Disclaimer: See Prologue...
A/N: I am SO SORRY for the delay guys. Between school ending, family coming for graduation, moving, etc. what I had written for this chapter disappeared. I tried to find it, but wasn't able to so I had to start over. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I hope to have this story finished pretty quickly, because I don't want to see the next Stargate movie until I've finished this! Enjoy!
Chapter 20: Of Storms & Goa'uld –
"Are you sure?" Jack hissed as he stood watch in the crow's nest.
"Of course I'm sure." Alexa replied.
"Damn it." Jack muttered as he kept diligent watch. "So what now?"
"You need to try again to convince the captain to steer the Mariner south. In the meantime, I'm going to see what I can find out about the ha'tak. But I'm going to need Teal'c's help." Alexa answered.
"I am ready Alexa Stephens." Teal'c broke into the conversation.
"And just how do you plan on getting to the jumper?" Jack demanded.
"Don't worry, Jack, I have everything under control." Alexa smiled.
Λ
"Do you know anything about this, O'Neill?" The first mate demanded.
"About what, Mr. Smith?" Jack asked as he came down from the crow's nest.
"One of the lifeboats is missing." Smith responded.
"I was busy watching the storm approach Mr. Smith." Jack replied. "In the cover of darkness and the coming storm….it would have been easy to slip away." Jack paused. "Do we know who left?"
"Murray." Smith hissed. "He was your mate, any idea why he would have left?"
Jack sighed. "The storm. Murray was superstitious. It wouldn't surprise me if he decided to head straight into the storm."
"Straight into the storm!?" Smith exclaimed.
"He's just crazy enough to attempt something like that…especially after our ship already went down."
Λ
Teal'c climbed out of the life raft and into the back of the jumper. Grabbing his staff weapon from the rack over his head he aimed it at the lifeboat and shot off a couple rounds, destroying the boat, but leaving pieces of debris for the Mariner to find.
Stepping away from the edge, Teal'c closed the back hatch before moving forward to join Alexa.
"Any idea how we can get aboard the ha'tak, Teal'c?" Alexa asked as Teal'c took the copilot's seat.
"Perhaps."
Λ
"Captain! There's something ahead off the starboard bow!" One of the sailors yelled from the crow's nest.
Immediately Captain Brown, Mr. Smith and Jack were at the railing with a telescope to see what it was. Captain Brown slowly lowered the telescope from his eye and looked at the two gentlemen next to him.
"It looks like the debris from a lifeboat." Brown announced. He glanced over at Jack. "I'm truly sorry O'Neill."
Jack stood in what he hoped looked like shocked silence. After waiting a moment, he wiped his hand across his face, using the motion to hide the fact that he was activating the transceiver in his ear.
"I take it you've located the lifeboat." Alexa's voice came across the transceiver.
"Nice job with the debris field." Jack replied. "Where are you?"
"Navigating our way through the storm to the ha'tak." Alexa answered.
"Any idea yet how you're going to get on board?"
"Teal'c's working on that."
"Keep me posted."
Λ
"Teal'c!" Alexa called to the back of the jumper.
"Yes Alexa Stephens?" Teal'c asked as he came forward.
Alexa nodded out the front window, where they could see the ha'tak looming.
"Have you scanned the ha'tak?" Teal'c questioned.
"Not yet, I was just about to do that." Alexa answered as she turned to the computer.
"Is it possible to scan for me?"
Alexa's hand froze in what it had been doing. Turning, she stared at Teal'c in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"The best way to infiltrate the ha'tak is if I am already on board." Teal'c explained.
Alexa rolled her eyes. "This is our past Teal'c, if you were on that ship, you'd remember. Besides, this is 60 some odd years ago."
"I am much older than I look, Alexa Stephens. But I was not on that ship. I believe this is before Ba'al defeated Apophis."
"So we're still at square one….trying to find a way on to that ha'tak."
