Jack barely felt the disorientation of the transport. One moment they were in the cave and the next they were standing outside the throne room in the Avalonian palace in an empty corridor. SG1 immediately brought their weapons into position.
'I don't like this.' Mitchell muttered. 'Where are the guards?'
'Hiding.' Jack replied as the answer came to him in a flash; a picture painted in his mind without thought. He knew it was his new powers and he repressed a shiver. 'They're behind the doors at the end. Vizar's planning for them to rush in and surround the sisters.'
'OK. Daniel, Vala; stay here. Teal'c, Sam; you're with me.' Mitchell ordered.
Sam's eyes briefly met Jack's before she set off. He watched as Mitchell deployed the team in positions along the length of the corridor. Jack pushed his worry for his wife and his friends deep down; he couldn't afford to be distracted. He had to focus so they could all come out of the battle alive.
'You ready, ladies?' Jack asked, turning to the sisters.
They all nodded but he could see the nerves in their eyes.
'Remember,' he said, 'you just need to distract him.'
Bee patted his shoulder. 'Do not worry about us. We will be fine.'
Ame nodded and the sisters took formation; Ame at the front, with Bee, Cay and Dal behind her; Eli, Fi and Gog behind them. Suddenly, they glowed with an ambient gold light. Wings sprouted from their back; thin and gossamer, shining with an other worldliness that took Jack's breath away.
'Wow.' Jack murmured as they flung open the heavy throne room doors with their minds and moved as one into the room.
Jack hung back; he took position by the door. He would need to wait for a moment before sneaking in. He glanced into the room.
The sisters had stopped in the centre; Vizar rose from the throne on the raised dais and smirked at them.
'Well, well, well.' Vizar said coldly. 'The fairies of Avalon or should I call you Aunts?'
'Relinquish your powers or we will remove them!' Ame declared forcefully.
'You will do nothing!' Vizar snarled. 'You couldn't even protect your new Arthur.' He raised his hand and a blast of energy shot out.
The sisters raised their own hands and met his energy bolt with theirs. Jack slipped into the room. He skirted the edge, keeping out of Vizar's sight. The distant chatter of gunfire gave away that the team had engaged with Vizar's guards. Worry shot through him.
Focus, Jack told himself sternly.
The throne room was responding to his presence; the walls lit up brightly, and Jack cursed. They had all forgotten about the throne room's ability to recognise him.
Vizar wasn't a fool. He noticed immediately. He gave an angry growl and thrust the energy at the sisters. It blasted into them and sent them scattering like bowling pins. He scoured the room for Jack who ducked behind a statue.
'I know you're here!' Vizar yelled. 'Show yourself or I will kill your friends!'
Jack pressed his lips together and walked out from behind the statue. 'I'm the one you want, Vizar.'
Vizar smiled although his dark eyes remained angry and hard. 'You survived.'
'I survived.' Jack said tersely.
The two men began to circle each other in the centre of the room. Jack could see Ame checking on her sisters; helping them to their feet.
'I should have just killed you.' Vizar said angrily.
'Yes.' Jack agreed. 'You should have done.'
Vizar raised his hand and a fireball appeared. He sent it across the room. Jack automatically, without thinking, raised his own hand. The fireball fell to the ground in front of him. Vizar gave a cry and a wall of fire appeared in front of Jack.
Illusion.
The word whispered through his head. He found himself moving without making a decision to do so. He stepped through the flames.
Vizar stared at him, breathing hard. 'You have Arthur's powers.'
'Sweet, huh?' Jack commented.
Vizar pointed at a sword on the wall and it dislodged suddenly, flying across the room.
Jack simply plucked it out of the air, clasping it firmly. 'Nice sword.'
'Very well,' Vizar said, 'let us finish this as men.' He mentally called for another sword and brandished it with skill.
'This was so not the plan.' Jack muttered under his breath. He spared a glance at the sisters who were still picking themselves up off the floor. He circled Vizar warily. Jack didn't rate his own chances in a sword fight. He was trained with guns and knives, not swords. Swords were really more Mitchell's gig by all accounts.
Do not worry, Bee called to him mentally, you may not have the knowledge but Arthur did. Call on the power.
Call on the power? What the hell did that mean, Jack wondered.
Vizar struck out. Jack countered. Their swords met in a clash. Thrust and parry; back and forth. Whatever Vizar tried, Jack countered. It was, Jack considered as he tried to catch his breath, like an out of body experience; his movements weren't his own.
There was a flurry of thrusts and Jack staggered back. Vizar snarled and with a sharp upward thrust he sent Jack's sword flying. He swung to deliver the killing blow and Jack threw up his arms. Vizar's sword shattered on an invisible shield that had apparently been erected above Jack's head.
'Cool.' Jack muttered. He rolled and got to his feet as Vizar picked up the fallen sword and rushed at him. Jack unholstered his gun and fired at Vizar. Vizar flung up a hand and the bullets dropped out of the air.
Suddenly, a red stain appeared on Vizar's chest. It spread across the pale gold robe he wore. The King looked down on it with astonishment before he swung around.
Daniel was at the doorway; his P90 perfectly aimed. He nodded at Jack. Daniel's shot had struck Vizar while Jack had distracted him.
'No!' Vizar yelled. He struck out towards Daniel with a bolt of energy. The archaeologist ducked.
Jack's lips firmed; his brown eyes hardened and he fired his gun again. The shot was perfectly aimed, striking Vizar's heart. He dropped like a stone to the floor.
SG1 rushed through the doors. Sam came to a halt beside Jack. There was a bruise on her cheek and her knuckles were bloodied as though she had gone hand to hand.
Mitchell nodded at Jack. 'We're secure out here, sir.'
'Now, sisters!' Ame's cry grabbed everyone's attention.
The sisters gathered around Vizar in a circle. They joined hands. A dark, red mist rose from Vizar's body. The sisters' forms began to change into familiar white glowing energy beings as they Ascended.
Bee turned back to Jack with a smile. 'Our promise.' She gestured with a glowing feeling and a stream of green energy flowed out of him, leaving him drained. Sam placed an arm around his waist when he staggered and he leaned on her, putting his own arm around her shoulder.
'We must go now.' Ame said. 'It has been an honour.'
The red mist that hovered in the air around Vizar rolled and whirled until it was a massive swirling sphere. It spun like some macabre glitter ball. The sisters began to float around it; around and around.
Jack felt dizzy.
The red ball exploded suddenly and everyone ducked.
When they looked the room was empty. A green crystal fell through the air and shattered on the marble floor.
'What do we do now?' Vala asked plaintively.
Jack looked at Sam before he looked back at the rest of the team; the rest of his family. 'Let's go home.'