Chapter Nine

Back Into Hell

The event horizon dissipated after the last SG team member crossed through. It was just past dawn, the earliest rays of the sun just beginning to peak out over the forest trees adjoining the clearing around the Gate. The clearing was lifeless, and a long black streak of scorched ground visible directly in front of the ramp leading up to the Gate. As they looked around, they could see where the fireball of a ship had apparently bounced off the ground and up over the Stargate; another streak of scorched earth stretched off into the horizon on the backside of the Gate.

The ground was no longer quaking and rumbling, and they hoped that was a good sign. There were no signs of life, nor were there any bodies to be seen in the immediate vicinity. It was eerily quiet, save the occasional distant boom of continuing firefight coming from the direction of the billowing smoke cloud behind the Stargate.

"SG12, you stay here and keep the Gate secured. No one comes or goes through," Jack ordered. The leader of the SG12 nodded, motioning his team into positions around the Gate and the DHD. "SG3, you're with us." Colonel Reynolds nodded. Jack led the group out, heading straight towards the distant sounds of battle.

They followed the scorched earth over a low hill, and as the reached the crest, they could finally see where all the smoke was coming from. What was left of the Mothership could be seen clearly, only a click away from their current position. They could just make out movement with the naked eye; Jack pulled out a set of binoculars to get a closer look.

"I don't see any Jaffa," he commented. "Looks like it's down to the Zigarans versus Noggraans. Can't quite make out who has the upper hand; they all look the same. Even the uniforms." Jack tucked the optic aid back into his vest. He turned to face his teammates and comrades. "Reynolds, you take your team to the west of the ship, and we'll head east. We'll meet up on the north side, hopefully taking the Zigarans by surprise."

"We should separate as well," Etep said. "I'll go with Reynolds; Chaela can go in with your team, O'Neill. We'll have the best chance at recognizing who's who out there." O'Neill pondered the idea for a split second before nodding his assent.

The two teams split apart there and headed in their respective directions. Each team made for the cover of the forest on either side of the unnaturally cleared region. They would have the best cover there, out of sight of both the Zigarans and the Noggraans.

When Jack and his team reached the near side of the remains of the ship, it became clear there weren't likely to be any survivors from on board. The ship had been gutted by the fire, and the few walls left barely held the frame in tact. The sounds of battle were louder and fiercer now; the angry calls of men rang out in the air and the moans and groans of the wounded could be heard floating on the gentle breeze wafting through the valley.

They were scant meters away from the first group fighting, and Jack called the group to a halt. He pulled out his binoculars once more to assess the situation. He motioned Chaela to his side and passed the binoculars to her. She peered through them, a frown filling her features. The scene was grotesque, to be certain, as it was a bloody battle raging out there.

"I can hardly be certain," she murmured, "but if I had to guess, I'd say the men closest to us are the Zigaran soldiers. I'm going by behavior as much as anything… and those men are being thoroughly ruthless in their fighting. The others… are showing signs of honorable fighting."

"Let's let them know we're back, shall we," Jack asked with a decidedly wicked gleam in his eyes. He gestured positions to Sam, Daniel and Teal'c, and all had their weapons at the ready. Jack grabbed his radio and pushed the call button. "What's you're position, Reynolds?" he asked as softly as his bark would allow.

"We're just rounding the ship now, Sir. Fighting's pretty heavy over here. Etep's recognized the Zigarans and we're ready to take action on your word."

"We attack together," Jack said into the radio, "on my mark… three… two…one… Mark!" Jack and SG1 opened fire on the unsuspecting soldiers, taking several out with the first volley. Realizing that they were under attack from a new direction, the remaining soldiers began to scatter chaotically.

Jack led his team in closer to the enemy as they continued their barrage of gunfire. The enemy numbers were dwindling quickly as SG1 and SG3 maintained their onslaught. The supposed Noggraans were surprised at the sudden assist, but quick to react. They too pressed in deeper and closer to the enemy.

The volleys continued back and forth for an indeterminable lifetime of gunfire, zat fire, staff weapon fire, and fire from unearthly weapons that did lethal damage with every strike. Through the smoke and haze, Jack could make out the figures of SG3 approaching from the other side of the battle field. It was time to move in for the final kill.

SG1 moved into the thick of battle, taking shelter behind various bits of debris. They never let up the intense fire fight for a moment. The Zigarans were being hit from all sides, and the few remaining soldiers didn't stand a chance. After what felt like forever, they finally they had the clearing secured, all the Zigarans killed or mortally injured and unable to fight back any longer.

The Stargate teams nearly ran into one another as they closed ranks and met up with the Noggraans. Jack called for a cease-fire when it became obvious no one was left to fight back.

"Well, did we pick the right side?" Jack asked one of the approaching aliens.

"We are most grateful for your assistance, Colonel O'Neill," the blue-skinned man greeted. "I am Commander Dalton of the Noggraans. And thanks to your help, we have now completely defeated the last of the Zigarans." A broad smile filled the alien's features.

"Good, good," Jack replied. "Mission accomplished."

Etep approached the Commander. "Dalton, it's good to see you alive," he said as he clasped the man in a strong embrace. "I had heard news of your demise. Glad it was premature."

"And I was certain you would never escape that Prison assignment with your life. I've never been so glad to be wrong, brother." The two men moved apart. Then Dalton saw Chaela, and he called out to greet her. She too was swept up in a firm embrace before being set back to the ground.

"You must join our victory celebration," Chaela invited. "All of you. We will send out our own guard to the portal so your companions can join us as well."

