No Tendo: A Fusion Tale
by Greylle (Kestral) and Kender_Sci
DISCLAIMER: all rights, copyrights, dittorights, implied rights, etcetera are owned by the original owners of such. Even if they are altered significantly, they'll be returned at the end of shooting before you know it.
Chapter 10: Hathor and headaches
A crypt in South America was opened. Something came out.
Something unpleasant happened to the two archaeologists investigating that crypt.
Some things had changed. Some things had not.
His name was Genma Saotome.
Had his timeline remained intact, he would now have Ranma enrolled in his last year at an all-boy's Junior High known for being "a bit rowdy." He would be planning a trip to China to polish off his son's martial arts, and then back to Japan to take over a small dojo after Ranma's marriage to an old friend's daughter.
His path had not crossed that of Soun Tendo, but of Soichiro Tomoe instead. He now was watching the building of a dojo monastery area where five Tendo dojo could have fit within the training yard.
He was respected by the locals. He was teaching many of their young ones, in fact. He taught the hand-to-hand combat lessons, while others taught other weapon groups and styles. Still, it was his dojo.
Genma watched in the distance as his son was being a pack mule for four women. One was his fiancee, another was that fiancee's friend, another was a teammate, and the final was an artificial lifeform built for combat. They were all attractive young ladies though.
click click
Genma knew the pictures would be censored. They'd told him so when he'd gotten the camera. That was fine. At least some of them would pass muster, and the letter back home to his wife would indicate that the old pledge was well on its way to being fulfilled. With four attractive young ladies surrounding him, the boy growing up strong and proud - most definitions of "manly" would be quite satisfied.
However, he wasn't ready to meet his wife yet. Sometimes her definitions seemed a bit... skewed.
The village wares were fairly simple. The things made in the village were of wood, or the materials had come from elsewhere. That didn't mean they were completely backwards. Cimmeria had begun trading with Refuge and the Tau'ri, and while it was all very limited in some respects - cloth was a constant.
The weather was not conducive to silkworms on Refuge OR the parts of Cimmeria close to the Stargate. Bolts of silk and cotton from Earth were very well received on Cimmeria, whose wool was quite welcome on Refuge and to a lesser extent on Earth.
Which led to a marketplace where bolts of cloth, iron tools, the occasional Goa'uld item, the occasional Earth made item or fashion, and a few finished bits of clothing were being gone over.
The clothing choices weren't going to overwhelm the shopping expedition, but you couldn't tell that from the way that Ranma staggered under the load.
The Goa'uld heavy trooper came on, bullets bouncing off his large hairy chest, his jackal-shaped face sneering in contempt as he flung the members of SG-1 around like dolls.
"Now, for my lord," said the trooper, holding Jack up by the neck and pressing him against the wall. "In the name of Tootandkamenandotherbadstuff, DIE!"
Sam shifted her position on the rubble she was lying on. They just had one chance. Her fingers closed on the cool metal of her pen. "Kalabi-Yau Cascade Effect! Make UP!"
Samantha Carter pirouetted in midair, makeup appearing in place as her normal clothing shifted into a cheerleader's uniform.
"Nice... skirt," commented the still-being-choked Jack.
"Thank you sir, I really don't think it suits me," said Sam. "Though at least I get a lab coat-"
"C-Carter," groaned Jack.
"Oh, right," said Sam, "Love And Beauty Fifty Calibre Machine Gun!"
A large two handed rifle appeared in her hands. She took careful aim and fired.
BU-BU-BU-BU-BU-BU-BU went a stream of little pink hearts from the weapon.
"NO!" cried the trooper as little heart-shaped chunks of his body came bloodlessly off. "My lord Tootandkamenandotherbadstuff! Save your humble servant!"
"Sorry, your call cannot be completed at this time," came a polite female voice from midair. "Please check your number and try again."
"For scientific advancement and the safety of Earth, you're pixie dust!" declared Sailor Scientist, continuing to fire.
"Arrrghhh!" said the trooper, staggering back against first one wall, then another, then finally keeling over.
"Is he dead yet?" asked Teal'c, looking down.
"Not yet," said the trooper.
Sam went up and bashed her gun down.
"Okay, now I'm dead," said the trooper. "I cannot stand against your grasp of scientific principles."(Gasp! Hack! Expire!)
A leg spasm from the dead trooper sent a bucket skittering away.
"Good job, Sam," said Daniel, adjusting his glasses. "We've saved another planet."
"Indeed, Captain Carter, you have done well," said Teal'c with an incline of his head.
"Don't your legs get cold?" asked Jack.
"Well done, Major," said General Hammond.
"That's 'Captain' sir," said Carter.
"It's Major now," said General Hammond. "You're being reassigned to Washington where your abilities can keep the capitol safe from various bad guys."
"Thank you... excuse me?" said Major Carter.
"Congratulations on your promotion," said Jack. "And if you accidently blow up a couple of senators and a few other politicians... we can live with that."
"What?" asked Major Carter.
"Indeed," said Teal'c.
"Come on, Sam," said a short skirted Janet Frasier. "To the batpoles!"
"Excuse me?" repeated Major Carter.
"We've got to get to our giant transforming robots and take out the similarly illogical appearance of Godzilla in Washington, he's backing up traffic something awful," said Doctor Frasier.
"What?" asked Major Carter.
"It's better than me, all I get is a cameo role and one stupid line," said PFC Gomer Pyle in the background.
"What?" asked Major Carter.
"On the other hand, we've discovered the Secrets Of The Universe," said Daniel, pointing to a large box marked in big friendly letters: 'Secrets Of The Universe - Please Use Responsibly'.
"Or we could go for what's behind Curtain #3," pointed out Jack, indicating a large curtain with a large number 3, in front of which was some nubile blonde in a gown.
"But I don't want to fight Godzilla in a giant robot, I want to uncover the Secrets Of The Universe," complained Sam as she was hustled along.
"Sam, watch out for that cliff," said Jack.
"What ?!" said Sam as suddenly her footing was gone.
Sam jumped, her hands clutching the bedsheets. It took a while for her to catch her breath and for the cold sweat to dry on her. "It was a dream? Of course, that's all it was. Just a dream."
"What was?" asked Janet.
"Oh, I just had this dream about..." Sam's voice trailed off. "Things I was studying."
"Ah, hah," said Janet, looking as if she suspected something. "Well, you'd better change, we're heading out to THX-1138 in fifteen minutes."
"We are?" asked Sam.
"Of course," said Janet, holding a glittery metal tube up. "Chloroform Medical Miracle! Planet P2J-991 Power, Make Up!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" yelled Sam, waking up and shaking from reaction. "It was only a dream. Really. This time for sure."
The door burst open, and Doctor Frasier rushed in. "Sam? I heard you scream. What happened?"
"Whatever you do, don't turn into a magical cheerleader," insisted a wild-eyed Sam.
