Chapter Thirty, New Year
North Korean Pacific coast, December 2015
Teris, Jaffa in service of Anubis spat the salty water out of his mouth as he trudged up the beach from the ocean. Nearly three dozen others followed him up including fifteen Kull and whatever they had managed to scavenge from the Tel'tak, including the most important thing they had brought with them to this accursed planet. Once they found a suitable place they could set it up and contact lord Anubis, hopefully he would overlook the failure of loosing the ship. Teris would have vowed to kill whoever had last done maintenance on the Tel'tak if it wasn't highly likely that the Tau'ri had killed them while taking the Ha'tak.
Once everyone had climbed onto the beach, the Jaffa took a moment to let some of the water out of their clothing while the Kull just stood around impassively. He really wished he had a grasp of the local terrain and wildlife, it would make finding something eat while they waited for whatever they needed to do next. Their meagre supplies would not last very long, and dieing of hunger was not the path of a warrior.
As it turned out another solution presented itself when a handful of armed Tau'ri happened upon them. He had barely noted their presence when they fired down at the group with their primitive weapons while shouting in some strange tongue. A pair of Jaffa fell, but by then the Kull and remaining Jaffa had opened fire themselves.
The exchange did not last long, the golden plasma blots easily tore through the Tau'ri formation, after the incoming fire had stopped he led the charge forwards. When they reached the position the Tau'ri had occupied nearly all of them save a few were dead, he quickly pulled out his Zat and put a single round into each, incapacitating them.
As he looked over the fallen Tau'ri, he remembered the two of his own that he lost, and then he had an idea.
Few days later, Pyongyang
Teris had to suppress a smile as him and the three Jaffa and two Goa'uld snuck by the moronic guards outside of the compound of this so called 'supreme leader' Kim Jong-un. So far they had only to stun three of the guards, a pity they couldn't bring the Kull with them this time, they would have made short work of the Tau'ri guarding this place. A pity that went counter to their current plan, though that was always an option should thinking turn out badly here.
Activating his personal cloak he quickly dashed across the next hallway quickly followed by the rest of those with him, this was almost to easy. It wasn't long before they reached their target, the 'supreme leader', the pair of guards were quickly taken out, while the unlocked door didn't even slow them. Their objective was sound asleep, easy pickings.
One of the Goa'uld moved up to him before grabbing the head and bringing his mouth to theirs. After a moment the discarded host stumbled back a step, without waiting he put a plasma bolt into the now useless body. It then crumpled to the floor lifeless.
He turned to the Goa'uld as it sat. "How may I serve you oh glorious leader."
The Goa'ulds eyes flashed once, then in a deep voice. "You may start by informing Anubis that we have a suitable base to begin operations."
"As you command. Now if you'll excuse me."
A week Later, Tartarus
Anubis wished he still had a physical body of some kind so he could smile as he watched the recordings of Sokar's forces trying to destroy the asteroid he had sent towards their world. And they were actually proving quite effective at stopping it, a pity for them they were doing it the way he wanted them to without ever realizing it. From the look of things they wouldn't realize the trap until to late.
And then with a flash of light the asteroid exploded as the plasma bolts impacting the surface set of the naquadah mixed in with the rock. The resulting blast stripped the atmosphere from the near side of the world below, and with it every living thing that was in that area. Including Sokar, his forces had since confirmed it in the hours afterwords, with the loss of their leader most of Sokar's forces capitulated to him. What didn't was of little consequence anyways.
With those remnants added to his own forces he would then be able to go through with the next part of his plan, and one of the last things preventing his assault of Tau'ri. And his eventual ascension to supreme system lord.
And for that he had just received the greatest news, a small force had managed to establish a relatively secure base of operations on the surface of Tau'ri itself. And while not something he could use to take the whole of Tau'ri, the information they had sent him was invaluable. The location of the primary training center for the Tau'ri's angels, which coincidentally was near to where the base had been established.
Now once the modified Chappa'ai arrived there, hopefully, he would then be able to begin preparing an army to rid the galaxy of the next generation of Angels. It would also allow him to hopefully draw the attention of the Tau'ri long enough for his fleet to engage them. Though there were several points he was still hoping to work on. But it was a start.
IS Academy, Earth, New Years day, January 2016
'Cassandra opened the door to her classroom and trudged to her seat, ugh, why today of all days, she just wanted to sleep, preferably for the rest of the day. And why did her classmates have to be so cheerful, and could they slow down their talking a bit so she could make sense of it. Just why today of all days.
