A Reworking of Lost City Parts 1 & 2 (Season 7), twenty-sixth in the 'By My Side' Series
Jack must protect earth at all costs... even above his wife
Author's Notes: Firstly, you might have noticed that this is not the title I announced last time. The story is no different, I just gave the next story the title 'Without You' instead - which you will soon see is more appropriate. Despite the title change, you'll still need those tissues! Basically, this story is not mine. I did not create the circumstances that occur. However, I have changed the existing story to include moments of tenderness between our favourite couple, extra scenes between the scenes in the episodes, altered scenes which did originally occur, and left out events if they are not directly a part of. But hell, it was the hardest story I've ever had to write. I hope this end result is worth it! I was going to wait a couple of weeks to post it, but after so many fantastic reviews how could I leave you all hanging out for this next instalment?
sparkles make me smile: I'm glad you liked the last chapter, even if it was short. They just have to be short, sometimes:) However... this next story should more than make up for that! You only just discovered muesli? Mmm, I love it too. I can't actually make it myself, though I know for a fact that there are recipes available. I'll have a look for you. As for your story, I was pleased to see that you'd posted a new chapter. I shall review it soon.:) And lastly... here is the more you begged for!
J. Hicks: Really! All 25 parts in one go? I'm impressed.:) Thank you so much for your overall review (hey, I would do the same)! I was very flattered by your comments, and I was touched that my stories have affected you as much as they have. Yes, I wanted a happier story last time to break-up the sad ones, as this instalment is sad as well. As for the story premise... thanks (again), that's good to hear. It was something I always wanted to try, and I'm amazed it is still going with plenty more on the way. I hope you'll continue to enjoy this series.:)
CharmedAli: Thanks! I'm glad that you enjoyed it, as usual.:) Yes, tissues... but that will depend on how emotional you are.;) Ok, thanks for telling me about why you won't be able to review. A stuffed monitor, eh? I hate that. That being the case, I hope you'll be able to replace it soon, as I'm sure it would be a huge inconvenience for you! Though I suppose your dad's laptop must help.:)
sissybear: Wow:) High praise, indeed! And from a new reviewer too! I hope this chapter was posted soon enough for your liking, and that your interest is still piqued!
froggy0319: As always, I'm glad that my last story made you smile:) Yes, I suppose you would be worried with the tissue warning... what more can I say? You'll have to read on and see. Despite that, I hope you'll like this part.:)
Ilovesg1: Well, all lurkers are always welcome to post reviews, as I can see you have done a couple of times.:) I was so happy to read that you love this series! That means a lot to me.:) And I'm also happy that you liked the last part. As for this chapter I hope it will meet your expectations, and that you have enough tissues ready!
Sci Fi Fan Gillian: Thanks, I'm happy to hear that.:)
Trickster's Queen of War: I'm so glad that you loved it:) And I hope you'll love this one as well! Oh, that's good that you like tissue warnings... I just hope you won't change you mind once you've read this story!
deathstreet90: Ok, cool then, if you have them.:) Here's the update... I hope it was soon enough for you!
GlowingHaven: Thanks:) Yes, I thought it would be fun to include that question...;) As for updating, yes, we have another quick one.:) I hope that makes you happy!
feb04: I'm glad you enjoyed it! As for breakfast - aw heck, I'm not American! Not even close! It's no 'delicacy', just two separate dishes. Now I feel embarrassed that I wasn't clear enough. Oh well.:) As for Cassie, you're welcome.:) I don't want her to be forgotten about, either - I promise we'll hear more about her soon!
-----
In the Gateroom, the gate activated. SG's 1, 3 and 5 returning from P3X-439 stepped through. Colonel O'Neill was flanked by the members of his worried-looking team.
"What happened?" Hammond asked, concerned.
"Didn't quite go according to plan Sir," Jack answered, looking deadly serious.
"We have to get him to the infirmary," Daniel told him.
Jack was grim. "I did it again."
-----
Hammond had called the remaining members of SG-1 for the mission debrief. "How the hell did this happen?" he demanded.
"He did it deliberately sir," Daniel informed him.
"In order to access the knowledge of the Ancients," Teal'c supplied.
Feeling guilty, Daniel added, "He... we figured we'd never get another shot at it."