"Right," said the doctor, beginning to back away. Stress. Overwork. Clearly Daniel was right and Captain Carter needed a little break.
Samantha Carter was a brilliant young woman who had an intellect on a level that could impress people on worlds with higher technological levels than her own. Not many people could manage to comprehend how alien machinery worked to the point of figuring out how to build comparable devices, even if they were only a few, and she'd have help. She was someone who was very skilled in her field, and she was certain that given enough of a chance, she could work around a great many challenges.
And she was being stymied by teenaged girls in tiny skirts.
It wasn't the girls' fault that what they did was something that she couldn't explain. They were laymen using what others had made, and all they cared about was that it worked. Figuring out how their powers worked was her department, though her success rate in that wasn't going to be really registering. About the only short cut in her task would be to bring one in, and study her under lab conditions, which would mean everything from video recordings, to possible invasive procedures.
Rubbing her aching eyes, she tossed that aside outright. There was no way in hell that she was going to do something like that, no matter how tired she was. A few tests would be okay, but she wasn't about to abandon her morals like some Goa'uld. But she would figure it out, no matter how long it took her, and she wouldn't let anything like her having only one hour of sleep in the last forty-eight stop her.
Slapping her hands down on the the tabletop in front of her, she used the loud noise and pain to get herself as awake as she could be, and set herself into reexamining the files again.
It was something that Maybourne knew would not go over well with a lot of officials, but he didn't care about his technician's apparent oddities. Sure, she liked to cosplay, and tended to have rather strange ideas, but she was good at her job. She could get even the most uninformed politician to understand the sort of stuff that was coming out of the SGC, and that was one of the types of people that they really needed at the moment. It was all fine and dandy when some egghead managed to figure out some alien technology, but if a senator could understand it, they wouldn't get the funding.
And occasionally, she came up with ideas like this one.
"Do you see what I'm talking about, sir?" she asked, pointing out something on the drawing that she'd brought him. "Using the memory metals, we can theoretically create body armor that can be turned on and off at a moment's notice. And it can even be small enough to be... a magical girl's transformation item, like in a show. You think that would be helpful, right?"
He turned to look at her, and smiled. "What do you think?"
"Aren't ya guys done shoppin' yet?" Ranma asked.
"Tired?" Shion asked.
"Only of luggin' this stuff 'round."
"Well, you'll be able to rest for a while."
"Why's that?"
"They're putting something on at the community center?"
"What? A Jaffa play?"
The scientist shrugged. "Don't know. Why don't we go see?"
He groaned at her words, but still followed along.
"Sir, a person was just arrested on the mountains surface for attempting an unauthorized entrance," stated the airman.
General Hammond dismissed the concern. "Happens from time to time. Let the police handle him."
"It's a 'her', sir," said the airman. "Major Lowell thought you would want to talk to her yourself."
General Hammond frowned. "Why?"
Samantha Carter silently hoped that whoever "she" was - she did not wear a sailor suit and had absolutely nothing to do with pink hearts and pixie dust.
The Airman glanced at Captain Carter, who seemed to be praying. "Err. Sir, she knew the Stargate was here."
"I do not understand this activity," said Kos-mos, her red eyes staring at the screen.
"Uhm, well," said Shion, trying to figure out how to explain this.
"It's an American anime," said Minako. "It's funny."
"I dunno, I thought it was some kinda weird martial arts training," said Ranma. "That's kinda like some of the stuff my Pop has used as training exercises."
"Rabbit season," proclaimed Daffy Duck on the screen.
"Duck season," countered Bugs Bunny, also on the screen.
"Martial arts training?" asked Kos-mos, turning towards Ranma as this was at least something she could understand. She was still uncertain about the whole 'shopping' thing.
"Anything can be martial arts training," said Ranma with all the authority a fourteen year old boy could manage.
"I really don't think that's it," said Hotaru, wincing as Elmer Fudd used a shotgun on a little black duck.
Shion decided to try something. "It's a metaphor."
"Huh?" asked Ranma, Hotaru, and Minako. Kos-mos merely looked faintly confused.
"Daffy represents the basic animalistic urges of the self-indulgent psyche, whereas Bugs Bunny is a more thoughtful and rational individual, and the conflict between the two is indicative of the basic conflicts in a society," tried Shion.
Kos-mos turned her attention to the screen again. "And the bulbous-headed human with the projectile weapon?"
"The consciousness choosing a path between the two," stated Shion.
Minako glanced at the screen, then at Shion. "I think I preferred the 'martial arts training' explanation."
Genma wasn't a big letter writer, so he obtained help from a recent Japanese arrival in this little exercise.
Dearest Nodoka,
We continue our training journey within a military base of the Americans. This is why some details of this may be censored. I wanted to let you know that Ranma proceeds to become a 'man among men' and that he is *********** with the ********. The pictures of him shopping in ********** are with four girls as you can see. One is ******** and his fiancee, her martial arts style uses a weapon called a glaive. The others are a scientist/chaperone named **** ****** and a girl named ****** **** who also seems interested in Ranma. The third one is ******* and she's * ********* weapon developed by ***** ********** for the purpose of defending against ****** *****.
Ranma's training is coming along very well. He has already mastered the basics and some of the advanced techniques of the Saotome School, plus the ********* and the basics of the ************. He is now training in the **********. As far as fighting skills go, he is a world-class fighter at least and we've found fighting opponents he doesn't have to hold back against - so his skills will continue to grow.
As he will be working with four attractive girls often on his own, often ******** or ********, his training in ********** techniques should progress quite rapidly and he should be quite good by the time we're done here.
Sincerely,
Genma Saotome
General Hammond, Jack, and Daniel entered the storeroom to face a regal-seeming redheaded woman.
"Ma'am, I'm General Hammond, US Air Force," stated the General.
"Yes," said the woman, apparently accepting that.
"And you are?" pressed the General.
"We are Hathor," stated the woman. "You would be wise to unbind us and kneel before your goddess."
Jack snorted. "Hello."
Daniel Jackson held up a hand. "Hathor?"
The woman nodded. "Yes." Humans certainly didn't seem to have gotten any more intelligent in the millenia of her containment.
"You've heard of her?" asked Jack to Daniel.
Daniel nodded. "Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of fertility, inebriety, and music."
Jack nodded at that. "Ah. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Gotcha."
"In a manner of speaking," said Daniel. "Are the cuffs really necessary?"
"She's not going to whip some little wand or something out of nowhere and hit us with some whammy, is she?" asked Jack.
"Uhm, no. I think I would have noticed if there were depictions of Hathor in a figure-skating costume," said Daniel.
Hathor raised an eyebrow elegantly. What WERE these primitives talking about? Well, it didn't matter.
The remote arms swung away and then folded in on themselves in the repair bay. Though designed for repairing and upgrading the BOLO, the BOLO could use them in other ways when needed. Such as now.