Sulking to her desk she dropped down in it heavily before dropping her head down onto the desk. After a few moments she looked up at the blurry lines on the board, then promptly dropped her head back down. What had she done to deserve this.
She took a quick look around the classroom to see her classmates blurry faces, and slurred speech, why couldn't she have just stayed in bed rather than coming to this torture room. The teacher walked into the class while mumbling something to the gathered students, but she couldn't make out what it was. Though from the way her classmates began to act, it was something important, she just wish she knew what it was, hopefully they were getting the day off.
Then the door to the classroom opened and her heart stopped as Nirrti walked in, completely dressed in Goa'uld regalia. She wanted to run, to fly, to be anywhere but here, but her body refused to move. Nirrti turned towards her and then started slowly advancing until she was looming over her, Nirrti flashed her eyes and in a booming voice. "You are mine, you can no longer run, you thought you could escape, to run away. But your precious SGC, your 'friends' none of them can keep you from me, you are mine and none can change that."
Nirrti leaned down, her eyes glowing. She tried to flee but her body refused to move, around her she could see her classmates falling down into pools of their own blood. No this wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening.
"Oh but it is happening, you can't escape from me."
No, no, nooo...'
She bolted upright in her bed, sweet poring down her forehead, her arms, and her legs. Her chest heaving in an out, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She was in her own bed, in her own room, she allowed herself to relax, judging by the darkness of the room she still had a few hours before she had to wake. It had only been a dream, it hadn't been real, she was safe here.
"Are you truly safe here, because it was so easy to get in." She slowly turned her head to see Nirrti standing at the side of her bed. "Your mine, you can try to run but you will never be able to escape."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sasha laying on her own bed an expanding pool of blood forming beneath her. No...
Her eyes snapped open. Rather than try and get up she just lay there for a moment, taking in the sunlight filtering in through the window. After a moment she sat up before stretching her arms, nothing out ordinary happening sot his wasn't a dream of any kind. From the look of Sasha's bed her roommate had already left, couldn't really blame them from how bright it was outside, must have been closing in on noon. She let out a yawn before rubbing her eyes, well she was finally not dreaming anymore, and everything was normal.
"Ah, good morning master," at the sound of the all to familiar sing song voice she slowly turned her head to the source, praying she was just imagining things. Standing at the side of her bed was Sasha dressed in a black and white maid outfit, with a big smile on her face. Why had she thought things were finally normal.
"Nope." She grabbed her pillow up before plopping herself back down and placing the pillow on top of her head. It was the first day of the new year, she didn't want to deal with anything other than sleep and food. "Nope, nope, nope." She was going to find a way back to the world of the waking no matter how many tries it took, screw all this weird stuff being thrown at her in her mind.
A few moments passed where nothing happened, broken by Sasha. "Master?"
She grudgingly removed the pillow from her head and partially sat up. "Why."
"..." Sasha merely looked at her as though she had sprung a second head.
"I'm not still dreaming am I?" Why was this night or morning being so difficult? Then she realized something, "wait don't answer that, the answer is going to be anyways and that won't tell me anything useful."
"Well I could always get Cecilia or Nizru to come here and get physical with you."
"I'm awake! You don't need to bring those two in here, the last thing I need is more of their bickering." She did not want to deal with those two at the moment.
"And yet you're the cause of it." Sasha mumbled.
"You said something?"
"Oh nothing. Do you require help getting dressed?"
"NO! What is with you today." She got out of bed and placed herself right in front of Sasha. "I can take care of myself, I don't need your help. I'm not that badly injured."
"So what do you need then, I am your maid after all."
"I DON'T NEED ANYTHING! I can take care of my self. Just go do whatever." Sasha merely stood there with that stupid smile on her face, which only caused her frustration to mount. "Your fired then, dismissed, thrown to the door, and any other ways there are to get somebody out of a job." She did not want to deal with this now.
"Okay." And Sasha seemed all to happy with things as she turned and walked out of the room.
She found her anger ebbing as Sasha failed to come back in, wow. Note to self, fire any maids that appear out of nowhere right from the start, easiest way to deal with them. She waited for a few moments and when nothing weird happened she allowed her self to relax.
Logic and sanity had triumphed this time.
She quickly got dressed before heading down towards the cafeteria for a bite to eat, and with each and every step she became more confident that this wasn't a dream. Nothing happening that shouldn't be possible, such as Nirrti somehow getting into the academy.
At the cafeteria she grabbed herself some food before looking around for a place to sit. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Ludmilia sitting at one of the tables near the walls with some other people she recognized. None of who was Cecilia or Nizru, those two had been at it all week and they were making her miserable.