"Perhaps a distraction, Alexa Stephens." Teal'c suggested.
"A distraction?"
"Indeed. We will have an opportunity if Ba'al launches the death gliders."
Alexa pondered her options for a moment. Suddenly a smile spread across her face. "I know just what we need."
Λ
"My lord, sensors are picking up another ha'tak above the planet."
"WHAT?!" Roared Ba'al. "No one knows that we are here!"
"They do now my lord." The Jaffa replied warily. "They have launched death gliders my lord."
"Launch death gliders to match theirs!" Ba'al demanded as he stepped forward to the view window. "No one is even supposed to know that I am in this year, much less that I am on Earth." He growled to himself. A frown creased his forehead as he considered who it could be.
Λ
"A hatch is opening Teal'c!" Alexa called.
"As soon as the death gliders have exited we must enter." Teal'c replied.
"Gotcha." Alexa said. Turning her attention to the ha'tak she watched as three death gliders flew out of the large ship. The second they were out of the way she sped the jumper through before her way was blocked.
"Set the jumper down in that corner behind the death gliders." Teal'c said from directly behind her.
"Got it." Alexa did as told. Once she had set the ship down she turned to find Teal'c in the back of the ship already dressed in his Jaffa armor and the back hatch lowered. "So what now?"
"You will stay here with the ship while I attempt to locate the device that is creating this storm." Teal'c announced.
"Oh no you don't." Alexa exclaimed as she jumped out of her seat. "We can cover more territory if we both go."
"Alexa Stephens….."
"No Teal'c." Alexa interrupted. "You are not leaving me here."
Teal'c stared at her for a moment, before reaching his hand out and grabbing a passing Jaffa. Without a moment's hesitation he broke the Jaffa's neck and lowered him to the floor of the jumper.
"Put on his armor." Teal'c demanded stoically.
"Oh hell no." Alexa exclaimed as she stared at the dead Jaffa at her feet. Catching Teal'c's raised eyebrow, she continued. "Do you realize how hindered I would be in that get-up? No thanks. I'll just take that ventilation shaft over there." She pointed to an entrance a few feet away.
"Very well." Teal'c replied. "But stay in radio contact."
"Aye, aye Cap'n T!" Alexa shot off a salute before heading out toward the ventilation shaft.
Teal'c followed silently, wondering at the Tau'ri woman before him. Once he had cleared the jumper, Alexa used the keyless remote to close the hatch.
"Catch ya on the flip side, T!"
With one final raised eyebrow at Alexa's retreating form, Teal'c closed his helmet and headed out of the docking bay.
Λ
Alexa found herself traveling through the vents of the ha'tak following the energy signature that her equipment was detecting. Several times she ended up traveling through or directly past rooms that were occupied with Jaffa. After the first time nearly gave her a heart attack and nearly ended up with her getting caught, she managed to make it through without a second thought.
The fourth time she was passing through a populated area, Teal'c decided to contact her.
"What is your location Alexa Stephens?"
Great. Alexa thought as she attempted to move as quickly and as quietly as she could through the passage.
"Alexa Stephens, what is your location?"
Frick! Alexa tried to speed up a little more. Once she was well past the room, she stopped and activated her radio. "For cryin' out loud, Teal'c! Are you trying to get me killed?"
"I do not understand."
Alexa sighed. "These ventilation shafts run right through and past occupied rooms, it's hard enough getting past them safely without you demanding my attention."
"I apologize, Alexa Stephens. How is your progress?"
"Good, I'm only about 100 yards from the device."
"Ba'al most likely has traps set up around the device." Teal'c admonished.
"I know…I'm keeping an eye out for them. But you should probably head in my direction just to be safe. If I get caught it will be up to you."
"Understood."
Λ
Ba'al looked down at the console in front of him as a flashing light caught his eye. He smirked, as he saw what it was.
"It appears we have an unwelcome guest." Ba'al said over his shoulder to his first prime. "Bring the intruder to me!"