Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate belong to MGM. The characters of the Four Orders are entirely my own.
Chapter 2
Day Two – Transition in progress
The debriefing of SG-1's latest mission was very interesting and Gen. George Hammond was very impressed and proud of the team's resourcefulness. Some aspects of it seemed sheer luck, but they were used wisely nonetheless. Unfortunately, Anubis was unlike to give up this easily but perhaps he was now going to concentrate on the System Lords.
Of course, once he is done with them he will pursue the destruction or conquest of Earth which meant that they did not have much time. All SG teams would have to concentrate even more on finding technologies and allies to defend Earth.
Doctor Jackson's visit to the plane of the Ancients was the most important. He shared with them the existence of the lost city of Atlantis possessing Ancient technologies that could save them but they had to find Atlantis first.
In the regard unfortunately they had not made any progress. The SG teams have been exploring mostly the planets retrieved from the Ancient depository of knowledge the last time Colonel O'Neill accessed it but it was taking a lot of time. They needed to double their efforts. George shared this with his favorite team and asked Major Carter to select the most likely worlds.
The problem was that they were looking for a needle in a very large haystack – a few thousand gate addresses provided it even existed somewhere. But they were going to find out for certain they always did.
True to its word the voice did not show up again. Few months passed, SG-1 was on yet another Goa'uld outpost this time held by Lord Yu. The lord himself was not present when they were once more captured but word was sent for him. In truth Lord Yu was not interested in them despite the fact of their much interference.
The local Goa'uld representing Lord Yu however was not of the same opinion as his master. He thought that this uncanny defiance must be taught a lesson. And yes, stick, pain, torture happened all over again.
"Milord," – A Jaffa ran to his master Apate.
"What is it?" – Apate asked irritated by this untimely interruption.
"Lord Yu has send message regarding the prisoners."
"I shall see it in my private room. Kri!"
Apate left the torture session he was enjoying so much with the traitor Teal'c. His lord and master Yu appeared on the screen.
"Apate, the prisoners of the Tauri are not to be harmed. I'm sending a ship to collect them. I want them ready for transport well and unspoiled. It will arrive in two days."
Apate shut down the screen. He was not pleased. He had only two days, no worse, only one day to fully enjoy their pain. He should take his time now with the others and then some time with Teal'c.
"Jaffa!" – Apate called.
"Yes, milord." – One appeared, bowing to the ground awaiting orders.
"Bring me the one called Jackson."
"Yes, milord." – The Jaffa said and left.
Apate returned to the torture chamber where moments later his Jaffa brought Daniel. Apate did not ask anything. He only took the Goa'uld pain stick and used it, over and over again until Daniel could no longer stay conscious. He was then brought back to consciousness only to start the process over again.
When Apate was satisfied he ordered O'Neill to be brought and started again. O'Neill proved more resilient which only increased the pleasure Apate was getting out of it. He had to bring O'Neill down to his last thread of resistance before being completely satisfied.
"Take him back to his cell and bring me the female in my chambers." – Apate commanded. For the major, he had other plans. There were other ways to break a woman. He was once in a female body and remembered well the pleasures of it.
"Kneel!" – He commanded once Major Carter was in his presence. Needless to say she did not obey but with the hand device she fell on her knees. Apate lost no time and tore all her clothes apart leaving her with nothing but her birthday suit. He then used the hand device until she lost consciousness then picked her up, bound her hands and hanged her on a rope.
Apate took devices similar to those of the Tok'Ra and placed them on her temples, one near her clit and one on the opposite side. What anyone should know about Apate was that he was the most perverse of all Goa'uld. He enjoyed mostly torturing females of all ages.
He then splashed her with a bucket of ice cold water. Carter came to consciousness at once although she certainly wished she hadn't. Apate let her imagine all the worst that could possibly transpire next. Fear was building in her as well as utter disgust.
Apate pressed a button on his hand device and electric current passed right through the devices on her that made her wriggle in terrible pain. The pain continued for a long, long minute before Apate stopped. She was just taking her breath when he started again but this time he had increased the setting. The pain became unbearable and she lost consciousness.
Dark thoughts were crossing Carter's mind – what could this disgusting Goa'uld be doing with her unconscious body. The very thought was sickening and that brought her back as well as another ice cold portion of water.
The pain induced this time seemed less but lasted more. Apate had designed this to lower the female's resistance until she comes to accept her fate as a slave that will do anything for her master.