"Well, who am I to turn down a good party?" Jack said with a smile. He pulled out his radio and relayed the invitation to the team guarding the gate. As soon as the Noggraan troops arrived, SG12 would be joining the rest of the Stargate soldiers.

Hours later and they were still celebrating with the overjoyed Noggraans. There was free-flowing beverages of an alcoholic or similar nature which most of the SG teams avoided, there was plenty of good food which they made a point not to avoid, and there was music, music of a strangely alien nature that still had foots tapping to the beat. Sam took another sip of her non-alcoholic drink and smiled.

It was a beautiful day on the Noggraan home world, and many Noggraans were enjoying life on the surface of the planet for the first time in years. Ever since the Zigarans had first seized control of the lands near the Gate, the vast majority of Noggraans on that continent had fled to the city of underground bunkers and bases that had been built for just such a purpose some centuries before.

Daniel was having a blast discussing the culture and lives of the Noggraans. Chaela was something of a wonder woman, well educated in both science and anthropology, as well as being a formidable soldier on the battle field. Etep was always hovering at her side, though he lent little to the conversation at hand. He seemed more interested in the subject whenever Chaela spoke, but when Daniel started off on another typical-for-Daniel tangent, his eyes seemed to sort of glaze over. Kind of like Jack's did when she would start getting to in depth with the techno babble he claimed to hate, Sam mused.

Teal'c had set up post in one corner of the celebratory field, observing from a distance as he so often did when he felt out of place. Keeping him company were two of the members of SG3, and they all looked like they wished they were any where but there. Sam shook her head. They probably were happier on the battle field, she thought.

She scanned the crowd looking for Jack. She hadn't seen him in a while and as much as she hated admitting it even to herself, she missed his presence. He had been by her side nonstop for most of the past three weeks, and yet she still couldn't get enough of him. The thought made her shake her head again, with a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.

She finally spotted Jack chatting with one of the Generals and the lead Astronomer. She carefully made her way to them, squeezing between partygoers and trying vainly not to spill her drink in the process. She reached his side after a few minutes and a couple of near misses. She touched one arm to alert him to her presence. He stood aside to let her into the small group, smiling broadly as he moved.

"Welcome, Major Carter," the Astronomer greeted. "We were just talking about you."

She blushed, smiling as she glanced down. "All good things, I hope," she muttered.

"But of course. I was just commenting to the General and your Colonel that your destiny in the stars was playing out just as I had interpreted. Thanks to you, we have destroyed the Goa'uld and the Zigarans, and all in one battle. We never could have done so without you." He smiled for her, a big grin revealing his slightly crooked teeth. "And now the rest of your destiny is free to play out. Would you like to know what the stars have in store for you? I would be more than happy to consult your charts—"

"That's okay, I think I have my destiny pretty well figured out," she said, glancing sideways at Jack. "Thank you; I do appreciate the offer."

"If you ever change your mind, just ask." The Astronomer turned to Jack. "I don't suppose you would like me to consult your charts?"

Jack shook his head. "Told you, I don't believe in that stuff."

"T'is a shame. Your future is quite bright, let me assure you," he said with an insistent smile. "Both of yours… and rather intricately wound together, too. I remember clearly from both your charts that your destiny is inextricably tied to one another. You are bound to have significant impacts on one another for as far into the future as the stars can see."

"And how far is that?" Sometimes she couldn't help her curiosity.

"Eternally," he replied simply. Sam couldn't keep from glancing at Jack again, even as a warm blush filled her cheeks.

"Well," Jack began, clearing his throat slightly. "That's certainly an interesting theory." He looked over to Sam, who was still staring at him sideways. "I think it's just about time for us to head back to the Gate, don't you?" he asked Sam.

"But you must stay for the evening… the final alignment of the stars happens tonight, and it's a sight to be seen. Phenomenal. Truly. Please say you'll stay," the Astronomer pleaded with them, his eyes earnest.

Jack looked to Sam, who nodded with hopeful eyes, then back to the Astronomer. "All right, I'm a sucker for a good light show." He was rewarded with a brilliant smile by Sam. "And an even bigger sucker for that smile," he added quietly.

The lightshow began early in the evening. It resembled the Northern lights back on Earth, but it was much bigger, brighter, and more spectacular than even the most brilliant show the Aurora Borealis ever had to offer.

"Are we going to suffer more earthquakes with this stage of the alignment?" Sam asked. She was sitting on the ground beside Jack, with Daniel and Teal'c sitting behind them.

The Astronomer insisted on sitting with them through out the show. He turned his head down to face Sam. "Maybe a few aftershocks, but the big quakes are done now. Tonight, the heavens are celebrating our victory with us."

She nodded her head, still staring out at the lights filling the night sky. She snuck a glance at Jack and sighed, wishing she could just rest her head on his shoulder. Being as they were surrounded by many of their coworkers and friends, though, made that notion impossible. She turned her head back up to the heavens above, another small, wistful sigh escaping her lips.

"Something wrong, Carter?" Jack asked quietly.

"No, sir," she answered as quietly. "Just… thinking."

"Penny for them," he offered.

"This is nice," she said.

"Could be nicer," he replied.

"That's kind of what I was thinking," she said with a smile.

Jack looked around in the dim night light. Everyone's attention was skyward. He snaked a hand down to touch hers. She gasped at the contact, but then she turned her hand over to clasp his, their fingers entwining. Another sigh slipped out, but this was one of contentment.

"Nicer?" He asked.

"Much nicer," she answered. They both smiled as they turned their attention skyward, soft smiles that lit their eyes almost as much as the lights above.