It had overheard the comment of the one named Jackoneil. Therefore it was a nice shade of red. Not very good for camouflage, of course, but it should be sufficient for the purposes thereof.
If one were to look at a Death Glider, and then back at this, they would recognize design elements but it wouldn't be an exact match by any means. This was partly because the BOLO had also watched several movies from the Tau'ri world and had lifted design aspects directly from a pair of movies.
The first movie had been "Star Wars IV: A New Hope" while the second movie had been "Macross-The Movie". The result was something that looked vaguely like an X-wing crossed with an Valkyrie Fighter. One Death Glider cannon extended from each of the four wings and tied into a targetting helmet that the pilot could use. It could not transform, the BOLO couldn't see an advantage to a giant humanoid form and trying to give it that ability would degrade armor and manueverability.
The problem was that the Death Gliders were not designed for travel through the Stargates. If they had FTL, that would not be a significant problem. That they did not meant that their usefulness was very limited.
On the other hand, the other project being worked on could fit through Stargates and might just interest the Tau'ri.
"Yeeesh," said Ranma, sitting back and regarding the argument. It wasn't like it took itself seriously.
#Hey, Ranma, I got that stuff you were asking for. Are you sure about this?#
Ranma practically lit up as Bonaparte approached. "Yeah. I kinda saw the need for havin' a weapon on that last world. Something I can use to block attacks and damage stuff. Hitting that armor plating kinda hurt."
#Yeah, but wouldn't a gun be better?#
"Mebbee, some of the time," admitted Ranma, checking out the new equipment. Weight was a little heavier than he expected but he could adapt. It was the material he had spotted, and that stuff was something he hadn't been able to dent or ding at all. "On the other hand, with this I know martial arts manuevers that I can use. I don't have to invent martial arts manuevers, just adapt 'em. And, hey, if my school of martial arts is good at anything - it's adapting."
Auron stood back in the shadows, the aged Jaffa letting the young people get on with their young concerns. After you'd passed a few centuries, a lot of these concerns faded somewhat.
Besides, unless they ran across a supply of symbiotes - this would be the last time the Jaffa would possess such a thing. It didn't hurt that some of the goings on were so - amusing.
Yes, that had been something missing for awhile. Apophis had not encouraged amusing in his worshippers.
The team dynamics were obvious enough, though things seemed to swirl around that Tau'ri representitive.
Wakka was everything you might expect from a sportsman. Tall, strong, powerful, athletic. Not a Jaffa in that he lacked a symbiote. Past thirty years, all he'd really known before was the ballgame he'd excelled at - and that had been diminishing in popularity for at least a century. He seemed to have adopted the young Tau'ri as a sort of protege.
Lulu took the opposite view from Wakka. She didn't particularly trust or like Tidus, at least at first. Since their deployment and they'd taken that job aboard that freighter - things had thawed ever so slightly.
Rikku had been a bit flirty with the Tau'ri, but everyone suspected that was simply because the Tau'ri had gadgetry enough to fascinate the repairer. Now that they were on a ship of Goa'uld construction, she was less interested in the Tau'ri and more on that transport.
Which left things to develop between Yuna and Tidus. Hence the amusement.
It seemed that some things did not change over the centuries between the Tau'ri splitting off from those that had settled Chulak. There was a language barrier to overcome, but a smile was a smile and a glance still a glance.
Auron hoped the two would get together before they acquired a tel'tac. He had a bet going, after all.
Mamoru Chiba considered the letter. First year university student, working odd jobs, now this weird stuff going on at night. This was something different - a job offer. He certainly couldn't deny needing the money. Even an old apartment in Juuban and Cup Ramen ate into what he could make washing dishes and carrying loads.
The letter was simple and straightforward. Part-time work helping in research for the JSDF. Other than the confidentiality agreement, it wasn't that unusual as far as terms or conditions. Pay was more than twice what he would get out of his usual temp assignments. There were definite benefits to this arrangement - a steady paycheck and the ability to work around special projects since they made specific allowance for such.
The only sticking points were the training period (though that was paid - which lessened the hurt) and the confidentiality agreement.
The only sticking points were the training period (though that was paid - which lessened the hurt) and the confidentiality agreement. That meant that he should consider working for the JSDF. What could it hurt, after all? Besides, sniper training would provide him with some stories to tell later on when he would get a real job. It wasn't exactly a bad thing to do, as it would give him all sorts of options that he didn't have. It'd be better to be able to have a set schedule, since that would allow him to both study without worrying about which temp job he was working that day, and would let him actually get some actual sleep time, even with the strange night time stuff that he had going on. Plus, he'd be able to have the job on his resume, which would mean possibly good results once he went for his start in his career.
Besides, Mamoru knew that this was an opportunity for him to be able to at least get some access to things that could help him figure out if anything from his dreams should actually do more than give him all those concerns. If something really troublesome should happen, he wanted to be able to face it with some sort of tools on hand that could actually solve what his dilemma was. Right now, it might be just seeing some strange girl when he was sleeping, but something about it made him certain that there was more going on than he knew about.
And he really wanted to know just who that princess was....
Rei tried walking along the street without seeming to have any problems. However, the stiff way that she was holding her shoulders, and the scowl on her face belied any attempt that she could muster. That meant that she was stuck doing a fast march as she went past the various other pedestrians.
Finally, she couldn't take it any more, and whirled on the cause of her annoyance as soon as she could be certain that they'd be alone. "What do you think that you're doing?!"
"I am supposed to make certain that each of you is safe," Sosuke answered calmly, even though she'd just grabbed his shirt collar. "As Miss Tsukino is in detention, and Miss Mizuno is in her cram class, they are both stationary, and can be watched by those teams that were set up for such situations. On the other hand, you are roaming the city streets, which means that you need someone who can keep up with you."
"I don't 'need' anything! And I'm not roaming! I was shopping!"
"For a great many items, many of which will not help you with your mission."
"'Items'?"
"Such as the clothing that you chose. Skirts do not protect against the elements as well as pants, and satin is not very helpful either."
"'Satin'.... You were there when I was shopping for bras?!" the raven haired girl screeched as her eyes shot open.
"I was well positioned to keep out of the way, and still observe you."
"How could you?! That's... that's...."
"My assigned mission. Despite where I might have to go, I am supposed to blend in and protect you."
"You stick out like... like... a boy in a girls' locker room! Just what sort of boy are you?! Don't you know anything about living in Japan?!"
"Not particularly," he replied.
"Eh?"
"During my childhood, I grew up in a great many military hot spots, including Afghanistan during the war against the Soviets. This is the nation of my birth, but my missions have kept me far from here. However, I do not believe that will have an adverse affect on my performance of my duties."
"You... grew up in wars?"
"I grew up fighting them."
Letting go of his shirt, she sighed. "At least that explains something."
"It does."
"Yeah. Why you're such an idiot."