This horrid moment lasted more than Carter could handle. The hours blurred all together until she lost notion of all surroundings. Her mind was going dull.
"Samantha, oh gods, keep to my voice, ignore all else, Samantha." – The voice had returned as Carter's mind registered its presence.
"I don't…want…to…" – Carter replied in her mind with a forced whisper.
"Focus Samantha, focus on my voice, hold on to it." – The voice commanded gently but firmly and she obeyed it.
Carter opened her eyes and found herself on top a beautiful mountain peek overseeing a forest with trees with silver leaves.
"Look," – The voice said.
And she looked as a sun was setting and then another and the last rays touched the silver leaves made the forest seem like it was on fire, but a fire that was cooling off not heating up, and it was beautiful.
"It is so beautiful." – She said. There was joy in her voice but also sadness. "But it is not real. I'm still with that…that…p…"
"Pig, I guess you could say." – The voice replied trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah, if only…"
"Then focus your mind and thoughts on me," – The voice asked but it did not sound distant any more. It sounded closer and she turned around to find it until she saw him. It had taken a form.
He was tall and beautiful, more beautiful than any man she has ever met. He stood like a great god of old. His beautiful eyes shone like stars in a night sky.
"Here I am, Samantha."
"You're…complete?"
"Yes, now I am." – He said locking his eyes into hers. She emerged herself into them and she felt clean, and all the dirt of reality washed away in that one, pure moment. "You will not forget what has happened and it is time you face it."
"No, I…can't."
"It is the only way to put it behind you. Open your eyes, Samantha, open them, open them now!" – His voice was soothing, gentle but adamantly irresistible.
She obeyed its calling and opened her eyes to the world of Apate. He was obviously going to start another of his sick games. But something was different now she could feel it. Strength poured in her veins unlike any before.
Apate started again with the highest setting but was due for a surprise. This time Samantha did not pass away, did not wriggle, did not screech in pain. Her eyes did not flinch instead were filled with cold fury.
Her body straightened up suddenly and without warning. The restraints fumed until they fell but her feet did not touch the ground they remained suspended in the air like she was standing on something. Apate retreated a few steps stunned by what was happening.
She did not say a word for words were not necessary. Her hands were released once the restraints had fallen and now her left one rose up. A silver thread appeared and started knitting and growing until her body was covered in a silver robe that looked so thin that it is impossible to distinguish it from the body. It was like a new skin. Her hand went down again and the thread slowly unzipped and underneath it was the most majestic attire a woman has ever worn or Apate has ever seen in all his years.
Her feet were covered now in boots of sparkling silver hide. A necklace of seven diamonds unlike any other adorned her neck. On her right hand, a ring of unchallenged, unrivaled sparkling shone more brightly than a star in the night sky.
Her feet gently touched the ground as though she had descended from a cloud. Her eyes still filled with cold fury burned Apate's. He came down on his knees in pain so agonizing that a scream would have sounded like a relief, like a blessing.
Apate's pain however vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared. He felt relieved but when he opened his eyes he could hardly belief what he was seeing. He appeared to be standing on the opposite side of a mirror, which was impossible and on the other side stood the silver demon – Major Samantha Carter. And the adamant look of cold fury still present in her eyes.
"I condemn you, Lord Apate, to spend the entire span of your life inside the mirror, always looking from around the corner and never finding peace. And the light of your release will lay just one hand away. It will be so close and yet so far, unreachable, until the day darkness overcomes you."
Carter's lips had not moved and yet it seemed as though the voice was coming from her. This voice was so beautiful and so terrifying at the same time. It carried pity and cold fury then it faded away with laughter so cold and sinister that every fiber in Apate's body froze in cold terror. Carter then moved away from the mirror and never looked back.
"He deserved to die, no worse he deserved…"
"Enough Samantha, he got exactly what he deserved." – The voice said. "It is in the past now."
"Thank you, for com…for saving my…"
"Speak nothing of it. Now, let's fetch the others."
"I still need clothes."
"You have clothes on you."
"But I thought it is what you wanted him to see. They can't be real."
"Well, you're seeing, aren't you?"
"Yeah, but…"
"I haven't influenced your cognitive perceptions, Samantha. It really happened the way you and…whatever saw it."
"But how…how did you do it?"
"All in good time. One mystery for the day is more than enough."
"How am I supposed to explain that to…the others?"
"The…whatever made you wear them."
"Convenient."
"Cheeky."