Walking up to the table she noticed Ludmilia take note of her before frowning, had someone painted her face or something. Couldn't be, she hadn't seen or noticed anything while looking in the mirror, and she didn't think anything had been forgotten this morning. Starting new years day off bad didn't bode well for her at all, why couldn't this stuff be happening to somebody else.
"Anything I should know about Ludmilia?" Best to just get this out of the way now.
"Not really, just wondering something."
"What?"
"Where's your maid."
"Maid, since when do I have a maid?" Then she stopped for a moment, "better question. Why was Sasha trying to be a maid of all things."
"Do you really not remember? It was last night, Tatenashi's stupid game."
Then it all came back to her, "right, I left before the end of that. Good thing I didn't lose or win, or whatever got you to be a maid for your roommate."
"Good thing to as someone would have ended with your fist in their face."
"I'm not that violent." Ludmilia just stared at her, "okay maybe just a little, and only to people who deserve it."
Ludmilia just rolled her eyes, "if you say so. Anyways after you left Sasha managed to lose, so she became your maid for the day, Tatenashi wasn't exactly happy with that. I highly suspect she had the game rigged so that Ichika would lose, though I can't say for sure."
"Wouldn't surprise me, but just how does one lose a game that is rigged for them to win... Wait, Sasha, never-mind she probably found the one way to do so."
Ludmilia just shook her head, "anyways, what did happen to Sasha?"
"Uh, I may have fired her, this morning, as I was waking up." Ludmilia just gave her a look, "hey, I kinda forgot about the whole game, so I kinda did the first thing that came to mind."
"Which was to fire your 'maid'," Ludmilia looked to the side, "if she planned this out she is a genius."
"Who?" Ludmilia just looked at her and raised an eyebrow, what was so hard about answering a simple question?
"Never mind then." Then Ludmilia changed the subject, "so you coming shopping with us later, or are you going to mope about around here."
"Of course I am, or do you think I'd actually miss out on one of the last days off. Besides, there's some places that I want to check out while their sales are still on." Did Ludmilia honestly think that she would miss out on that, she even had a list off stuff that had to be looked for at any cost.
"Just checking, and since your going I thought you might be interested in this." Ludmilia planted a magazine in front of her, "a list of every event and sale that's going on for the whole week."
She quickly grabbed it up and began flipping through it, Kanji, crap. Well at least she could sorta guess at things from the pictures. "Mind if I borrow this?"
"Knock yourself out, I picked up a few of them anyways so it's not like I'll miss it."
Later, Mall
It had taken far to long in her opinion to get away from Cecilia and Nizru, and their catfight. No matter how amusing it was to watch from a safe distance. Though their fight had provided the perfect distraction to get away from them, a pity she had lost everybody else at the same time.
Though, she looked at the bag slung over her shoulder, it did mean she managed to get the stuff she came for without anyone in the way. No one to question each and every purchasing decision she made, much quicker than shopping with her friends. Though it did mean she couldn't share her amusing moment in the clothing store, she had come across a bunch of shirts with random English words on them. Some of which were misspelt, did people really buy that kind of stuff.
Though now she wanted to meet up with them, having completed her meagre shopping. She didn't want to call them as that would bring Cecilia and Nizru down on her, so she did the next best thing and went towards the food court, with any luck someone would be there. And it would also allow her to avoid those two if need be.
She was making her way to the cafeteria when she noted a red blur out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned her head it was gone. She did however see someone who looked identical to Ms. Orimura walking with an older woman. Though a quick check proved that they were not Ms. Orimura, to short and to, underdeveloped. Though it was something about the older woman who caught her eye, but she couldn't figure out what.
Madoka Orimura had to resit the urge to rip the throat out of their latest gawker, what had squall been thinking sending her sending her with this old hag to 'run an errand'. They were drawing way to much attention as was, attention was bad when one wanted to get around unnoticed. Her charge however seemed completely oblivious to the number of stares they were drawing. She was a fighter not a babysitter, but of course squall in all her infinite wisdom had assigned her to this, when she got back she was going to have a few words with her 'superior'.
Her charge then remarked on how beautiful a night it was, despite them being indoors and unable to see the night sky. If she made it back without blowing her own brains out to escape from this madness.
"You needn't be so tense dear, it ruins your face." What had she ever done to deserve this. "And such a pretty face at that to, you would make an excellent bed-warmer for some lad if you wanted." Oh why did it have to be her babysitting this old hag.
"I have no interest in being a bed-warmer, for anyone, besides why do you care about my personal life?"
"Oh I just find you interesting that's all. Though I have yet to figure out why your so focused on that boy..."