"Well, let's see," O'Neill commented dryly. "She comes up to a military base, and starts talking about things that are supposed to be ancient tall tales. I'd think that it'd be better if the cuffs stay on anyway."
"Come on. What's she going to do? Slap us silly?" Daniel retorted.
"First off, when strange people come visiting, it's usually a good idea to stay cautious. And second? Hello? Possible crazy person. I've seen guys who couldn't handle things go nuts. Ain't a pretty sight, even with bare hands."
"Well..."
"Let's leave them on, for the time being at least," Hammond commented.
"Sir?"
"Doctor Jackson, I understand your feelings, but I agree with the colonel. We know that there are reasons for being at least a little cautious."
"Slippery slimy creepies, mean little girls in skating outfits, and the thing that ate Pittsburg," Jack murmured.
"Ah. If you think that she's such a big danger...." the archeologist said in a tone that sounded like he didn't agree for a moment.
"Just consider it a temporary thing, until we can figure out what's what here."
"If you say so."
"So Ms Hathor, would you mind telling us why exactly you were trying to get into this facility?" the General asked.
"We were drawn to the Chaapa-ai," Hathor answered with as much dignity as she could manage at the moment.
"'Chaapa-ai'? That's what your monk buddies on Chulak call the Stargate," the colonel whispered to his friend.
Daniel nodded. "Um, yes. It's also Abydonian and ancient Egyptian."
The three men looked at each other, and then at Hathor.
The negotiations were tougher than they really needed to be, and it was because of two major factors.
A) It was known that the Bolo really wanted to know about things dealing with the ancient Enemy of his Creators, now pretty much nailed down as the evil sailor-suit girls.
B) The NID, SGC, USAF, etc - were all reluctant to allow even an ally like the BOLO to place an operative in a foreign country.
The BOLO finally won by shooting off a few schematics detailing how the Tau'ri could build a handheld scanning device which promised to have some interesting uses in the field.
The new operative in town arrived fifteen minutes after the negotiations had commenced. Other than those who knew of that identity, observers simply saw a dog.
Mamoru Chiba knew something was up. His grades weren't exactly poor but they also weren't incredible. He had a wide variety of interests, but nothing he specialized in. Research also wasn't something he put together with the JSDF.
"Ah, Mister Chiba," said one of the black-suited men standing outside the building. "Excellent. May I see your signed non-disclosure form?"
Mamoru handed it over and looked over the sterile little room. Hardly what he had expected. Maybe the other door led to a lab or something?
The man who took the form smiled and nodded as he glanced over the pages, checking that each line had been initialed and finally signed at the end. "Good, good. You understand the penalties for revealing what is about to be shown you?"
"Yes, I understand those, though not the reason," said Mamoru. "So you're doing some kind of weapon research here?"
"In a moment," said the black-suited figure, adjusting his tie before pressing a button next to the door.
The doors slid open, revealing an even smaller room.
"An elevator?" asked Mamoru, wanting confirmation.
"Yes, sir," said the man, still not giving a name. The doors closed and the elevator lurched down. "This was all recently excavated and built, even on the base there are only a handful of people allowed anywhere near here."
"Well, that sounds interesting," said Mamoru. The doors slid open. "What the?!"
! went an electrical beam as it slammed into something that looked like armor plating.
Lasers hummed as beams were sent towards targets.
"Right, let's see what happens if we use the yoma-field-emulator," said a figure in a labcoat, throwing a large knife switch.
"What?!" asked Mamoru, trying to get a handle on all the activity going on.
beep beep chiuuuuuuu! went a snakelike pistol as it sent a blast towards a target.
"This way, please, Mister Chiba," said the black suited figure, apparently ignoring everything going on around him.
It was largely staged, of course. The briefing that Chiba would undergo later was of thoroughly unbelievable things and therefore setting up for him to have viewed alien technologies on the way in would help to overcome that initial disbelief. He'd be able to fit things together without having to overcome that initial shock, which he was already trying to come to terms with.
It wasn't like a lot of people coming into this project didn't already have problems with various aspects.
Of course, if he'd seen the large shape concealed under the sheets, it would have likely been too much at once for him.
Hathor ignored the other Goa'uld in their cages. Minor beings of little consequence. When she had her Jaffa and her minions and this planet was strong in Goa'uld loyal to her, she would give them the option of serving her at that time. For now, let them cool their heels as the balance of power shifted.
That so much of their technology had fallen into the hands of these humans was handy, and she was a little surprised at how much headway they were making in adapting it for their own use.
It was all very much at odds from what she had expected.
"Captain Carter, what are you doing?" asked Janet Frasier.
The captain didn't look up from her work on the computer. "Have you noticed how all the men on the base are acting?"
Relief briefly showed on Janet's face. "Yes! Thank you! You noticed that too?"
"It all seems to be tied in to the arrival of this Hathor person or whatever she is," said Captain Carter. "I'm researching her right now on the net."
"What have you found?" asked the physician.
"This is really Daniel's field so I'm kinda starting from scratch. This one academic's web page theorises that a bunch of the sex goddesses from different cultures were actually the same woman - Hathor. The Greeks identified her with Aphrodite. There's Ishtar of Babylon, Astarte of Syria, Ceres of Rome."
She might have been thinking something about the sound of a strumpet playing, but she kept that to herself. "Sounds like she got around."
Carter seemed to agree with the unvoiced comment. "Yeah, in most mythology. And she's pretty loved in all of it, except for a late period in ancient Egypt where according to one of the stories, she was sent by Ra to destroy mankind. And then he changed his mind and they became enemies."
The doctor nodded. "So when she says she's Ra's enemy she may not be lying?"
"Yeah, but here's the interesting thing. According to the stories, this woman had magical powers over men," said Carter, an idle thought occurring to her. If she could just get a sample of this stuff. "She was supposed to be able to seduce them into doing anything for her. In almost every case, it describes them as 'drunk with her presence'."
Again the doctor nodded. "Well that would be how I'd describe our boys. Concentration is down, seems to have some effect on their motor skills and coordination."
"Yeah. Now I figure she's using some form of Goa'uld technology. Any ideas?" Captain Carter had a few of her own, but wanted to hear confirmation.
"My guess would be some sort of chemical we've never seen, a sort of super pheromones combined with something like Sodium Pentothal. Probably airborne delivery," said Janet, thinking about it. "It can't be too widespread, we've recently upgraded our chemical scanners and they'd have gone off it was something that could saturate the complex. Something like a perfume that doesn't spread too far from the source."
"Great," said Carter, thinking that if it was at least short range airborne - if they could stop the source they could stop the spread. "How do we reverse it in the men?"
"May not be reversible. And if it is, it may take years." Janet looked thoughtful about that. Simple chemicals might wear out after a few hours or days. If it lingered in the system like some drugs or a virus?
"We probably don't even have days before this Goa'uld does whatever it is she's trying to do," said Carter.