"And the other thing – how…"
"Samantha…"
"One mystery is enough for the day." – Carter sighed defeated. "Alright, but I don't remember the way."
"Yes, you do, turn left here."
"See you do remember it."
"No, you remember it. I'm only using your memories. You'll be amazed what your mind really stores."
"Did the others…you know…did they?"
"No, I severed the link. It took quite an effort but don't worry they haven't seen it and they won't. I promise."
"Thank you!"
They reached the cell where her teammates were held. There was only one guard posted. The moment he saw her he was at loss not only of words but any kind of action. Daniel, the only one awake, felt the same way. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. He has rarely seen Sam shine in such light before. It was indeed like seeing a bright star in the sky.
Carter raised a hand and the guard fell down unconscious. She reached for the door lock and pressed it.
"Later," – She interrupted Daniel's obvious question. "Help me get them up and away from here before the alarms go off."
With Samantha's and the voice's help they reached the gate that was obviously guarded but they were no match for Samantha's inexplicable powers. All the guards fainted and kissed the ground. She dialed Earth.
"Carter, NO!" – O'Neill shouted but it was too late she crossed. O'Neill entered the GDO code and passed through with the others.
Arriving in the gate room, they saw Carter still in her silver attire standing still and waiting for them.
"Welcome back SG-1!" – Hammond greeted though he did not approach them.
"General, was the IRIS down when Sam came through?" – Daniel asked.
"Yes,"
"Then how – what happened?"
"Major Carter walked right through it. Would someone tell me what is going on? What happened there?"
"It is a long story, General." – O'Neill replied.
"I'm sure you'd tell u…" – General Hammond's voice faded away as well as everything else and SG-1 found themselves on the mountain peek Carter visited previously.
"What the hell?" – O'Neill exclaimed.
"Where are we?" – Daniel asked looking around.
"I do not believe we are any longer in the SGC." – Teal'c stated the obvious.
"We are." – Carter said firmly.
"No, we are not." – Daniel shook head.
"Yes, you are." – The all familiar voice replied.
"Oh, it again." – O'Neill said with climbing notes of subdued anger. "Where the hell was you when we needed you?"
"Really, I had the impression you don't but in the end of the day Jack, you didn't ask. If you thought that I am stuck you all the time you clearly mistaken."
"Convenient."
"Colonel, he did help."
"Really?"
"We are here aren't we? We escaped."
"Sam, are you saying what you did…back there and through the iris that was him?" – Daniel asked.
"Yes, it was."
"Oh! So he took over?"
"No, I haven't."
"Then how do you explain it?"
"Ah, Daniel," – Carter called. "He is behind you."
"Who is?" – Daniel asked.
"He, it, I mean." – Carter replied. "Just turn around."
Daniel did and saw it for the first time and remained still and speechless.
"For the record, Daniel, I can't yet, take over but I can use what is already available."
"What do you mean?" – Teal'c asked.
"All that happened is not my doing, personally, it is Samantha's. This is what she is capable of." – The voice replied.
"WHAT?" – O'Neill said.
"But…how?"
"Oh, do you always have to ask so many questions?" – It answered back sounding slightly irritated. "Accept the miracle and move on. Damn you people, do you always have to spoil it?"
"Alright, but where are we?" – Daniel changed the subject.
"You are inside Samantha's mind as you are still in the gate room." – It replied with a smile. "Oh, and try to look normal."
"Meaning what?"
"Well," – It bits his lip and tried to look as innocent as possible. "You may notice that the interest of the general of how Samantha crossed through the IRIS has vanished away as well as anyone else's. As far as everyone is concerned you just returned through the open gate – no iris or crazy passing through it, only the strange attire of Samantha, and what happened when you captured, nothing more."
"But they all saw it?"
"Yes, they did – past tense but it is just a figment of their imagination now."
"You manipulated them?"
"No, you did."
"Care to…"
"Daniel, enough." – Carter intervened. "One mystery is more than sufficient for one day."
"But…"
"He'll explain some day but let's call it a day, today, and go home."
"Wait!"
"Colonel?"
"It has grown from a voice to it and to he and…"
"And you want a name, right?" – It asked.
"Yeah, it would be nice."
"Very well then…"
"Well?"
"I am Lucifer." – It replied.
"Oh, this is progress – the devil himself."
"You know, Jack, at times you can be such an illiterate nitwit or as the Americans would put it a Jackass." – Lucifer said.
"What?" – O'Neill asked.
"Would someone care to educate the jack…ass?"