"We know from experience that the Ancients knowledge will essentially overwrite the Colonel's brain. We're hoping that during the transformation process he'll become aware of the information we're looking for." Though she hid it, Sam felt terrible talking about her husband's condition in such a clinical manner.
"And then?" Hammond asked.
Sam closed her eyes briefly, before continuing, "And then it will overwhelm his nervous system, and the Colonel will..."
Footsteps had been heard during Sam's speech, and now Jack entered the briefing room. "What? Meet my maker? Pay the piper? Reach the pearly gates? Start pushing up daisies here and there?" he sarcastically filled in the blanks.
Daniel and Teal'c looked stunned. Sam looked ill.
"You should be in the infirmary," Hammond insisted.
"Why? We all know exactly what's gonna happen. In a few days I start speaking some strange language. A few days after that I start doing things beyond my control, and a few days after that, I'll be roasting over an open fire. So with your permission sir I'd like to take the weekend to get some personal things together," Jack summed up oh so eloquently.
"The last time, it did take a couple of days before we noticed any change in the Colonel's behaviour," Sam reminded the General.
"I'll be back. Ready to work," Jack promised.
Hammond was convinced. "Permission granted."
"Thank you sir. Now if you'll excuse me, my favourite television show starts in half an hour," Jack told the group and left, leaving the other members of SG-1 and the General speechless.
Throwing Sam sympathetic looks, which Sam despised, she and Hammond were left standing there.
"Major, I'd just like to say to you that in this time you have been allowed to pursue a relationship, I have been pleased and proud to watch you continue conduct yourselves with integrity and honour. You have never let it get in the way of your duty, though I'm sure I must pain you," Hammond spoke, kindly.
Sam smiled wanly. "Thank you sir. That means a great deal to me."
Hammond smiled, and continued, "I know it's early yet, but whenever Jack is unable to lead, I want you in command of SG-1."
Sam closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, and replied, "Thank you sir. I appreciate your confidence in my abilities."
Hammond looked at her fondly. "Now, go home and spend some time with that stubborn husband of yours. Dismissed."
"Yes sir," Sam replied.
-----
Sam entered their home, where she found Jack, typically on the couch with a Guinness in hand, watching 'the Simpsons'.
Sam sat down next to him. "Jack...," she started to say.
"I'm busy," Jack muttered.
Sam stood up, grabbed the remote, and turned off the TV.
"Hey!" Jack objected.
"Jack... please don't shut me out. If you don't want to talk at the moment, fine. But Jack, the two of us are a team. Don't forget that," Sam told him.
He looked up at her, and took a mouthful of beer, and nodded. "I know Sam, I know," and patted the seat next to him.
She sat down. "Jack..." she started.
"What?" he replied.
"I should have done it," Sam broke out.
"What? Stuck your head in that thing? Are you nuts? Sam, you're one of this countries natural resources. If not national treasures. It couldn't have gone down any other way. I just hope it's worth it," Jack firmly told her.
"Even if we do find the Lost City. Even if we get there and find exactly what we're looking for to defend the planet...," Sam argued.
"That... would be worth it. My only regret would be leaving you," he ended softly.
Sam sniffed. "I know someone had to do it, I just hope your sacrifice won't be in vain."
Jack wrapped his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder, taking comfort from each other's presence.
-----
Sam did not sleep well that night, and after she had finally fallen asleep, she awoke to find the bed devoid of Jack.
Worried, she grabbed her bathrobe, and searched the house. Nothing. Then hit with an inspiration, she went outside, and found him seated on a rug, with his telescope, stargazing. Quietly, she sat down with him, hoping she wasn't intruding.
Jack finally spoke, "I was just looking at the sky. Trying to figure out how many stars we'd actually been to."
Sam, always the scientist, broke out with "Actually, only a few of the stars visible from Earth have Stargates on them, so..."
"I knew that," Jack informed her.
Sam smiled faintly, muttering, "Yeah."
They sat in companionable silence for awhile, trying the make the most of what could possibly be their last days together.
Jack turned and kissed Sam deeply, who responded in like. As the sun rose, heralding dawn, they lay there in each other's arms, having expressed the depths of their emotions for each other, and the strength of their commitment.
-----
At midday, Teal'c and Daniel, not surprisingly, turned up unannounced.
After knocking, Daniel opened the door, and called out, "Hello?"