"So what do you suggest, Captain?" asked Janet, willing to concede authority in what was clearly more in the other woman's field of expertise.
"I suggest we neutralise her," said Carter.
"Should we contact Refuge? We might need Hotaru and her friend on this." Janet raised an eyebrow at how Sam took that. Almost as if she'd been physically slapped.
It was a difficult thing. Honestly, it grated on her sensibilities. On the other hand, their assistance in this matter might be needed. "No. Let's try to do this quickly and quietly without involving them."
Refuge had no idea that something was going wrong at the base.
#What do you mean transfer to the combat unit?#
"Look, we know you and your 'big brother' both want you to go exploring new worlds, and you will - but you're just not built for exploring several of the sites we've seen recently," explained Professor Tomoe. "You're big and you're heavy and you've got thick armor. No matter how you cut it, there's no way you can even fit into some of the buildings we've seen."
#What of our agreement?# came from one of the speakers, the voice vaguely mechanical and far more adult than Bonaparte's.
"It is still in effect," explained Professor Tomoe. "SG-V will mainly be deployed at sites where we have need of a fighting presence - such as when we need to provide a perimeter defense for a scientific team or for when we go in on a Search & Rescue. In the former case, that means more data on these alien worlds. In the latter, well, Bonaparte's talents in that regard will be a valuable commodity. There are still restrictions on where he can and can't go, but in the main he should be fine. With Kos-Mos joining SG-X, we have firepower and someone who won't necessarily spook primitive locals the way Bonaparte will do."
#Awwwwwwwwwwww#
"Besides, unlike General Hammond's group - our units will be more flexible," pointed out Professor Tomoe. "We'll have members moving from one group to another based on findings from the MALP."
Zoicite had a plan.
This, in and of itself, was not a particularly new development. He was a Dark General, and therefore having a sinister plan of one sort or another was perfectly normal.
It was the situation that was different. Jadite had apparently been killed by Earth soldiers, which merely proved how stupid and lazy the other General had been. So Zoicite had to eliminate these magical girls, then the Earth soldiers would prove easy pickings. It would be relatively simple - get the girls where the soldiers could not follow.
Looking over the building in question, Zoicite thought this would work quite handily.
Things were progressing nicely by Hathor's regard, as she was certain that her position would be nicely settled soon enough. Her new base was secured by those who might once have fought against her. Those who could still pose a threat were not aware of the threat coming up beneath their noses. And the only individuals on the base were in custody.
She did have to hand it to the women, as it was clear that not only the males of this simple species were headstrong. They, at least, had enough sense to realize that their situation was going to be changing, but since they were unaware of the extent of her power, they'd been too quick in their actions. In the end, it had been their own men who had taken them prisoner.
That showed where the loyalty of the men, her men, were, as each of the male slaves was completely within her control. Not a single one of them was able to shake off her control, and that was exactly the way that it should be. They wouldn't dream of doing anything that she did not desire that they do.
But that did not mean that they were not desiring to do things on their own. Being male, they had natural urges, and as such, they could be moved by instinct. Normally, that would not be a problem at all, as they were quite useful that way, since her touch managed to enthrall them quite well. However, the same way that she managed to control them made them libidinous, and she had been totally aware of the eyes of her future Jaffa on her. It was understandable, as her host body was that of an attractive woman, and being the creatures of primal urges that they were, the men would naturally desire to seek pleasure in her arms. Of course, that was not something that she would deny herself, as she could use a handsome slave to bring her pleasure, or for other things. Not that they'd press her for it, as they would not dare demean their goddess in that way. But they had needs, and at the moment, they were bearing heightened libidos, with no means to express it....
However, when she considered the fact that they needed women, she realized that she had a ready supply available. Certainly, those who would attack their goddess deserved no better, as it was traitorous in the extreme. They would not be missed, as their tasks could be handled by others. Some were quite attractive, and she knew that the males likely had some sort of preference. Perhaps they would make a good reward, as the chance to relieve the need would be welcome. She had little care for the women's sensitivities, as the desires and emotions of lesser beings were nearly meaningless to someone like her, as they were merely another tool to get her the results that she wanted. And if they were to breed more slaves to service her, then so much the better.
"Okay.... As Jack would say, 'this sucks'," Janet grumbled as she sat in the holding room.
Carter sighed and pressed her lips together. "How were we to know that she had all the men on the base in her grubby little hands...."
"It was a possibility."
"Yeah, but she got us good. Having the guys ambush us like that...."
"Luckily, it seems that she wants us alive for some reason. Not that I'm sure that I'll like the reason. But at least it can't be worse than what we've seen."
"I'm not sure what...." Sam began, but then trailed off as she felt something akin to cold fingers running up her spine, and saw that the other women had similar sensations. "Why do I get the feeling that this isn't good?"
"Probably because it isn't. More than likely, I should have kept my mouth shut."
"No problem. Remember it was my idea to go at this alone."
"Trust me. I'll do that."
"Gee. Thanks."
The shipment was a usual one from Refuge, and as it was both scheduled, and had the proper authorization codes, it was allowed through. A motorized platform, which was essentially just a MALP base without any of the usual equipment on it, came through with only the normal words of communication going on between those who sent it and the SGC. Neither side was seeming to be out of character, and it was done with after only a few moments.
But the Gate was open long enough for the BOLO's new unit to get through, and hide before anyone had been able to see that it had arrived. Almost as soon as it materialized in the Gate Room, it had detected that something was amiss. Its sensors found an agent in the air, and immediately determined that there was no regular use for having it there. That meant that something was wrong, and it began to work with the upmost caution.
So, when the chance came up, it darted out into the hallway, and started a search for more information.
The German Shepherd sniffed the air as he trotted through the Gate room. Chemicals were analyzed. An ear cocked. Eyes looked to the various guards and began scanning through multiple spectrums.
Interesting.
Mamoru Chiba looked over the thing being assembled and felt the urge to whistle.
"Yes, it is kind of interesting, isn't it?" said Uematsu. "The original device was called a 'Death Glider' but naturally the people upstairs thought that name didn't really have a lot of appeal. I mean it isn't a glider, and the whole 'death' motif is really not in keeping with the principles of either the American forces or Japanese sensibilities."
"Well, it's a weapon, weapons kill," said Mamoru, a little uneasily.
"Yet it is the purpose of the person holding the scalpel that determines whether it is used as a tool for life or to end it," agreed Uematsu. "When one can save many lives by eliminating the threat to them - is it the moral choice to eliminate that threat or allow it to continue? An argument that many have waged for generations uncounted."
Mamoru blinked, this being a little deeper than he'd been expecting. "You're a soldier, right?"
"Not in the sense you mean, Mister Chiba," said Uematsu. "There are wars that are fought openly, and wars that are not so obvious. Actually I find this sort of atmosphere... refreshing."