"Ah…" – Daniel decided it's best not to take sides on this one.
"Sir,"
"Carter?" – O'Neill looked at her.
"Lucifer is the brightest star on the sky."
"Oh, I knew that."
"This is probably why the people in the past chose to associate the devil with it." – Daniel added.
"I got it, Daniel, thank you!" – O'Neill said irritated. "Lucifer it is then. Can we go now?"
"Of course, Colonel O'Neill." – Lucifer replied and faded away as well as the mountain and they were back at the gate room where everything happened as Lucifer had said.
"Debriefing in an hour, Colonel." – General Hammond said. His interest had indeed vanished. He made no mention of the strange event, even on debriefing.
O'Neill finished his report and looked at Carter expectantly for her to add her side of the story but she was not very keen to it. She mentioned briefly Apate trying to get information out of her the usual stick, pain, way but mentioned nothing else. She couldn't bring herself to recount that horrid time.
"What happened to Apate then, Major?" – Hammond asked.
"He was killed accidently by one of his own Jaffa, sir." – Carter replied. She had no desire of telling the truth for it escaped even her. "I was then able to overtake the Jaffa and break free."
"Excellent work, SG-1." – Hammond congratulated.
Daniel and O'Neill however did not buy her explanation. They clearly sensed something else had happened.
"Thank you, General." – O'Neill said.
Carter was at her lab when Daniel knocked on the door.
"Sam, can I come in?"
"Yeah, sure."
"I…just came to see how you are doing."
"I'm fine." – Carter replied looking up at him seeing the concern in his eyes. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not." – Daniel shook head. "But we will be, some day."
"Yeah, some day." – She whispered then added aloud. "You're going out with the boys?"
"No, I'm going to turn in early."
"See you tomorrow."
Daniel left and Carter was alone again. The horrible experience kept resurfacing in her mind until it suddenly vanished without a trace. She spent the night with the vague acknowledgment of it but never getting any closer to the real memory. It was like there was a wall erected to shield her from it. This was good as she slept like a baby.
The next morning she had recollection of the memory but the horrid parts had almost subdued. It was as though she had truly faced it and now it was ok. There was a part of her that did not think that way but it soon faded away. She thought at once at Lucifer. He said he had no control over them but she wasn't so sure any more. He did manage to take over when she was with Apate and when she ventured through the gate.
This relationship was still incomprehensible for her. A transdimensional being was occupying all four minds at the same time. It was like having URGO buzzing in your ear and yet capable of independent action and partial control especially when the situation escalates beyond control.
"Good morning Lucifer." – Carter said though not sure why speaking to thin air.
"Good morning, Samantha."
"Oh, you're here."
"And there."
"There – where?"
"It is just a saying."
"Hey!" – She said playfully.
"Better stop talking to me or someone might think you've gone bongo!"
"No, they won't."
"You wanna bet?" – Lucifer replied also playfully. "Tell the general. Wait for the reaction. Oh, sir, I have a buzz in my ear. Oh, yes, sir, another URGO, sir, he saw me naked – boo."
"Stopped it!" – Carter exclaimed a bit louder than intended turning a few heads along the corridor. "Stopped it, Lucifer, and you haven't."
"You wanna bet?"
"Hey, it is private."
"You've seen one you've seen them all – to quote a charming character doctor."
"Who?"
"Never mind."
"Major Carter, General Hammond is waiting for you in the briefing room." – Walter informed.
"Thank you, Walter." – Carter said. "We're not done, you and I."
"I'd sure hope so." – Lucifer replied. "Now, shush! Be a good major."
"Major Carter, glad that you're here." – Hammond said. "Please be seated, SG-1."
"General." – O'Neill greeted. "Carter."
"Sir."
"Just an hour ago, we received intelligence from our Jaffa allies." – Hammond began. "Anubis is mounting a fleet and is coming to us."
"What?" – O'Neill exclaimed. "I thought he was fighting the system lords."
"Apparently, Anubis has decided that we pose greater threat."
"When will he be here?"
"In a week at most."
"Ouch."
"The president is considering sharing the Stargate Program with the rest of G-7. As we are facing an eminent threat all our allies have to be informed of the danger."
"Oh. This can go screwy."
"In the meantime, you have to concentrate on locating the lost city."
"It is already found, mon generale."
"Colonel?" – Hammond looked at O'Neill who sadly did not say these last few words and was looking apprehensive.
"Sir?"
"You said you know where it is, right?"
"No, I haven't." – O'Neill shook head.
