My deepest, most sincerest apologies for not updating in sooooo long. I had to read over what I had written in previous chapters! Basically the first term of Uni swept me away. I can't believe how quickly two and a bit months have flashed past. It's crazy. But now the holidays have come- Christmas is around the corner and I want to get this story going again. And finished if possible! So here without further ado, is the next chapter.
I would like to thank everyone for waiting so patiently! :D
This chapter is actually quite long...I guess a lot needs to happen!
Much love!
Chapter 10- Consequences
Flashback…
Slowly Jack nodded. "One the count" of three was wordlessly agreed.
One…
Two…
Three!
With practised ease, Jack threw the grenade in an arcing sweep, ducking back down as it exploded upon hitting the ground, the surprise and force knocking two Jaffa standing close by to the ground. Bra'tac's one curved through the air before rolling, stunning several more Jaffa.
At that precise moment, several explosions shattered around the village, debris blasting up into the air as the C4 went off. Teal'c and Daniel had done well. The ground trembled, the Jaffa stumbling around in shock. The leaders were shouting orders, running in all different directions towards the sources of the explosions.
Now the Jaffa were scattered and uncoordinated, Jack and Bra'tac began systematically firing, adding to the confusion. Jack heard other rapid fire shots from across the village; Daniel and Teal'c also had joined the fray from their position. Within moments half of the Jaffa guard were down and Bra'tac tossed another one of his Jaffa grenade types into the midst, knocking down another six in a sudden blast.
Jack ducked as several staff blasts flew over his head before rising and shooting again, taking out two Jaffa who had been advancing on his hidden position. The Jaffa were completely caught by surprise out in the open, not expecting an attack from such a primitive village.
A few moments later, when the smoky haze of battle cleared, Jack noted grimly that all Jaffa were down and out for the count. Nobody moved on the open field in front of the house. Nobody. Heart sputtering again, Jack rose, weapon ready just in case, Bra'tac right behind him.
Weapons still trained on the motionless bodies, Bra'tac covered the Colonel, allowing him to hurry across to the last place he had seen the Captain and the little girl. He hoped they had not been caught in the crossfire. The point had been as a distraction. He hoped they had been ignored and stayed down.
"Carter?" Jack called, stepping around the bodies. "Carter!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack could see Daniel and Teal'c emerging from their hiding spot, walking over cautiously; aware that at any moment a Jaffa 'playing dead' could suddenly appear.
"CARTER?"
Jack swept around, quick eyes taking in the battle field. It couldn't be….
"...Sir...?"
That word, at that precise moment, said by that person, meant more to Jack then he could ever admit.
"Carter?"
There she was. Sitting up from where she had thrown herself flat on the ground to avoid any of the weapons firing, hiding Remmie beneath her body as well as her still bound hands could manage. Her mop of blonde hair stood out amongst the silver armour of the Jaffa and Jack spotted her and hastened over, nearly overwhelmed by the emotions jumbling through him.
He crouched down beside her, ignoring the protests from his knees. Now was not the time. "Carter, you ok?" he asked urgently, scanning her face for any signs of pain or injury. To god he hoped she had not been hit…
"Fine, sir. I'm fine," Sam assured him- unable to stop the small smile tugging at her lips as relief washed through her.
They had come for her. As soon as she had heard the sound the first explosion she had thrown herself to the floor. At least the Jaffa pointing his staff weapon at her had been preoccupied by the sudden noise. Then when automatic gunfire echoed across the village, her heart had leapt as she lay on the ground. There was only one race that used such weaponry. The SGC had not given up on her. He hadn't given up on her.
She was fine. She wasn't hurt, she was fine…
"Long time no see Carter," were the words that tumbled from Jack. As soon as he said them he inwardly cursed. Did he have nothing better to say? Come on- that was lame! Hiding his frustration at himself, he brought out his knife, using it to slice through the bonds tying the Captain's wrists together. Altogether lame. He had had so much time to come up with something better!
Sam rubbed them gingerly; the ropes had been tight and chaffed the skin, saying, "Thank you sir." But it was so much more than just a simple thank you. She had so much more to say…
A soft groan immediately diverted Sam's attention from the Colonel in front of her as she gently lifted Remmie onto her lap, fingers finding a pulse in the neck, relieved still to find it beating, albeit weakly. It would take a long time to recover. She stroked back the damp hair. At least the illusion was holding for now. The rest of the village had fully emerged, except for the one house with all the villagers in. That was the last thing Remmie was holding together.
"Sam!" Daniel and Teal'c were hurrying over, seeing their friend and team mate alive and unhurt, smiles broad.
