Chapter 8 - The One that Isn't a Piece of Cake

The MALP showed an unguarded gate on P3R-014. That was unexpected. Or a good sign, thought Jack. Off to some distance on the left, the MALP showed the remains of a destroyed bivouac. "Looks like our friend may have already been here."

The UAV revealed a pretty local landscape of very rocky forests, small lakes, and yup, a little old Goa'uld pleasure palace 64 clicks from the gate. The UAV was shot down shortly after approaching the temple. That was not such a good sign. Nevertheless, General Hammond gave the team a go to seize the opportunity presented by an unguarded gate.

Gearing up on the gate ramp, Daniel had some additional information to share with the team, Master Bra'tac and General Hammond.

"I had a chance to research the name of this Goa'uld while getting ready. In Egyptian mythology, Babi was depicted as a male baboon in a state of, shall we say, sexual excitement. Babi was both a dangerous god who was said to live on human entrails and a god associated with sexual prowess in the afterlife. He is mentioned in the Books of the Dead as attending the ceremony of the Weighing of the Heart in the Hall of the Two Truths, waiting with Ammut to devour the souls of those found unworthy. His, um, phallus was depicted being employed as the mast of the underworld ferry."

"Thanks Daniel," Jack snorted insincerely. "Just the imagery I wanted to start off this trip. Don't suppose you'd like to lead with your entrails through the gate first. Whatever an entrail is."

"Those would be your internal organs, sir. Usually means the stomach, intestines, et cetera," Carter proffered suppressing a giggle.

"Well, let's hope he doesn't like fruit loops," Jack retorted.

The chevrons engaged, and the MALP continued to show the gate area clear. They stepped through to the other side.

Ah, trees. A dense forest of many large trees and rocks off to the right, more than a hundred yards away. Jack liked trees. He just didn't always like what hid amongst them. Off to the left was a clearing with only scattered smaller trees, shrubs and rocks. Not much cover there, especially for big Jaffa.

Jack thought he spotted movement in the trees. He even thought he'd fleetingly glimpsed a cloak. Then it was gone. "Anybody see that?"

"What?" asked Carter.

"Movement in the trees, two o'clock."

"No sir. But I'm sure this kind of plant life must support animal and bird life, sir."

"Carter, humor me one of these days and invent a tricorder," Jack was only partly joking.

"Do my best sir. What should we do with the MALP sir?"

"You mean the big honkin' target letting anyone spot us a mile away?"

"Yessir," chuckled Major Carter. "Send it back or into the woods?"

Jack, never letting his eyes stray from the area of the woods where he'd seen the movement, removed the shoulder fired missile equipment from its cases and stowed the cases in the MALP before Carter disposed of it. "Just park the goddamn thing in the woods." Jack's contempt for the MALP was well known, and shared by many SGC officers.

"Traveling light there, Jack." Daniel quipped. He thought Jack must have had at least sixty pounds of gear.

"Try downing a glider with a berretta, Daniel. Fan out. Teal'c, Bra'tac and Daniel to the left. Carter, you and I to the bloomin' trees."

But as they started to move, they heard the chevrons engage. "Incoming wormhole, crap!" Jack summed it up succinctly. There was no chance of getting into the woods in time. The left side offered closer cover, but it was scattered and not even close to ideal. Jack signaled them left. This was not a good start.

"Maybe it's a friendly, Jack," whispered Daniel, ever the optimist.

"Or nearsighted Jaffa," Jack retorted. They'd have to be pretty nearsighted not to notice the absence of gate guards. Jack's "we're in deep shit" feeling worsened.

Four Jaffa stepped through the gate first. They were followed by a column of twenty or so children roped together by hands. Two Jaffa flanked each side of the column of children. Four more Jaffa brought up the rear.

Jack's heart sank. He signaled his team to stay put for now. His team was too exposed as it was for comfort, and an open assault on the Jaffa with the children there was unthinkable. They were too far for zats to be effective. Jack would somehow have to draw off enough guards for his team to get close enough for zat use. That meant someone, undoubtedly Jack himself, was going to have to play target. And chances were still good they would be captured or worse.

All this clicked through Jack's brain in a second or two. Luckily for them, the Jaffa had yet to spot them. Then suddenly, across the way from the woods, a Goa'uldish voice boomed. "Jaffa Kree. Several slaves have escaped and are free in the woods. Assist us now. We shall teach them a lesson they shall not forget."

All but the four flanking guards left the children. Tied together in a strange place, they posed no threat.

"Bloody brilliant," thought Jack. In an instant, he knew who it was: Caine. Doing what he had known needed to be done, but from a far better position – away from Jack's barely hidden team and towards the forest. Jack used hand signals to instruct Bra'tac and Teal'c to take out the guards remaining with the children with zats, if possible. They were the most accurate shots and would protect the children best.

He signaled for Carter and Daniel to follow him. Hell, even Daniel could hit these targets. Caine had drawn them off the other way. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

From out of the woods, what looked like bolts of electricity took out two of the Jaffa advancing on the stranger's position before they had time to react. Then she took out two more who had begun to open fire. Jack and Sam took out the remaining four from behind. Daniel's aim was, well, game. Meanwhile, Teal'c and Bra'tac used this diversion to slip in and take out the guards remaining near the gate with zats. The children were unharmed.

The stranger emerged from her position in the woods, using her staff as a brace. Although she bore no signs of it on her face, she had a nasty looking staff wound on the outside of her left thigh.

"Ow, that's gotta hurt," grimaced Jack in greeting.

"Tauri, I presume."

"Colonel Jack O'Neill, peaceful traveler from Earth, at your service Ma'am." He winked at Daniel, having stolen his first contact line. "And by the way, thanks."

"Thanks to you as well, O'Neill. Can you remove the children to safety? It may be a few minutes before I can reach the gate." She glanced toward her injured thigh. "If the battle was heard, it may not be long before reinforcements arrive."

"Daniel, dial home. You and Carter take the kids through and update the General. We'll be along in a few minutes, I expect. If not, dial us up every hour and hold the gate open a few minutes or so. We may need a diversion to get out."

"But Jack, I've got a million questions," Daniel complained.

"Not now, Daniel. Get the kids out of here."

Jack turned to the stranger. "Come back with us. We'll get you fixed up." He offered his arm to help support her.

"I will not, O'Neill. My path lies here. Thanks to you, I may begin a new one soon, however." She ignored his offer of his arm as well.

Jack looked dumbfounded and found himself wishing Daniel would come back and translate. Instead, Teal'c and Bra'tac approached.

The stranger acknowledged them. "You must be the Shol'vah. Greetings. There is a cave nearby where we may talk safely."

"We would be honored," Master Bra'tac oozed charmingly. She stopped and pulled a piece of transparent film from inside her cloak, and applied it to her thigh. She placed her staff behind her back and graciously accepted Master Bra'tac's offer of an arm for support, and then led the way.

Jack's pride was wounded. "What am I, chopped liver?" he muttered.