Sam and Jack again seated on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms, called out in unison, "In here."
Daniel and Teal'c walked into the room, Teal'c wielding a white box.
"Oh sorry, are we interrupting anything?" Daniel asked them, smiling slightly.
"No...," they again responded in unison, smiling at their friend's embarrassment.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked them.
Daniel stammered, "Oh we... well it's... it's a funny story actually. We, we, ah, were driving by and we, uh... well... Teal'c said to me. Well he didn't actually say anything. He just kinda looked at me and did that eyebrow raise thing that he kinda does and I said to him, I said 'hey, why don't we stop by and'..."
Jack and Sam smirked at each other.
"Is that donuts?" Jack asked Teal'c.
"Indeed!" the tall Jaffa stated.
Jack approved, "Excellent," he responded in a fair Montgomery Burns imitation.
-----
Later in the afternoon, the group sat drinking beer, and Jack had ordered pizza, which they were now waiting to arrive.
Daniel had clearly drunk enough, and Teal'c was disinterested in discussing 'the Simpsons'.
They had been discussing who was to inherit Jack's VHS collection, when there was a knock at the door.
"Thank God. Pizza," Jack went to answer the door.
It was General Hammond.
"Well you're not the usual delivery boy," Jack quipped.
"Is this a good time?" Hammond asked him.
"It's always a good time for you sir. Come on in," Jack led him to the rest of the gang.
As he entered the room, Sam stood to attention. "General," she addressed him.
After telling her 'at ease', Hammond requested a beer.
Jack handed him one. "I hope you like Guinness Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for... food."
"I've been relieved of command," Hammond informed them, once he was seated.
Everyone in the room was stunned. Jaws had dropped.
"What?" Jack asked.
Hammond went on to inform them that the SGC had been shut down for a three-month review by the President, so that a newly formed government department would replace the SGC. It seemed Kinsey was responsible. Hammond was to be replaced by a Dr. Elizabeth Weir, an expert in international politics. Hammond was to leave for Washington, to discuss reassignment. All they could do in regards to Jack, would be to plead their case to Dr. Weir.
-----
Bra'tac had turned up at the SGC, informing them that Anubis had been was on his way will the full force of his fleet, and would arrive in three days.
Therefore, a meeting was about to begin, and the four members of SG-1and Bra'tac were already present. They were still awaiting Dr. Weir and Vice-President Kinsey.
They both eventually arrived, and Kinsey was his usual charming self, doubting the words of Bra'tac. Dr. Weir however, while replacing Hammond, seemed to be at least willing to consider giving SG-1 permission search for the Lost City... IF Jack could actually provide a gate address.
As the meeting ended, Bra'tac stood up and told the group, "I must return to Chulak."
Teal'c concurred, "I, too will go, in the hope of procuring ships and warriors in order to defend this world."
Dr. Weir wished them luck, and all left the room. Kinsey looked to be in a real temper, and chances were, that Dr. Weir would be the one to bear the brunt of the anger. No-one envied her.
-----
Teal'c and Bra'tac were soon on their way, through the gate, Teal'c promising he would see O'Neill again.
-----
In Daniel's lab, Jack was trying to complete a crossword, on which he and Sam had a bet currently running.
Daniel was trying to gain, unsuccessfully, Jack's help in some translating. "Does this mean anything to you?" he asked.
Jack refused to even look. "No."
"Could you at least look at it?" Daniel asked, a little frustrated.
Jack was impatient with the interruption. "Daniel, I don't speak Ancient. Yet. And when I do - eventually - you know I'll never understand it."
"You have to try," insisted Daniel
Their bickering continued, but ended when Daniel grabbed Jack's crossword. "Well, maybe if you stopped working on this stupid..." he started berating Jack.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jack protested, trying, in vain to grab it back. "I'd like to at least finish that while I can."
Sam chose that moment to walk in. Clearly, she was not happy with either of them. "I thought you were supposed to be...," she snapped.
But the crossword had caught Daniel's attention, and he cut Sam off, "Thirteen across, you wrote 'taonas'."
Jack really didn't care. "Yeah? So? What's it mean?"
"Well I don't know - you tell me. Eight down you wrote 'proclarush'," Daniel continued examining the crossword.
"What's eight down?" Sam asked curiously.