"He's just a stepping stone to my real target."
"Your sister? Well if you're going to kill them, at least let me harvest their soul while your at it, those things are quite valuable." She had to suppress a shiver, she really hopped this woman was merely playing with her and wasn't actually serious.
The next person who glanced at them drew her back to the world, she couldn't afford to be lax, a screw up here could draw down unwanted attention. She glanced back to her charge to see their eyes following the blonde haired western girl who had looked at them. Great more complications.
"Well, that is something I would like to look into later, it's been a long time since I had an apprentice." And people wondered why she hated others so much, stupid Squall and her stupid overcomplicated plans. After a few moments of fuming internally she noted that there were fewer people around then there had been, which was strange as one would think there would be a lot of people around at this time.
She dismissed it as it just being where they were and the time adding up to a coincidence, one that she happened to take note of. Her charge however began increasing their pace while muttering under their breath. She began to become concerned however as the crowds seemed to be getting thinner and thinner, despite the pair of them moving around, the mall should be packed this evening, not empty.
Her worrying came to a head when the last people seemed to vanish, there wasn't even anyone manning the stores despite the lights still being on and the stores themselves open. Except for the distinct lack of people. She had to suppress another shiver, something wasn't right, and she had a sinking suspicion her charge was involved somehow, which meant she was as well.
She was perfectly happy blasting through anything Squall pointed her at, but this was just wrong, something was wrong with the world and she had no idea what it was. She was somewhat relieved when she spied a pair of people approaching in the distance, but the relief was short lived when she recognized them as part of Squall's 'special squad'. People she would rather not associate with.
"Well I take it this is your doing?" Her charge merely shook their head, then what was going on?
"I'm afraid a complication has come up, one that will have to be dealt with immediately." She glared daggers at the member of the approaching pair who spoke, complication, what a nice way to put this strangeness. For those who weren't bothered by it.
She was about to ask what was going one when the three of them started walking away forcing her to follow them. And even when she caught up again her questions fell on deaf ears. And only squall's orders prevented her from trying to get out the answers she wanted using more overt methods.
It wasn't helping that the shivers going through her spine were getting worse with each step, she touched her IS's storage form. She had an anti army weapon on her, there wasn't anything that could hope to stand up to her. She knew this, so then why was she so scared, of nothing. There was nothing. But maybe she mused, that was exactly what she was afraid of, that there was nothing, because it would mean she didn't know what to do.
After a few minutes of walking aimlessly she spotted movement up ahead, within a moment she had all put summoned her IS unit. If it was a fight she was okay, fighting was something she was well acquainted with. Tapping into the hyper sensors she could make out a trio of people coming towards the group, and from the way they were walking it wasn't hard to deduce their intent. Her earlier wariness vanished as she her mind prepared for battle, no more nothingness, now was the time to fight.
She quickly noted that the group approaching them was entirely male, and that one wasn't amongst them, that meant no IS units, this would be over within seconds. She was moments away from deploying her IS when a hand on her shoulder stopped her, she turned to see her charge looking at her.
"Be a dear and go fetch these things from Patricia's, it should be just down that hallway there." She took the list being given to her and looked to where she was being directed, "make sure to get everything on the list, even if that means robbing the place blind. Now off you go, we should only be a few minutes."
"No, I can deal with this quickly and then we can be on our way, it won't take long."
Then something smacked her over the head from behind, she quickly turned around while summoning one of her IS's arms to strike at the one who struck her. She stopped for a moment when she saw who it was, oh how she would love to kill this hag here and now, but Squall had forbidden it, but one more strike and she was doing it anyways. "Listen here dear, I'm in charge here and I gave you your orders now go do them. Now."
"Hey, hey what's with the kid?" She spun back around, a rifle materializing in her hand, and aimed it the one who spoke. A man with pale silver hair and deep blue eyes, wearing a loose getup. "She doesn't look like she has anything to do with this."
"Who you calling a kid-" She was cut off when something slammed into her stomach, and then something slammed into her back. She had a perfect birds eye view of the people she had just been standing with, then the pressure from her back disappeared and the floor started to come closer. She never reached it as something sent her flying parallel to the ground, while every part of her body screamed in pain and agony.
Then pain exploded from her right shoulder while the rest of the arm went numb. A few moments later she hit something and stopped moving allowing her a chance to try to come to terms with what had just happened. She looked down to her right to see a shard of something clear-white about half a meter long with a sheen embedded into her shoulder from the bottom and protruding out of the top and into the pillar behind her. She could see the blood pouring from where the shard met her skin, and judging from the look of it an artery had been hit.