Mamoru stared at the blacksuited figure, wondering again exactly what he'd gotten himself into.
"You see we've added to the rear a coupling," pointed out Uematsu. "Tessa came up with that. We can attach a troop carrier, or a winch and towing mechanism, or a large rear-facing gun, or any number of things. She felt having some measure of transformation would be a nicely Japanese touch."
Mamoru nodded. Okay. He could see that. Sort of.
"Now, Mister Chiba, we have sniper practice arranged. If you'd come this way?"
"Now, Mister Jedite, coffee?"
"No thank you, I'm fine," indicated Jedite, making a gesture with a donut.
"You understand the position you're in?"
"I've got a bit of a headache, but I've got the basics," indicated Jedite. "I was a soldier corrupted by Beryl, forced to do all sorts of nasty things, stuck in a sub-dimensional stasis for an ungodly amount of time, then sent out to supervise youma in an attempt to take over Earth, except that you've repeatedly shot me with those zat guns and apparently disrupted the mind control - I've mentioned this in detail and given you what details I can remember through the fog that my memories seem to have developed. Am I missing anything?"
"No, I think you've covered the major salient points. We can't let you loose since the mind control might be resumed at any point, even if we believe your story completely."
"Well then, since I've been abused, mind-raped, and used like a disposable tissue by some spoiled little princess turned Dark Queen," began Jedite, "how's this? I give you information. You give me revenge. Do we have a deal?"
"I believe we may be able to do business, Mister Jedite."
K-9 followed the chemical trail. Eyes scanned and noted anomalies and categorized them. Then he did something that had been one of the upgrades built into him. Sensors determined what his background was and projected a holographic field. It wasn't a perfect camouflage, but as long as he didn't move when anyone was looking directly at him - he tended to blend into the background. The surveillance cameras were even easier.
Another shipment going to Refuge allowed him to send a brief message, encoded in a high speed burst.
#Possible 'Foothold' situation. Indication of abnormal behavior in Cheyenne Mountain. Unable to locate Captain Carter. Sending information on unknown chemical compound in atmosphere.#
The reply came just before the wormhole was cut off again. #Acknowledged. Action will follow analysis.#
"Which one do you want?" asked Airman 1.
"Oh I don't know, they're all kinda nice," said Airman 2.
"What are you talking about?" asked Captain Carter of the two at the door.
"Hathor has stated a new incentive program," said Airman 1. "Those who serve her exceptionally well gain exceptional rewards."
"GAK!" said Samantha Carter, immediately and correctly deciphering that.
The Airmen turned a smile towards the prisoners, not a nice smile, and went back to their positions.
"This is not good at all. It must be a pretty powerful drug Hathor's using. Colonel O'Neill is Special Forces trained to fight mind control techniques and I'd never expect Airman Jones to act like that," said Captain Carter.
Janet Frasier shrugged. "Well, somehow I doubt that Goa'uld pheromone techniques were considered."
"Yeah," said Captain Carter. "Well Mama said there'd days like this."
Doctor Fraiser cocked an eyebrow. "Really? My ex-husband said 'Are you outta your mind honey-buns? There is a reason they call it this man's army.'"
"'This man's army?'" asked Carter. "Your husband actually said that?"
"Yeah," responded Janet, "so of course I explained to him it wasn't the Army, it was the Air Force and they've had women for decades."
"Doesn't seem like the sort of guy I'd expect you to spend time with," said Carter. Janet simply shrugged at that, so Sam continued. "Man! Maybe it's just me, but I can't figure out how to feel like one of the guys with these guys. You know what I mean? I always feel like I'm 'the girl'. Now Hathor's planning on passing us around to relieve sexual tension in a decidedly non-regulation manner."
Janet winced at the pun, then brightened. "That's it."
"What's it?" asked Sam.
Janet inclined her head towards the door. "You just gave me an idea on how to get us out of here. Look if Hathor's control drug is hormone driven like I suspect, that means she's making the men libidinous."
"Okay, why do I get the feeling I don't like where this is going?" Samantha Carter didn't look happy about this development. "You're not suggesting -"
K-9 remained hidden, still analyzing and recording data.
"Sir, we're receiving a signal. It's Refuge, they state Miss Aino left some materials behind in her room that she needs."
"Materials?" asked General Hammond.
Siler nodded. "Homework."
"Kids," said General Hammond, smirking. "Very well. Keep an eye on her though. We can't let her interfere with Miss Hathor's plans."
"Opening iris, sending all clear," said Siler.
Minako entered, followed by Shion, Hotaru, and a silver-haired girl.
The silver haired girl's eyes swept the room dispassionately, assessing threat potentials.
"Remember, these guys can't help themselves," said Shion in a low volume to her companions.
"I don't understand most of this," confessed Hotaru.
Hathor flipped through the booklet, more bored than amused until she came to a single picture. She said something.
Daniel was shocked that his goddess knew language like that.
"There are ones like this here?" asked Hathor, pointing to the picture.
"There are two in Refuge," said Daniel, seeing that it was a photo of the 'Don't Fear The Reaper' picture.
"Let no one from this 'Refuge' arrive here," said Hathor in her "snake" voice. "They are demons who must be eradicated as soon as they appear."
"Well, I don't know about calling them 'demons'," hedged Daniel.
"They are among the most dangerous and ruthless creatures in the galaxy," said Hathor. "Thousands of worlds have fallen to them, all life destroyed. I named them 'demons', my beloved, and that is what they are."
"Well, I suppose we can tell Refuge there's a problem with the vibration suppression system, and that we have to take our Stargate offline for awhile," suggested Daniel. "That way they won't be suspicious."
"Excellent, my beloved," said Hathor. "I see I have chosen wisely."
"Miss Aino," General Hammond said genially as he came up to meet the new arrivals. "We didn't expect to see you back so soon."
"Well... You know me. I'm like a bad quarter," the blonde replied, rubbing the back of her head as she forced out a laugh.
Hotaru frowned. "I thought that it was a 'bad penny'."
"Oh, something like that."
"Ah. Okay."
"Anyway, I need to get those assignments," Minako said brightly. "My Mom and Dad think that I came here to go to school, so..."
"But do you need four people to do it?" Hammond asked.
"Not really, but you know us girls. Just like to get together, and hang around."
"That's true. Some of them go to the bathroom together," muttered an airman.
"Eww. Anyway, Hotaru wanted to stop by and say 'hi', and that made Shion want to see where I'd been staying. And since our friend here goes where we go."
"Your 'friend'?" Siler asked.
"Oh, yes."
"We'd make introductions if we could, but we don't have a lot of time," Shion informed the men.
The general frowned at her. "You're in that much of a hurry?"
"I'm sorry about this."
"About what?"
"This," the scientist replied, and used the activated zat that she'd snuck out on him, making him drop to the floor.
The other soldiers began to raise their guns at the four females, but there was one problem with that strategy.