Daniel checked. "'Label'. There's empty spaces - I think the answer's supposed to be 'identification'. Thirteen across is 'sphere'... Jack, this is it!"
Jack was missing the point. "Now, see, I assume we still speak the same language... mostly."
"'Sphere' - planet. 'Label' - name," Daniel excitedly explained.
Jack felt frustrated by Daniel's lack of ability to explain himself fully. "Following - still - you - not!"
"Proclarush Taonas. I think you wrote the name of the planet where we'll find the lost city in the crossword.' Daniel burst out.
Jack was unconvinced. "Bit of a jump."
But Daniel, however, was convinced. "Well, why else would you do that?"
Curious, Sam took the puzzle from Daniel, and started to examine it herself.
Half-amused, Sam informed them, "The clue for seven down is 'celestial body' and he wrote 'Uma Thurman'. Didn't Sam Carter fit?" she teased.
Jack smiled. "Ooh, I think I'll be sleeping outside tonight! Oh wait, last n..."
Sam cleared her throat and bit back a smile. "I don't think we need to discuss that here."
Daniel looked at them weirdly, really not wanting to know, and continued, "It has to mean something."
Jack agreed, "It does." He took the crossword back, and studied it for a few moments, before declaring, "I'm hungry."
Jack got up, and left the room. Daniel and Sam exchanged looks, and went to follow him to the commissary.
-----
Jack, Daniel and Sam were seated in the commissary, discussing the 'serious' answers in Jack's crossword.
Daniel came to the conclusion that each Stargate symbol represented a sound. It was like a phonetic alphabet of it's own. Each symbol had a corresponding sound, meaning it could be spoken aloud.
The earth point of origin represented 'at', another gate symbol represented 'sh'. It finally hit Daniel that 'Proclarush Taonas' was both the name and the address of the planet in question. It was simply a matter of assigning the correct sounds to the symbols.
-----
They presented their discovery to Dr. Weir. Meanwhile, Sam checked the computer log.
"Wait a minute. We dialled this same address over two years ago but we couldn't establish a wormhole. The Gate must be buried," Sam reported.
The name of 'Proclarush Taonas' suddenly took on even more meaning for Daniel. "Lost in fire," he broke out.
"Well, what we're looking for could still be there. I could use the address to calculate the planet's location in space but we'll need a ship to get there," Sam offered.
"Prometheus," Daniel added.
"But with Anubis on his way, Prometheus is our last line of defence," Dr. Weir argued.
"Maybe Teal'c has something by now," Sam suggested hopefully.
"Where's Colonel O'Neill?" Dr. Weir enquired.
Daniel hesitated, before finally answering her, "Packing."
-----
Jack was busily packing, when Sam, Daniel and Dr. Weir walked in. They explained that Jack did much the same thing the last time he had the Ancients knowledge in his brain. Though Jack didn't know why he did things, there was a method to his madness.
"It's a good sign, though. Hopefully it means we're on the right track," Daniel commented.
Jack continued grabbing further items to pack.
"Jack?" Sam questioned him.
The task must have been urgent, as Jack appeared to be irritated. "I don't know, Sam," he answered, continuing to pack. "Grab a naquadah generator, will ya?
-----
Dr. Weir farewelled them at the gate, where many pieces of boxes, which Jack had packed, lay around the ramp, ready to be shipped out.
-----
Teal'c and Bra'tac had procured a cargo ship from a young Jaffa named Ronan.
The group was sitting, waiting as they made their way to the planet. They were surrounded by the boxes, packed by Jack. Daniel and Jack sat there, Jack doing nothing, and Daniel writing in a notebook.
Daniel looked over at Jack.
"What?" Jack asked Daniel.
"I would have done it, you know," Daniel told his friend.
"I know," Jack answered him.
Daniel tried to convince them, saying, "I mean, there has to be a way to reverse the effects, once we have what we need. We'll find a way."
Sam walked in, informing them, "We're coaxing everything we can out of the engines, but we're still two days away." She then turned back to Jack. "How're you feeling, Jack?" she asked, concerned.
Jack answered his wife, "A bit cruvus. A little fron-ache." He looked up at his wife, who in turn looked at Daniel, apparently concerned. "We need to go faster," Jack concluded, getting up, and walking out.
As Jack walked out, Daniel turned to Sam.
"I... I would have done it Sam," he told her, feeling guilty.