Sam smiled warmly as the two approached and rose to greet them. "Teal'c, Daniel. It's good to see you both," she said sincerely. She had missed the team enormously, half believing that they would never see each other again.
"It is good to see you well, Captain Carter," Teal'c inclined his head towards her as Daniel looked positively thrilled as he gave her arm a squeeze. Bra'tac merely smiled.
"It's good to be well," Sam admitted. "But how did you get here- the Gate…"
"We think it may have something to do with a race called the Vikram," Daniel began to explain. "The planet we visited, oh, P2R 352, the one destroyed from space by Apophis was apparently home to a race-"
"We don't have all day Daniel," Jack reminded the archaeologist. He was itching to get back to the ship and just go home. Where his team would be safe and together.
"We travelled by Teltac," Teal'c announced, enlightening Sam.
"There is a possibility that a member of the Vikram society is on this planet, which explains the presence of all these Jaffa," Daniel waved a hand at the fallen bodies surrounding them. "They create illusions to hide from their enemies."
Sam sucked in a breath. That was what Remmie was- a Vikram. "So perhaps, the Vikram's cloaking abilities were somehow…affecting how the Gate dials, preventing a wormhole from being established and you from travelling back to this planet or me dialling out," she began to think. If Remmie's powers had failed then perhaps the Stargate would work now.
"If that wraps things up- we need to head back to the Teltac and go home," Jack said. "I don't want anymore Jaffa sneaking up on us."
Home. How good that word sounded Sam thought. "But the villagers…" she suddenly remembered.
Daniel and Jack exchanged a look. "Where are they?" the Colonel asked. That was an unforeseen hiccup in his plan.
"They're hiding in one of the huts," Sam said. "Now the Jaffa know they're here it's not safe for them to remain in this village."
Jack cursed under his breath.
"The Teltac cannot transport that many individuals," Teal'c reminded them helpfully.
"I know," Jack said impatiently.
"Sir, I believe the Stargate should work now," Sam interjected.
Jack shot her a questioning look. "Explain Carter."
"Well, it's more a theory than anything else, but now I know why the Gate isn't working; there is a high likelihood I can get it to work again. The problem before was I didn't know what was affecting the Gate's dialling capabilities," Sam clarified. She had said all that without revealing Remmie was a Vikram. She deliberated inwardly over whether to do so or not. The Colonel was her commanding officer- he had a right to know.
"Sir Remmie-"
"She can come with us," Jack said. "We need to get the villagers to the Gate. Teal'c, Daniel, go round up as many as you can find and take them to the Gate. Master Bra'tac- the Teltac is yours. Carter and I will head straight to the Gate and get it up and running again," he ordered.
Daniel and Teal'c nodded and left to search for the hiding villagers. The houses around them had grown in number again; more were appearing every few moments. Bra'tac also departed to recover his Teltac. That left Jack and Sam.
"Come on Carter- we should move," Jack said. He watched as she gently picked up the unconscious small child, carrying her securely in her arms.
"I'm ready sir."
Jack nodded, "Let's move out," he said, standing, adjusting his P-90 to make sure Sam stood up without stumbling. She smiled her thanks and the two picked their way across the village, heading back to the Stargate.
The closer they got to the Gate, the more Sam hoped that it was actually Remmie who had been blocking the Gate. If not, they were still stranded, with over three dozen villagers to relocate and Jaffa probably still lurking around.
At that moment, a swooping noise made the tops of the trees around them swish violently. Through the gap, Jack spotted something and swore. "Dammit. Come Carter, let's hurry it up," he said.
It was a Death Glider. That meant more Jaffa.
Rearranging Remmie in her arms, Sam followed the Colonel to the clearing, relieved as the Gate appeared before them. Carefully, she set the little girl down, checking her pulse again. It was even slower if that were at all possible. Sam grimaced. Remmie had not yet emerged for her unconscious state and Sam was worried.
"That was Daniel and Teal'c- they're on their way here with the villagers now," Jack said, clicking off his radio. "Try the Stargate." He knelt down beside the Captain, who was still staring intently at the little girl.
The source of this mess.
Sam nodded. "Watch her, I'll check the Gate," she said standing. Moving across to the DHD, Sam dialled Earth, her hand hovering above the last chevron. Would it work?
She pressed down on it firmly. Jack looked at the Gate expectantly.
Nothing.
Sam felt her heart lurch. The gate still would not dial, the last chevron would not engage. Behind her Sam heard the Colonel swear under his breath.
"Can you do something Carter?" he asked, indicating to the inactive Gate. "Teal'c and Daniel will be here any minute."
