Chapter Thirteen

Sam woke to the sound of Jackson's defensive snarling. He was actually standing over her, bloody teeth barred and every hair on his body standing on end. The mechanical fox was pacing back and forth in front of them making high pitched yipping sounds. Sam instantly went for her radio, but discovered that it had a sizable puncture in it from one of the fox's teeth.

The creature seemed to have a high level of artificial intelligence, but it didn't appear to know what to do with it. Watching the behaviour Sam wondered if it had true animal instincts that were competing with some predestined programming. When Sam noticed that Jackson was trembling with the effort it was taking to stand she decided that here and now was not the time and place to worry about the fox's internal workings.

"Easy, Jackson." Sam said softly as she sat up. "I know you mean well, but I think you're provoking her."

Jackson didn't take his eyes off the fox, but he did stop snarling at her. Slowly getting to her feet Sam looked around the all too familiar Temple. The fox now had her golden eyes locked on her, but made no move to attack.

"What made you bring me here?"

Tilting her head to the side the fox lowered her chest to the ground. It looked for all the world like she was bowing to them. The vixen stayed motionless until Sam took a step towards the exit. The fox calmly stepped in the way causing Jackson to show off his sharp teeth again.

"Jackson, pleased don't attack her, you can't win."

Standing tall on his front paw with his ears cocked forward Jackson's body language informed the world that he didn't care if he could win or not. He was in an offensive posture and was ready to throw himself into a fight. In return the fox simply bowed again. The place where Teal'c had ruined her fur gleamed sliver in the Temple's dim lighting.

"Okay, clearly that means something." Sam mused. "Jackson, help me out here, mimic her. Bow."

Jackson hesitated but he followed through with the order and mimicked the fox's chest down, hind quarters up position. The gory hole in his left shoulder from the bullet quickly forced him to stand back up again, however, the fox seemed satisfied with his response.

She bounded across the room and jumped up on the dais. She circled the thrown a few times before bowing to it the way she had before. She came as close to Sam as Jackson would allow and then ran over to the pile of bones. Selecting one she brought it back and presented it like a gift before returning to the thrown.

When Sam still didn't react the fox began barking in frustration. Suddenly she turned and ran down the hallway and out of sight. Breathing a sigh of relief Sam knelt down to assess Jackson's condition. He was panting heavily, and shaking uncontrollably, but he remained on his feet.

"You're a tough one, Jackson." Sam smiled sadly. "We need to get out of here before she comes back."

Sam started towards the exit and Jackson valiantly attempted to follow. However after a few steps he faltered. He held up his left forepaw to keep the weight off his injured shoulder, but he did not have the strength to hobble along on three legs. Without the threat of the fox to keep his adrenaline high his back legs finally gave out on him.

Sam hadn't gone very far and came back to his side. Surveying the situation Sam wasn't sure what to do. At one hundred thirty pounds Jackson weighted almost as much as she did and there was no way she could carry him for any great distance. Jackson whimpered and tossed his head in the direction of the exit. Sam smiled and shook her head.

"I'm not leaving you here, Jackson."

Before she had a chance to form a plan the vixen returned. Jackson began to struggle to get to his feet, but Sam placed her hands between his shoulders to let him know that it was okay to stay down.

The fox was carrying a Goa'uld hand device gently in her teeth. She trotted up to Sam and laid it down on the floor in front of her. Running back over to the throne she sat down beside it and stared at Sam expectantly.

"You can sense the Naquadah in my blood, you think I'm a Goa'uld. That's why you brought me here. You're looking for a new Master, aren't you?"

The fox continued to stare at her. Sam reached down and picked up the hand device. She slipped it on. The fox sat up straighter, looked for all the world like she was proud of herself. Jackson on the other hand was starting to fade. Sam didn't dare try and wield the hand device against the fox, for all she knew it would just anger it further.

"Okay, you want a Master, let's see if you follow orders." Sam faced the fox and took on a commanding tone. "Down!"

The vixen didn't understand the English word, however when Sam added a hand signal the metal creature dropped to the floor.

"Stay." Sam ordered holding her hand out. "Hang in there, Jackson, I'll get help."

Sam took a few steps back and the fox remained motionless. It wasn't until Sam went to step over the invisible boarder between the main chamber and the hall that the fox exploded into action. Jackson forced himself to his feet as she ran by and bit down hard on her tail. The vixen kicked him off with her powerful back leg. Jackson yelped and fell to the floor once again.

The fox ran past Sam and stood in the middle of the hallway entrance to block her from leaving. The fox bristled and snapped at the air until Sam took a step back. Sam tried to order the fox to stand down, but it only added to the animals aggressive state. Backing up was the only thing that calmed the mechanical beast, but even when Sam made it clear that she wasn't leaving the vixen still snarled menacingly.

The vixen looked her up and down and then looked at the exit. Sam could almost see the program running in the fox's golden eyes, trying to figure out how best to make Sam stay. Her whole frame began to bunch up as she prepared to leap at her.

The vixen had planed to bite into Sam's leg however she ended up with a jaw full of Jackson's thick fur. He had struggled back to his feet and simply put himself in between the powerful animaldroid and her prey. Furious the fox crunched down on Jackson's ribs, he didn't make a sound he just grit his jaws together.

"Jackson!" Sam cried.

Without even thinking about it Sam held out the hand device and poured her energy into it. The vixen was violently thrown across the stone floor. When she got back to her feet she stared at Sam and cried out horribly. The fox's whole frame looked like it was going into seizure. When she was stable again her eyes were glowing brightly. She spun around and bolted down the hallway and out of sight.

Sam didn't have time to worry about where the creature was going, or what program she was now running on. She dropped down next to Jackson who was struggling to breath against his broken ribs. His bright eyes were starting to turn glassy.

"Jackson." Sam whispered as she stroked his soft fur.

Jackson brought his head up as best he could and licked Sam's hand affectionately. Looking around desperately Sam's eye caught the archway that led to the sarcophagus.

"I don't suppose sarcophagus work on Wulves..."

Jackson whimpered as his breathing became increasingly shallow.

"There's only one way to find out."