Kos-Mos was already moving. She crouched down, and dashed forward, taking the men by surprise with her speed. By the time that any of them realized just how quick she was, a third of them were unconscious, and the others were hard pressed to manage much else. They weren't ready for a sentient combat android to start attacking them.
And that gave the two girls of the group an opportunity to transform into their magical girl forms. They moved quickly as well, with Shion zapping guys from a hiding spot, and before anyone could think to close the blast doors, they were out and into the control room. Normally, these trained professionals would have little to worry about in dealing with teenaged girls.
"Sailor V Kick!"
But then, they usually didn't have to handle those same girls having super powers that could severely hurt them.
Shion came out when the fighting had stopped, and she moved quickly with Kos-Mos up to meet with the younger girls. "Okay, this is good. It looks like they weren't able to hit any alarms."
"It's just so bad that we had to hurt them," Sailor V sighed.
"It couldn't be helped."
"Now what?"
"'Now', we take the Gate off line for the time being, so that this way whoever is in charge of this mess won't be able to use it. Don't want them calling out for reinforcements."
Kos-Mos turned her attention to the scientist. "We may have difficulty in preventing the men from wishing to impede us."
"We'll just have to lock them up. In the mean time, we'll have other things to do."
Both girls nodded at her words, and the android merely gave off the sense that she understood.
"You know using seduction wasn't in any of the training manuals I've ever read," Carter muttered as she shifted around a bit uncomfortably.
Janet gave her a level look. "What, you think the Pentagon anticipated a 4000 year old alien walking onto a base and drugging all the men to make them...."
"'Libidinous'?"
"Yeah."
"I suppose they do train us to take advantage of the enemy's weakness," the captain sighed.
"Exactly."
"Well then, let's do this."
The doctor merely shrugged, and headed over to where the door was now closed. She hit it several times, even she looked if she looked like she'd rather not. "Airman, open up! We've got something for you."
"What?" grunted one of their guards.
"Why don't you come in here and see for yourself?"
"No can do. We only take orders from Hathor, and she has decided that you will be rewards for good service."
"Boys, there are five of us, and we're very alone and afraid...."
"Why do I feel like I'm in a women-behind-bars movie?" Sam muttered under her breath.
Her friend glared lightly at her, but continued on, opening her shirt as another woman took of her jacket. "You know, we might be able to do with some reassurance."
"Don't worry. You're already considered prizes," the second guard told them.
"We are, are we?"
"Definitely. There's already a betting pool on who'll get Captain Carter."
That made the named woman blink. "I'm being betted on?"
"Of course."
"I don't know whether I should be feeling honored or demeaned."
"Either way, a guy might want to check up on what he'd be getting," Janet suggested.
"Oh?" said the first airman.
"Sure. We do need some reassurance...."
"Is that so?"
"Most definitely."
"Well then, we don't want Hathor's gifts to us be lost," the guard commented, as he opened the door, signalling his partner to come in. He went over and kissed Janet, while the other one went over to a smiling Sam.
However, any lusts were not returned as the blonde elbowed the man approaching her in the face. The one sharing a liplock with Janet was yanked off of her by another woman, and got shoved against a wall. Their weapons were taken by Sam, who looked over to her friend. "Feel like a woman, Doc?"
"Oh yeah," Fraiser answered, wiping at her lips with her sleeve.
"Let's tie them up."
The other women nodded, and they got to work.
Hathor frowned, though she was careful not to frown at her Chosen.
This girl in the picture reminded her of one of the demons of which Ra had spoken long long ago when she had been his Queen, over 4000 years ago. Ra had explained that there were things which had worried even him with all the power at his command, and one of those images shown her had been of a woman dressed just like that.
The main advantage, Ra had stated, was that these Para-sail Demons didn't have spaceships nor did they use the Stargate for some reason. They used their own method, which took years at best and millenia at worst to traverse the distances between the stars.
Their threat was real. Hundreds of worlds were out there, destroyed by these 'senshi.' More ruthless, more wasting of resources, more cruel than even the Goa'uld. Able to utilize some mind control mechanism that also empowered their thralls and sent them on waves of destruction before the individual simply burned out. Ra had called these unwilling recruits farces after a comment overheard on the one world he'd encountered them.
That world had been one of his strongholds. A world that had been armed and armored, surrounded by forceshields, containing both a fleet and an arsenal that was the envy of the other System Lords.
It had, Ra informed her, all come to naught. The Demons had converted many of his loyal subjects to such level of mind control that even the strongest Jaffa had been willing to wear a silly outfit that he could have sworn they wouldn't have been caught dead in prior to that control.
He had escaped through the Stargate as his fortress world had fallen. When he returned later, the world was a dead cinder like many of the others in the Third Spiral Arm that he had seen previously.
Worlds where not even grass would grow. Worlds where the ruins of mighty cities poked out of wind-swept sand and even the bitter air felt lifeless. Worlds where even the First Ones seemed to weaken within minutes of emergence.
"So these others like Hotaru are bad people?" asked Daniel Jackson.
Hathor startled at that, not having been aware she had been speaking aloud. "My love, if Ra felt fear at contemplating these Demons, they are not to be underestimated."
A German Shepherd had been chosen as the form for the initial unit. As resources began trickling in, and a decent dog book was scanned, other units were planned. These would not be in a single location, but scattered where they could explore and send back data.
A new MALP, a nonsentient mobile sensor/communications device, was being designed.
The Enemy was out there, somewhere. If the two girls were part of a force cut off from the original Enemy, that was fine for them but their survival indicated that the Enemy had also likely survived.
Hotaru's abilities were alarming viewed as an indication of what an Enemy might be capable of. Information from the factory world was coming in, and it did not look good. The BOLO assessed its own chances against such an enemy and determined that this was a fight it was ill-fitted to wage. Its weapons, while devastating, were not built to surgically strike a single humanoid much less one that could teleport or move at the sort of speeds indicated by those accessed records.
More research and development was needed.
"NO!" called out Shion, seeing what Kos-mos was about to do.
"Eliminating enemy units now will greatly increase probability of achieving mission objective," said Kos-mos.
"They're under mind control, they are allies!" insisted Shion. "Don't be so quick to pass judgement, Kos-mos!"
"I am merely ready to act in an efficient manner whereby primary programming goals are reached," replied the combat android.
"Where'd she get the gatling guns?" asked Sailor Venus.
"Never mind that, just get moving," suggested Shion. "First we figure out what's doing this. Then we eliminate the problem. K-9?"
The dog faded into visibility. Oddly enough, he had a German accent when he spoke. "I haff found zat ze base is being controlled from the physical therapy area. Captain Carter and Doktor Fraiser haff been constrained in a holding cell two floors up."
"First we eliminate the control mechanism. THEN we rescue everyone," said Shion.