Sam ran a hand through her hair distractedly. What she really needed was for Remmie to wake up. Then she could ask Remmie to drop her cloaking device- if only to allow them access to the Gate. There was nothing she could do to fix the gate as it wasn't broken.
Hurrying back, Sam knelt at Remmie's side, feeling her pulse. It was slow, but steady. "Remmie? Remmie I need you to wake up," Sam said softly, gently patting the little girl on the cheek.
Jack watched in confusion as Carter focused her efforts on the little girl. What about the Stargate? "Carter- the Gate-" he pointed out. "The thing we need to fix to go home?" he waved in the vicinity of the Ancient technology.
"Sir, the only way to get the Gate going is to wake up Remmie. She's the Vikram," Sam said.
Jack's eyes widened. "You mean," he glanced at the child. "This little girl is a Vikram thing that Daniel was talking about? She's a little girl Carter."
"It's an illusion sir," Sam explained. "She explained it all to me back at the village. She was hiding in the village from the Jaffa."
(With Daniel and Teal'c)
"Come on this way, this way," Daniel said, guiding the villagers along. "We're taking you to a safer place."
The villagers had been stunned to find their old guests arriving again but had recognized Daniel and Teal'c quite quickly. They had needed little encouragement to leave the village with the threat of Jaffa behind.
"O'Neill is at the Gate," Teal'c said, clicking off his radio. "They have met no Jaffa thus far."
"Let's hope Sam can get the Gate running," Daniel said, helping a more elderly woman over a tree route. "Come on- this way- that's it!"
(Colonel O'Neill and Carter)
"Remmie?" Sam smiled in relief as the eyes flickered slightly before Remmie looked sluggishly up at her.
"Samantha," the Vikram said tiredly. The eyes glanced across to Colonel O'Neill watching on the young woman's right. "I know you…"
"Colonel O'Neill," Jack clarified- his tone slightly brusque. So this…child was a Vikram? And all that while she had been right under their noses…Jack hated it when the obvious came to back to kick you in the ass. Well that was life.
Remmie nodded. "What can I do for you Samantha? Where are the Jaffa?" the little girl tried to raise her head but her body was too weak.
"It's the Stargate," Sam explained gently. "I can't get it to work. At first I thought it was your powers interfering with the Gate but now the illusions have been dropped…" Sam raked a hand through her blonde hair. It just didn't make sense.
"Let me…have a look," Remmie suggested.
Jack glanced at his wristwatch. "We don't have much time Carter- Daniel and Teal'c will be here any second," he warned her, glancing back over his shoulder at the entrance to the clearing.
Carefully, Sam supported Remmie across to the DHD. Small fingers moved lightly across the chevrons, tracing the patterns. "We never…used Stargates," the Vikram said slowly.
"Can you make it work?" Jack demanded.
"Maybe."
"Maybe? I can't accept maybe. This thing has to work. No ifs, no, buts, maybes about it," Jack looked across sharply at Sam.
"Sir, I don't understand why it's not working. I need more equipment…" Sam opened a panel underneath the DHD, taking out a crystal and examining it.
"There's a damaged crystal," Remmie said at length. "I can feel it."
Sam frowned. "I checked all the crystals…"
"It is almost…indiscernible," Remmie said, lowering herself carefully to the floor, small hand hovering over the array of crystals, before selecting one and withdrawing it from the device.
Sam and Jack looked at it.
"Looks fine to me," Jack said, though no expert on the matter. Sam found herself agreeing, the crystal looked fine.
"There's a… crack inside it," Remmie explained. "Your….device will not work…because of it."
Sam thought furiously about what they could do. She had no adapters to power the DHD. There were no other crystals where she could reroute the power from and kick start the DHD.
"I'll power it," Remmie announced.
"What? It would kill you!" Sam said, horror creeping into her voice.
"Daniel to Jack- we're almost at the clearing," Daniel's voice crackled through Jack's radio.
"Affirmative Daniel- but we're having a little Gate difficulties," Jack explained, lifting the communication device so he could speak into it clearly. "Look Carter, we've got the villagers coming through now- and who knows how many damn Jaffa behind. Can we get the Gate working?"
"Yes," Remmie said.
"Jack? Sam?" Daniel's voice called to them from behind as the snapping of twigs followed.
Jack turned and saw his other two team mates herding the villagers into the clearing, most clutching a few belongings or anything they could easily carry before fleeing their village.
Remmie placed her hand on the crystal. "Dial…Samantha," she said.
"Sam?" Daniel looked confused.
"No time to explain," Jack said, "I want these people to be ready to move out as soon as the Gate activates!"
A sudden booming explosion a few hundred metres away made the whole group jump, some of the women and children screaming in fright as mud, twig and leaf erupted as a fireball hit the ground.