It was strange, she expected there to be overwhelming pain, but there was nothing but a frozen numbness engulfing her shoulder and spreading. So this was how it ended, impaled to a pillar via her shoulder while bleeding out. Heh, not at all she had ever expected it to happen.
She felt something wet roll down her face, so this is what dying felt like, the end of her life, the end of her dreams. She wouldn't be able to see sis again, to snuggle together just like they did when she was little, before him. Never again would she see that beautiful smile, joyful smile, never again could they be together as a family with mama. She could feel the wetness flowing down her face towards the ground, why couldn't she just have her sister back.
Then the world faded away.
Cassandra was at a near panic when she reached the food court. What had been a very busy mall mere minutes ago was now devoid of anyone. She would have thought she had missed the closing, were it not for every shop fully lit looking as though it was ready to receive customers, save for the lack of any people.
Something was wrong, and all the normal suspects didn't act like this. No where near flashy enough in any regard to be anyone she was aware. Which both puzzled and scared her, she couldn't attack if she didn't know who or what to direct it at. Which made her IS useless, seeing as it was really only good for smashing or breaking things, and not for solving mystery's.
She looked around, but the food court remained empty. Above she could see the stars in the knight sky through the glass roof that sat over-top of the court. It just made the whole scene more eerie than it already was. She checked her phone for the dozenth time to insure she hadn't missed closing time, which had been the first thing she suspected when everyone else seemed to disappear.
Then the sounds of footsteps on tile drew her attention to behind her. She turned around and froze at who she saw. "You... you can't be here."
Jewelry clinked as the tanned skinned woman took a step forwards, two others dressed in plain gowns followed behind. "Oh but my dear Cassandra I am." Eyes flashed golden as her deep voice echoed around the empty court. "And I've waited so long for this moment."
"But you can't be here, this isn't real." She took a step back her body beginning to shiver in fear, this couldn't be happening.
"Oh but it is, I've come to claim what it is mine. After five millenia I can finally become more than those fools that call themselves system lords." Nirrti raised an arm clad in golden ribbons, a yellow light flashed out and her legs gave out from beneath her.
"No..." She could see Nirrti approaching, hear the footfalls hitting the ground, the clink of Goa'uld jewelry. She tried to move, but her body wouldn't respond, all she could do was watch on as Nirrti knelt down next to her.
She could feel the gaze moving down her body, examining her. "A bit damaged, but nothing that can't be easily fixed." Then Nirrti knelt down, close enough for her to feel hot breath on the back of her neck. "Finally I can truly be a god amongst gods."
Then she heard the faint sounds of running footsteps accompanied by shouting. "Cassandra, where are you." Sasha, why was Sasha here. She wanted to scream for her friend to run but all that came out was a whimper. "Hey what are you doing down on the ground like that?" Part of her wanted to laugh at how ridiculous the comment was, it should have been completely obvious.
Above her Nirrti cursed in annoyance, before standing back up. "Distraction. Seize them." The two Nirrti brought with her reacted instantly charging at Sasha and pinning the girl to the ground. "Don't worry, once this brat is gone you'll be mine." Nirrti moved away from her and towards where Sasha was being held down.
The world began to take on a blue hue as Nirrti slowed down, and her eyes met Sasha's. She could see the pleading for her to do something, but her blood was ice in her veins, all she could do was watch from where she lay on the ground. Her friend was about to be killed in front of her and all she could do was watch, why. She had an IS unit, the deadliest weapon in the entire galaxy, she could destroy Nirrti and her proxies in a matter of seconds.
And yet she didn't. She couldn't bring herself to fight, it should have been so easy, just like on the Ha'tak, or in the arena. But all she could do now was watch, she couldn't even move her body frozen. Why, all she had wanted was strength, then she would never have to be helpless again, never have to be frozen with fear. Nirrti's foot striking the ground reverberated outwards.
And she had been given power, power that was unrivalled in the entire galaxy, and yet she couldn't do anything to save her friend right in front of her. She could do things many could only dream of doing, and yet when it truly mattered all she could do was lie on the ground and watch. The wetness forming around her eyes began to fall down her face towards the floor. In the end she was nothing but a failure, less than useless.
Her eyes looked Sasha's again, this time partially obscured by tears. She couldn't do anything when it mattered, and now her friend was going to pay for it. Then Sasha's eyes came up to meet her own, filled with disappointment. "A pity then." The tears stopped when the words reached her ears, then everything she knew about Sasha was changed. "Aile, Kill."
And then the ceiling above her exploded downwards.