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ENCOUNTERS

Dragonlots aka Dana Bell

Chapter 4

The jeep bounced up over the rise and I got my first look at the camp. Several green tents were pitched around a central building. Many people looked up as we screeched to a stop. There were more vehicles, stacks of crates, and other objects I didn't care anything about.

Richie and Jasmine crawled out of the jeep and stretched. O'Neill waved off several soldiers as Data and Riker came up and stared at the camp.

"You live like this?" Data sounded puzzled.

"We haven't had time to build anything permanent," Daniel explained.

"Been too busy exploring and making sure we were safe," Jack added.

"At least now you know you are." Jasmine offered the general a smile.

"Matter of opinion," he grumped as he led the way to the only building.

We went in and the humans sat down around a long gray table. I sniffed about the area to see if anything interesting had been in here.

"So were in the future," I heard Sam say.

"Yes," Jasmine answered. "The twenty fourth century to be exact."

"Had to have been a solar flare."

"Yeah, you said that." Jack didn't sound happy.

I heard the clicky click of the Riker's com badge. "Riker."

"Number One, request permission to beam down and met our new friends." It was Picard. I wondered how long he'd wait.

"Granted."

The hum of the transporter sounded and I glanced up from the tuff of grass I'd been playing with. Captain Picard stood near the table and offered the group his most friendly smile.

"I'm," he began.

"The person in charge," O'Neill interrupted.

"General O'Neill." I knew Jasmine's tone. It was warning the man. She got up and came to stand before the Captain. "May I present Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise. Captain, This is General Jack O'Neill, formally of Stargate Command."

"I'd read some records about that project." Picard walked over to shake O'Neill's hand. "It's most unfortunate it was discontinued."

"Heard that." Jack threw a look at Jasmine.

"It was politics. Don't ask because you don't really want to know." Jasmine sat back down.

Picard sat in the chair next to the general. I got bored with my toy and jumped up into Richie's lap. His hand stroked my back and I sat down to listen.

"We're very glad we found you." Picard, like always, was very diplomatic. "It isn't often a starship is in this part of the galaxy."

"Lucky us," Jack mumbled.

"Jack," Daniel interjected. "We're glad to meet you as well. I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson."

"Dr. Jackson," Picard acknowledged.

My ears swiveled toward the door. I thought I'd heard something. The humans kept talking in the background, but I ignored them. I went to the door and sniffed along the crack. I crouched down and saw a vague dark shape. It wasn't solid like a person's foot. It was wavy, like it wasn't in synch with everyday life. I hissed a warning and backed away.

"Gally, what's wrong?" Jasmine was beside me. Her hand rested on my head and I felt her feather light touch in my mind. "Oh, please, not here." Slowly she rose. "I think we have some unwelcome guests."

Data came to stand beside her and examined the door. He checked his tricorder. "There doesn't seem to be anything. Perhaps you are imaging it."

"Not everything registers on instruments." Jasmine went forward, closed her eyes and 'listened'.

I hissed again because I felt a tingling energy along my back. My fur fluffed up and I yowled a challenge.

"Jasmine?" Richie could move cat like when he wanted and now he stood on the balls on his feet, his sword in his hand. I approved. He was battle ready.

Slowly she backed away from the door. I didn't miss her pale face. "They're here," she whispered.

I knew who she was talking about. We'd help chase them off Callisto.**

"Who's here?" O'Neill and Picard demanded.

"The Shadows."

I leaped as the dark monster shimmered through the wall into the room with us.

** See 'Discovery'.