"The Jaffa have located are presence," Teal'c observed, staff weapon ready.
"Ya don't say," Jack said as another fireball hit the ground right at the edge of the clearing as a Death Glider swooped overhead. "Dial the Gate Carter!"
"Yes sir!"
Remmie inserted the crystal and lay her hand over it, her eyes falling shut. Sam looked at the Vikram one last time before pressing down on the first chevron. With a clanking groan the Gate began to turn, the first chevron locking into place. Smiling grimly, Sam continued the sequence.
"Alright people listen up! That Gate there is going to open and as soon as I say so you are all going through!" Jack yelled at the group above the explosions drawing ever nearer as the Death Glider swung around. Teal'c took a passing shot as the craft soared past, his aim missing slightly.
"You'll be safe," Daniel hastened to add, at the fearful looks on some faces, "It's our home we're heading to."
Sam's hand slammed down on the last chevron, her heart in her throat as she watched the Gate. She could almost feel her commander's eyes half on her, half on the Gate. She knew the mumbled prayer on his lips as she muttered the same.
Come on, come on, come on….
With a whoosh, the bubbling blue event horizon shot out from the Stargate, illuminating the whole clearing, to gasps from the villagers who had never seen the Gate activated before.
Thank god…
"Come on now- through the Gate!" Jack directed as Daniel sent the GDO code through. Hammond would be getting a shock his end.
The villagers began to move towards the Gate, nervously at first, like frightened sheep. Teal'c and Daniel urged them on, helping the elderly through and giving children a gently push. Jack stood with his P90, ready for any trouble.
A staff blast flew through the clearing, striking a tree to the right of the Stargate. This only caused panic as the villagers screamed, pushing and jostling to get through the Stargate. Daniel called to Jack, just before he ran through the Stargate, the event horizon rippling behind him, to try and keep order on the other side. Teal'c waited, staff weapon ready. There was as yet nothing to fire at.
"Teal'c go," Jack ordered as another staff blast zipped through the clearing. This was turning out to be a horrible sense of déjà vu all over again…
Reluctantly this time, the large Jaffa nodded before disappearing back through the blue event horizon, already back on his way to Earth. Just a few more minutes and they would all be home safely.
"Alright, Carter, we're leaving!" Jack yelled from the Gate, glancing down at where his second in command was hunched by the DHD, trying to support the failing Vikram. Without the crystal remaining intact with Remmie powering it, the wormhole would collapse instantly.
"Sir I can't leave her!" Sam looked at him. "The Gate will shut the moment Remmie leaves it!"
"Dammit Carter I'm not leaving you here again!" Jack shouted above the cracks of staff blasts. "You are coming now!"
"But we can't let Remmie be captured by the Jaffa!" Sam argued back. "I can run and hide with her!"
Jack saw the catch. The scene before him began to slow sickeningly. It was too much like what had happened previously. He would not leave her here again. Not after he just got her back. Not this soon. But then Apophis could not be allowed to capture a Vikram….
A shot too close for comfort skimmed over Jack's head and he cursed.
"Carter!"
This was not happening!
There was no time. Even if Sam grabbed Remmie and threw themselves into the wormhole, it would disintegrate before they got back to Earth.
"Sir, just go!" Sam cried as three more staff blasts hit trees, ricocheting off or gouging out smoking wood from the trunks as they hit in brilliant orange bursts. "Go!"
Jack scowled fiercely. "I'm not leaving you here again!" he promised as the last villager left the planet, wormhole squelching directly behind him. Up ahead through the clearing he could hear the clanking of Jaffa armour and shouts in Goa'uld.
Sam glanced over her shoulder towards the source of the noise. She would not let the Colonel stay here and die. He would live. He had to go back through the Gate whilst there was still time. Remmie could not hold it for long. Sam could see the grim, fierce determination in the Colonel's eyes; he was not leaving without a fight. Somehow that comforted her.
An orange burst of light shot over her head, and she ducked.
Without warning the entire clearing was bathed in an orange light as the ground around them exploded in a massive blast.
Jack saw the surprise on the captain's face as debris, dirt and tree flew up everywhere and she ducked to hide herself and the Vikram beneath her. Caught in the blast radius, he was propelled backwards, absentmindedly recognizing the sharp pain raking through the left side of his chest and shoulder.
Then he hit the event horizon as everything else around him vaporised and his shout of rage and despair was swallowed up as everything went black.
Hope you enjoyed that :D And it was worth the wait. Probably not actually the wait was a bit too long- sorry again! And I've just gone and blown everything up again. Sorry!
Please review :D
AldabaranFox