Kos-mos stared unblinkingly for a moment, then dismissed the weapons. "Switching to taser punches and zat'nik'tel emulation routine."
Captain Samantha Carter hefted the weapon in her hand and reflected that an assault rifle was quite enough "magic" for her, thank you very much. "Lieutenant Moon, Doctor? If you'll take the left. Teal'c, you're with me. We'll lead."
"Fine with me," said Doctor Fraiser.
Teal'c merely walked in.
Jack was on the floor next to a bath in which shapes roiled.
"Larvae?" asked Lieutenant Moon.
"Hide," said Sam, seeing something moving under the water that was not a larvae.
Hathor emerged from the water and moved closer to Jack. "Do not worry, child. You will soon receive your Goa'uld, and then you will begin to feel strong again."
Sam looked over at Janet. Janet looked back at Sam. Teal'c frowned ever so slightly.
Hathor opened Jack's shirt. "The strongest of the larvae will soon find your womb and move into it. At that time you will begin your service to us. Enjoy."
Watching Hathor leave, the women came out of their hidden positions.
"Let's get him out of there," said Samantha.
Teal'c moved quickly and efficiently, lifting Jack out of the water.
"Okay, Colonel, we got you," said Sam, moving to assist Teal'c.
Doctor Frasier waited until he was clear of the water and lying on the ground before handing her weapon off to Sam and then feeling around in the "X" shaped skin flap. Making a noise of disgust, she felt around briefly. "Nothing in there yet."
"This is a good thing," said Sam Carter.
"Well, maybe," said the Doctor.
"He no longer has an immune system," pointed out Teal'c. "Without a larvae, he will soon die."
BOOM!
"What the heck was that?!" asked Janet as the lights flickered and dust filtered from the ceiling.
Kos-mos' hand switched back from hand-cannon mode to something that looked more normal.
Hathor stared around at the scattered soldiers. "You've killed my thralls?"
"Correction: mind controlled personnel have been neutralized using nonfatal methods," said Kos-mos.
"What?" asked a partially deafened Hathor, the sonic boom and pressure wave having not knocked her out.
"What?" asked Sailor Venus and Sailor Saturn behind the flickering defense of a Silence Wall.
"Kos-mos, never do that again," said Shion, holding her ears and in between Venus and Saturn.
"Ra might have feared you, but I will simply make you hosts," said Hathor, holding up her glove-weapon and sending the beam directly at the head of the one menacing her.
Kos-mos stepped backwards under the force of the attack, eyes narrowed as she analyzed the beam.
Sailor Saturn dropped the Silence Wall.
"Venus Zat Gun Attack!" called out Sailor Venus, shooting from the hip.
Hathor twisted to avoid the attack, which hadn't been well aimed anyway. Her hearing was returning enough to hear that, at least.
"Minor damage to frame appearance," said Kos-mos. "Accessing file. Appropriate line found." Her right arm morphed into a long tube. "Snake season." POOM!
"Yeah, 'Hasta la vista, barbell'," said Venus, getting ready to shoot the Goa'uld with her zat gun.
"I think she's dead already," said Saturn.
"I just wanna make sure," said Venus. "She didn't turn to dust or something. Ya gotta watch these Dark General types, ya know."
Saturn nodded, accepting that as the Voice Of Experience.
Nodoka read the letter for the third time, a smile playing over her lips again.
All the black censorship lines were difficult to sort through, but she could definitely make some conclusions.
Ranma was in America or on an American military base. He was obviously progressing well in manly studies and was SHOPPING with four girls. Clearly he occupied a special place in their hearts. One was his fiancee! Clearly her little boy was a fast worker.
Oh, and he was probably doing well in the martial arts as well.
There were some strange trees in this one shot, so it was obvious they were off camping somewhere. Ah, off in the wilds and all alone with four attractive young ladies - all sorts of opportunities for manliness.
Nodoka nodded and sat back down again. Content. It appeared that her misgivings about Genma's little training trip had been unfounded. The last picture, showing Genma himself and where a large dojo was being constructed, showed that Genma himself was apparently eating well and getting plenty of exercise.
Nodoka considered this. Perhaps she should go visit. The question was - how to find them? Ah, that's right - the envelope. The odd Romaji lettering was eventually deciphered.
The next problem was figuring out where this "Colorado Springs, CO" was.
"Well, this is an anti-climax," said Janet, looking at the dead Hathor and scattered soldiers.
"Uhm, we've still got a dying Jack here," pointed out Sam.
"The Goa'uld have the technology, and Hathor may have brought it to us," pointed out Teal'c.
"The sarcophogus?" realized Sam.
"I have seen the Goa'uld chamber perform many miracles," added Teal'c.
"Isn't anyone else concerned about a piece of technology we know nothing about being used on personnel?" asked Shion. "We don't understand the most basic principles of its operation."
"We know it can fix him," said Sam.
"I'm a little uncomfortable with the term 'fix' used in a medical situation," put in Janet. "And yes, Shion, I have significant reservations about indiscriminate use of the device."
"So what choices do we have?" asked Sam. "We don't have any other medical treatment likely to work."
Teal'c and Sam lowered the Colonel into the sarcophogus.
"How's this thing work, anyway?" asked Sailor Venus after the doors had closed.
"We don't know," admitted Sam. "Like Uzuki here said, we have no idea how it works."
"Who let a dog in here, anyway?" asked Janet, gesturing at where a German Shepherd was nosing around the unit.
The dog looked up. "Woof."
"What do you mean, 'woof'?" asked Shion.
"I should say 'ruff'?" asked the dog.
Janet stared. Sam stared. Teal'c looked like he almost might smirk.
"What are you doing?" asked Shion.
"Analyzing the mechanisms of the sarcophogus," said the German Shepherd, adjusting his accent from 'thick' to 'flavoring' as he noted the effect on communication. "Mechanisms are unknown but apparently some process of energy exchange is involved."
"Wait, it's taking something from Jack in order to heal him?" asked Doctor Frasier.
"Affirmative," agreed K-9.
"Well, that doesn't sound good," summed up Samantha Carter.
"I have observed the Goa'uld utilize the chamber repeatedly without ill effects," said Teal'c.
"To a Goa'uld," pointed out Janet.
"Is there an access panel or something?" asked Sailor Venus, checking around the sarcophogus. Her gloved hand came to rest on one surface.
snap-crackle
"What did you do?!" asked Sam.
pop!
"I have never seen a Goa'uld chamber smoke or emit sparks like that before," noted Teal'c.
"There was a burst across multiple spectra at moment of contact, theorize interference and feedback," said K-9, relocating himself to closer to the door.
"It isn't going to explode, is it?" asked Sailor Venus.
POOM!
"I take it that's a 'yes'," said Sailor Venus.
The lid swiveled open. Jack came up coughing.
Sam stared. Janet stared. Lieutenant Moon stared.
"What?" asked Jack, stopping as something different registered with him.