"I know, Daniel. I don't blame you," Sam reassured him, patting his arm. "And it could've been me, too."
"Yeah, I was just telling Jack exactly that," Daniel wryly noted.
"I've had to deal with that myself. And it comes down to the fact that it could have been any of us, but that it was Jack who did it. Jack has made the decision the sacrifice himself. And as much as... I have to allow him to do that. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's for the good of the planet," Sam told him.
Daniel nodded. "Ok. Just remember, I'm here to talk."
"Thanks, Daniel," Sam smiled slightly. "Now, I wanna just go and check on Jack."
-----
Sam found Jack in the control room, working on the crystals in the engine core.
Sam stood and watched, fascinated.
"Give me your zat," Jack requested, and taking the proffered zat, he shot the crystals, which made the engine work even more actively. He then handed the zat back to Sam. "There you go."
"Jack. I think you should know that General Hammond authorised me to take command of the team if I determined that you...," Sam started to say.
Jack interrupted her, "Do it now."
"Jack, I don't think that's necessary...," Sam argued.
They just stared at each other, losing themselves in each other's eyes.
"I trust you. I'll make it easy for you. I resign. You're in charge," Jack insisted.
Sam finally assented, "OK... Jack..."
All at once, Jack grabbed Sam, and she grabbed him, clinging to each other for dear life. Their lips met. The kiss was of desperation, and of raw, exposed emotion. It was needy, and yearning, expressing their love. It was their goodbye.
Their arms tightened around each other, caressing each other.
Jack took Sam's face into his hands, and rubbed his thumbs down her jaw. "I love you, Samantha. I always have."
Then, all of a sudden, they broke apart, Jack once again grabbed the crystals he had been working on.
-----
They finally reached Proclarush Taonas. It wasn't pretty. It red, completely covered in flowing lava.
"A star becomes a red giant like this near the end of its life. A million years ago this planet may have looked very much like Earth," Sam informed them.
"So we're a million years late?" Daniel asked.
"Probably more," Sam admitted.
"That's very late," Daniel remarked.
-----
After scanning the surface of the planet, they discovered a bubble beneath the surface. They had theorised that Jack had packed the Hazmat suits because Jack knew the probable condition of the planet, and had known they would have to go down to the surface. While working through this, Sam had reluctantly ordered Jack. It had embarrassed her, and pained her. 'It shouldn't be like this.' Sam thought.
It was theorised that the dome was a forceshield of some kind, though it was worth checking out.
-----
SG-1 dressed in the Hazmat suits that Jack had packed, and prepared to ring in, where the crust of the dome was not as thick.
Once they had ringed into the dome, they let the ship know they could still hear them.
"Indeed. Loudly and clearly," Teal'c informed.
"We will move a safe distance and return on your signal," Bra'tac replied.
-----
The dome was dark, and full of smoke. They could hardly see in front of them, even with the help of their torches.
"The radiation level's pretty high," Sam reported, relieved that the suits were lead-lined for protection.
"I believe Ronan was correct. It seems a shield once protected this structure," Teal'c told them.
"It's possible the rings compromised the dome's integrity. We shouldn't stay too long," Sam warned them.
"Too bad, otherwise it's very pleasant," Daniel sarcastically replied.
Underneath her mask, Sam smiled at her friend's comments.
Jack walked towards a cavern, held by columns, and containing... something. It was too murky to tell.
"Architecture definitely indicates this was built by the Ancients," Daniel observed.
"This facility does not appear operational," Teal'c commented.
Jack walked into the middle of the cavern, where there stood a chair of some kind on a pedestal.
Sam kept looking around. "I don't know about you guys but right now I'm kinda hopin' that this isn't the lost city." Observing Jack looking at the chair, she added, "Be careful, Jack."
Jack, sat down in the chair, which immediately lit up.
Daniel was concerned. "Jack, you sure you know what you're doin'?"
Jack placed his hands on the ends of the arms of the chair, where there what appeared to be a palm operated 'button' of some kind, though even that did not describe it. As he did this, a shield was activated, in the cavern. Jack took off his hood.
Sam read the device in her hands. "The atmosphere is safe."
Jack activated a holographic map of the galaxy, and Daniel noticed Proclarush. Then their own solar system came into focus, and then earth. It had clearly changed in thirty million years, the continental distribution was entirely different from the modern day one.
