening for themselves to move backwards, and retreat down an adjoining corridor.
"We can't keep this up forever!" Sam stated while squeezing off another volley.
"Ya think?!" Cameron yelled as he opened up again with a hail of gunfire.
Both Cameron and Samantha continued to fill the hallway with as much metal as possible. Jaffa after Jaffa were left slumped on the ground, yet there seemed to be no end to the reinforcements. Finally however, the warriors grabbed their injured, and retreated to an adjoining room.
"Huh? What do you think they're doing? They had us pinned down." Sam stated as she kept her eyes peeled for any activity.
"I dunno," Cam started as he got up from his position to face his blonde teammate, at the same time, spotting the single Jaffa soldier who had managed to flank them as he was about to let loose a blast into his friend's back.
"SAM!" Cameron screamed as he ran towards her, pushing her to the side, and in the process taking the shot intended for her.
"GAAAAH! DAMNIT!" he screamed while falling to the floor.
Carter instinctively turned around and managed to drop the attacker with a clean shot to the head. It then took her a few seconds to register what had just happened.
"Cam!" She yelled as she dropped to her knees in order to assess the wound. "Cam, let go of it for a sec. Let me see..." she said as he complied, clearing his hands from his side, while at the same time, raising his head in order to get a better look at it.
Sam quickly brought out her knife, and carefully cut back the clothing around the fringes of the hole in order to get a better look. It wasn't pretty. It looked like the plasma from the staff had opened up a hole the size of her fist right through Cam's right kidney.
"Sam." Came Cam's voice, quiet and labored. "Sam, you... you have to get out of here... You have to get to the outpost. You have to stop Baal from..." but he was cut off as he winced in pain.
"No. There is no way I'm leaving you here." Sam declared sternly, as tears began to form around her eyes. "I can fix this. I'm going to get you out of..."
"Heh. I don't think so... Not this time..." He interrupted.
"Cam! I'm going to get you out of here." She stated again as she started reaching for her medical pack.
"And then what? Don't get me wrong Sam... I'm all for having you drag my ass out of here... but take a look at where we are... We're on a damn ice flow... in the middle of Antarctica... Face it Sam... I'm not going to be getting out of here... Not alive anyway... And I am not going to drag you down with me." Cam responded, with an intense look on his face. "Now get going... I'll give you some cover..." He finished as he looked back down the corridor, to where he knew the Jaffa were regrouping.
"Cam, I'm not going to..."
"SAM! GET GOING! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Cam barked, using much of the strength he had left. While he knew they were of equal rank, he hoped to God that she would get the message.
She looked at him, apologetically, with her lips pursed, and tears now freely falling from her eyes. She gave him a nod as the first staff blast wizzed by their heads. Sam closed her eyes, and slowly began lowering her head. She caught Cam off guard, as she delicately captured his lips with her own. He could feel the warmth of her tears as her mouth connected with his. Cameron's heart began pumping harder than he had ever felt it as her lips remained attached to his for what seemed like an eternity before she pulled away.
"I'll see ya round..." He said as Sam noticed that dopey smile of his plastered across his face. "Now get going!" he shouted as his focus switched to providing her as much fire as possible.
She gripped his shoulder for an instant before she got up, and ran off down the hall. She finally made it to safety, and dropped behind some cover as she heard Cameron stop firing. She kept hidden, and peered around a corner to see what had happened. The group of warriors had made Cameron's position. They didn't waste anytime disarming the injured man before creating a path for someone, and it didn't take Sam long to figure out who that someone was.
"Ah, Colonel Mitchell! It's been far too long!" She could hear Baal casually say. "What a pleasure it is indeed. And fitting I suppose. Now I'll be able to have the same fun with you as I did with your predecessor. Only this time, I don't think any system lords will be coming to your aid, eh?" The host finished, before letting loose a blood curdling laugh.
SGC: Present
Even though General O'Neill, and Daniel were able to convince Teal'c and Vala of who they really were. Even though all five of them managed to stop Baal's forces from stealing the Ancient technology, the goa'uld had still managed to escape in a cloaked tel'tak. He was still able to get away with a few ancient drones, but most importantly, with Colonel Mitchell.
It had taken the SGC nearly two months to determine the fate, and whereabouts of Mitchell. It had taken another month to successfully plan, and execute a rescue operation. Sam had made sure she was the one leading that mission. She felt she should be the one to go in, guns blazing, and pull off the daring rescue; but nothing could prepare her for what she had found.
She was there for Jack after he had gone his rounds with Baal's interrogation techniques. She knew that he could kill a man hundreds of times over, and resurrect him with the power of a sarcophagus. She thought she had witnessed first hand the horror of that level of mercilessness, but she found out, what Jack had been through was nothing compared to this. Jack wasn't subjected to that level of brutality for this long. He wasn't nearly as broken and helpless as the man she found inside that cell.
Shaking herself, Sam quickly did her best to push those memories back into the recesses of her mind as she mustered up the strength to stand. She glanced at her watch momentarily, realizing she would have to leave immediately if she didn't want to hold up the briefing. Apparently Bra'tac had arrived a day or two ago with some urgent news. The Daedalus had delivered her back to the SGC from Atlantis a mere ten hours prior, and she had spent most of the time since trying to catch up on some sleep. Needless to say, she was a bit out of the loop.
With a sigh, she forced herself to her feet and made her way to the door. Turning the light off, she looked back at the empty room, then out to the hallway which eventually lead to her destination. "Yup." She quietly stated to herself. "Welcome home Samantha Carter."
Author's Notes: Well, there's some of the preliminary stuff. The story will follow a story line, however I reserve the right to make side mission chapters, much like the series itself. Just treat this like another arc of the series.
Also, please review. If you liked it, comment. If you want more, comment. If you have a problem with something, I would ask you to comment, but be respectful / constructive. If I misuse a ship in some way, or there's a plot hole with regards to previous episodes, tell me, but also keep in mind, I'm not 100 up to date on every episode of both SG-1 and Atlantis. I do however go back, and read episode synopses, or watch episodes for research.
If you are happy with what you just read, well, I'll be working on the next chapter soon, but I also have a paper to write, and a test to take this Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, so it might be a little while before I will be able to update. Anyway, thanks!