"You didn't?" – Hammond raised an eyebrow.
"No, he didn't. I however did." – Lucifer's voice was now clear. SG-1 looked at each other.
"Oh, crap." – O'Neill buried his face in his hands.
"Colonel O'Neill is there something you'd like to share?" – Hammond asked.
"Not him, but I do." – Lucifer said again.
"Who said that?" – Hammond asked.
"Over here, mon generale."
"Lucifer, not now!" – O'Neill snapped.
But it was too late. He had appeared. Hammond turned around then faced the front again and there at the end of the table saw him in his silver attire, great as a god of old, his eyes shining like a bright star.
"There now, we can see each other."
"Lucifer, he can't see you." – Daniel said.
"Oh, yes he can. Don't you general?"
"Who are you?" – Hammond exclaimed.
"Oh, crap, you can see him too?" – O'Neill asked.
"Yes, I can." – Hammond replied. "Colonel O'Neill, what is going on?"
"Well, it is like this general…"
"Later, O'Neill." – Lucifer interrupted. "You want the lost city of the Alterrans, right?"
"The who?" – O'Neill asked turning to him.
Lucifer sighed deeply and annoyingly. "The ones you refer to as the Ancients. Their race is called Alterra. What part of that is so difficult?"
"Oh."
"You said you know where the city is." – Daniel intervened.
"Yes, I do." – Lucifer nodded and sat down placing his legs atop the briefing table.
"Alright, where is it?"
"A hand away and yet a bit beyond your reach, depending on the point of view."
"That is the vaguest answer I've ever heard, one that tells you everything and nothing at the same time." – Daniel said.
"Indeed." – Both Teal'c and Lucifer exclaimed.
"How do we get there?" – Carter asked.
"Well," – Lucifer began evasively. "If you get at the right place at the right time you might be able to find it but…"
"But what?" – O'Neill was starting to lose patience.
"But if you don't you may not get…"
"Yes, Lucifer, you're coming with us and no the good general will not ground us this time." – Carter said finally getting the point of his evasiveness.
"We haven't agreed on that." – Hammond said.
"Oh, well, then try explaining it to the good doctor, general." – Lucifer countered with a devilish smile.
"I hate to say that general, but he is making a point." – Carter remarked. "He could easily deny all existence but drive us insane."
"Yeah, that he could and he probably will." – Daniel agreed.
"Oh, shish," – O'Neill said. "Where is the damn city and how do we get there?"
"Temper, temper, mon colonel!" – Lucifer exclaimed rather amused. "First, you are going to need a ship."
"A ship, then what?"
"We're going to go somewhere to take something and then we're coming back here but ironically first we're going to gate somewhere, then take the ship, go somewhere else, return and then take a bigger ship, go to another place and if we are lucky, return once more to use the gate." – Lucifer explained though the rest did not understand anything. "Capish?"
"WHAT?" – O'Neill asked blinking hard.
"I thonk I was clore enough."
"WHAT?"
"He said: I think I was clear enough." – Daniel translated though also amused.
"That I got, Daniel. It is the other part that evaded me." – O'Neill replied sarcastically.
"Alright then, SG-1, gear up. We're going through the gate." – Lucifer said enthusiastically.
"Where to?"
"We're going to the planet of the future's past or the past future depending on the point of view." – Lucifer replied obliquely.
"What?"
"Oh, go get ready while I explain it to George." – Lucifer replied irritated.
"Go on, SG-1." – Hammond said.
"Yes, sir."
George had a great difficulty with this being that seemed to be at first exactly like URGO understanding full well how his team must have felt. But it was also different as this one was able of much more and though he was certain he could enforce it wasn't seeking to do it.
George understood its desire to help was genuine but something was telling him this being had an agenda of its own.
"Very well, Mr. Lucifer…"
"It is only Lucifer, general."
"Yes, of course," – George frowned. The choice of this being for a name was a bit troubling too. Lucifer himself had picked it up a long time ago as it was the brightest star in the sky but it did not stand in his way to become the fallen angel the people had come to know as the devil. "How is it that you know for certain the locations of the Ancients?"
"Depository databases are not the only source of information for old species, general." – Lucifer replied cautiously. He had no desire for the time being to reveal the source of his knowledge.
SG-1 returned ready to depart. Lucifer nodded satisfied and said to himself: "It has begun and this time around things will play out differently."
And don't forget to review. It only takes a couple of minutes. Thank you!
Lordheaven