"Why are you showing us this?" Sam asked.
Jack just gazed at the image.
"Jack?" Daniel probed.
"Terra Atlantis," Jack finally announced.
"Terra's Earth. Atlantis...," Daniel began.
"The lost city of Atlantis?" Sam exclaimed.
"Are you say the lost city of the Ancients is here?" Daniel asked, pointing at the hologram of earth.
"Antarctica," Sam added, pointing at Antarctica.
"Subo glacios," Jack explained.
"Under the ice. The city we've been looking for is under the ice of Antarctica," Daniel translated.
Sam could barely believe her ears. "It's been on earth the whole time?"
Jack again remained silent, just staring at her.
"Jack, we were just there!" exclaimed Daniel.
Sam was more than a little frustrated. "So we came all this way just to find out that we have to go all the way back."
Jack shut the hologram off, and again clad his hood, before deactivating the shield. He took out what looked to be a power source of some kind.
The four hurriedly left the cavern, as it was falling apart around them, rumbling loudly. They headed towards where they had entered, yet Bra'tac did not answer their calls for several terrifying moments.
Finally, the rings activated, and they found themselves back aboard the cargo ship, with Bra'tac and Ronan collapsed on the floor.
Bra'tac was badly injured, with a wound to his stomach. Yet he still managed to tell them that Ronan had been an agent of Anubis.
Jack walked over to Bra'tac, and knelt down next to him. He placed his hand over Bra'tac's stomach, and seemed to be deep in concentration. After a moment, Bra'tac seemed to be healed, and his pain faded.
But the effort must have spent Jack, because once this was done, he fell over.
Sam ran over to Jack, and caught him, Jack lay with his head in her lap, as she stroked his hair.
"But how?" Sam asked, looking at her collapsed husband.
Teal'c was amazed. "O'Neill possesses the healing power of the Ancients."
"I guess your condition's a little more advanced than last time," Daniel addressed Jack
Jack just looked at him blankly.
"Teal'c, set a course for Earth," Sam ordered.
-----
While in hyperspace, Jack began to work as the transportation rings base. It was unclear, why, at first, when Teal'c enquired, though it proved to be a close moment for the two warriors. But Daniel later theorised that he might be doing this to bore a hole in the ice back in Antarctica.
Teal'c however, felt that it would be more important to focus on the battle against Anubis.
"Yeah, how're we gonna do that?" Daniel asked, clearly worried.
"You must exit hyperspace as close to the Earth's atmosphere as possible," Teal'c advised.
"So we can appear on the other side of the armada," Daniel surmised.
"There will not be much time to decelerate," Bra'tac warned.
"Of that I am aware, old friend," Teal'c agreed.
-----
Concerned for his friend, Teal'c went to check on Major Carter.
"Major Carter," he addressed his friend.
"Hey, Teal'c" Sam acknowledged him.
"How are you faring, Major Carter?" he asked kindly.
Sam shrugged. "Not too bad considering. You know."
He nodded. "O'Neill is a strong warrior. If he dies, he will have died as a warrior, proud and true."
Sam nodded.
"However, I do not believe he would ever wish to leave you. I have seen the love both of you have shared, and all you have fought through," Teal'c attempted to comfort Sam.
"I know. Thanks Teal'c," Sam told him, thankful for his and Daniel's support.
"If he does perish, I will grieve his loss greatly. But I believe it will not be a death in vain," Teal'c told her, looking certain.
-----
They finally exited hyperspace, and headed towards Antarctica. They very nearly crashed, but took back control of the ship in time. They flew low over the ice, and slowed.
A beam of light exited through where the transportation rings normally exited. It began to burn through the ice.
"Jack, how long is this gonna take?" Sam asked.
Jack did not answer. He just got up from the pilot's chair, and walked back towards the rear of the craft. Bra'tac sat down in the seat Jack had vacated.
"Anubis cannot have missed our arrival," Teal'c warned.
"You are correct. Al'kesh and gliders approach. Many," Bra'tac reported. "They will be in firing range in thirty seconds." As they came closer, and closer, he added, "More ships approaching from the opposite direction."
But the ships were not Goa'uld. While there were Goa'uld ship approaching, there were also F-302s approaching, ready to take on the enemy. Following the F-302s, was the Prometheus.
"Prometheus!" Sam cried out, pleased.
"SG-1, this is Hammond, do you read?" came a voice.
Everyone grinned.
Sam smiled widely. "Yes sir, it's good to see you." She then turned to Daniel and Teal'c. "Let's go," she told them, and the three headed to the ring room.
In the ring room, Jack had been again working on the rings. The other three prepared to leave.
"How are we gonna get down there?" Sam asked.
"The rings," Teal'c guessed.
"Makes sense. The Ancients built the Stargates - there must be a set of rings down there somewhere," Daniel reasoned.
"The transmission beam just couldn't penetrate a mile of ice," Sam thought aloud.
Teal'c turned on the naquadah generator, which he had hooked up to the rings. Then he cleared off the rings, and joined the other three, ready to go down under the ice.
They then ringed down under the ice, into a cavern very much like on Proclarush Taonas.
"This looks vaguely familiar," Sam observed.
Jack walked toward a pod-shaped device of some kind. "Dolmata," he spoke.
"Sleep," Daniel translated.
An image of Anubis appeared before their eyes, but to their relief it was only a hologram, as Jack 'saw' right through it..
Jack walked over to the chair device, much the same that had been on Proclarush, and removed the power device, and inserted the active one from Proclarush.
While this was going on, several Kull warriors entered the cavern, which Teal'c Sam, and Daniel fired at.
As Jack finished inserting the power device, the chair lit up.
Meanwhile, more Kull entered the cavern, which they continued to shoot at.
Sam tried to hurry him along. "Jack, whatever you're gonna do..."
Jack went and sat in the chair. A hole appeared in the floor. Out of this hole, glowing globules came whooshing out, faster and faster, some killed a remaining Kull warrior, while most flowed through the ice, into the sky.
The effort had exhausted Jack. His eyes shut, and his head lolled to one side. The chair shut down.
"Jack?" Sam called out, walking over to him, to check his pulse. "Jack!" she called more insistently, then called out to Daniel and reported "his pulse is erratic." She then turned back to Jack again. "Don't you dare leave me now. We won."
Jack opened his eyes slightly, and lifted his head, in an exhausted effort to look at some one last time.
Sam put her hands on his face, and moved her head towards his, their foreheads connecting. "Jack."
Jack gazed into her eyes, too exhausted to respond.
"Please, Jack," Sam pleaded, tears pricking at her eyes.
"Dolmata," he whispered.
Sam looked to Daniel, for an explanation.
Daniel indicated to the pod. "That thing."
Daniel looked to Teal'c for assistance, and he walked over to the chair to pick Jack up. He carried him to the pod, and put him inside. The pod lit up, and Teal'c stepped back, watching what it would do.
"Now what?" Sam demanded.
Jack weakly spoke, "Aveo... amacus... e aveo... amerus."
Sam and Teal'c turned to Daniel for a translation.
"Goodbye, my friends, and goodbye my love," he explained, a lost look in his eyes.
Some gel-like substance of some kind filled the pod, and encapsulated Jack. It appeared to be holding him in stasis. This done, the lights turned off again.
"We can't just leave him like this. I mean, there has to be a way to reverse the process. The answer has to be here somewhere," Sam exclaimed, near tears.
Daniel shook his head. "I don't think this is it, Sam."
"What do you mean?" Sam demanded.
"The dome's too small. It's like Taonas. It's obviously not a city, it's just an outpost of some kind," Daniel told her.
Sam was incredulous. "This isn't Atlantis?"
Daniel looked intense. "I don't think so."
"If this is not the lost city, then where is it?" enquired Teal'c.
Daniel had no answer for them.
Sam walked over to her husband in the stasis pod, and touched the outer surface. Jack stared back, lost in time.
Sam crumbled. She had tried so hard to be strong and capable through the whole ordeal, doing all that was necessary of her. But now she wept for the husband she might never again have.
Daniel, not sure what else to do, walked over and hugged Sam. Teal'c, too walked over, and placed his hand on her back, and Sam sobbed for her husband, and for the uncertainty of his future.
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Coming Soon on Story 27: Without You
And before you start flaming me, don't forget that I'm roughly following the events of the show, which means that Jack will return... eventually.:)
Feedback is always appreciated! Please let me know what you thought, after such an exhaustive effort of writing!