A/N: Here we are at the last chapter before the epilogue. I can't believe it!
Disclaimer: Been there, done that.
Warning! Never microwave a plate of marshmallows for s'mores unless you're willing to stand there and watch them. Trust me.
ooooooooooooo
He heard Sam's weapon discharge as she covered his exit.
He flew through the doorway and rolled as soon as he landed. The lights were bright in the large room and he saw the rest of the team running to take cover behind the crates. He waited for Sam to fall through the doorway. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet and away from the approaching drones.
They made it half-way to the first stack of crates before Jack allowed himself to turn and look at the door. Instead of the drone he expected to find there, a small black globe rolled smoothly through the arch of the doorway toward the middle of the room. He felt his eyes widen and he shoved Carter to the ground. "Everybody down!" He threw himself over Carter.
The explosion rocked the room. He felt the heat, heard the blast before his ears popped and sounds grew muffled. Then he didn't feel anything.
ooooooooooooo
The Ninth Chevron
Chapter Thirty- Eight
"Jack!" An urgent voice called him out of his silent shell. "Jack. Wake up." The voice was muffled, as if he were under water.
He forced his eyes open and Sam's blurry face came into view. "What?" he mumbled. His eyes drooped shut.
"Come on, General," she said. Relief flashed across her face. "We have to find cover."
He opened his eyes again and glanced around. The walls were blackened and pieces of shattered boxes littered the room.
His memory slowly returned. The bomb. Ba'al. The weapon.
Smoke poured out of a hole in the floor not far from their position, which was quite a bit farther away from the door than he remembered. They must have been thrown by the explosion.
"Where are Teal'c and Daniel?" he asked as he pushed himself up.
She shook her head. "I don't know." Her voice still sounded funny. He reached up with one hand and felt something sticky coming from his ears. Great.
He accepted her help to sit up, but stopped suddenly at the pain in his shoulder. He looked down and saw a large wedge of wood protruding just under his collar bone. It stuck out of his skin like a dart in a game board.
"It's too close to the artery," Carter said, her expression apologetic. "I don't think we should pull it out."
He looked pointedly at her. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "It looks like I finally got lucky."
He nodded and pushed himself with his good arm to his feet. He was a bit wobbly. "Where are the drones?"
"I haven't seen them."
As if on cue, a blast shot out from the door. It flew over Carter's shoulder and pulverized some crates behind them. The drone itself appeared and ran at them, full speed. The second was right behind it.
Carter bent for her weapon on the floor. She pulled it up and fired her disruptor twice. It took down the first drone, but there wasn't time for the second. It swatted her away like paper. She flew into a pile of rubble and lay still.
The drone didn't even slow; it reached out its hand, wrapped its fingers around Jack's neck, and lifted him from the floor. He pushed out with his hands, trying to find some weak spot, but couldn't. His lungs began to burn and his vision dimmed.
On the edge of his awareness he heard the discharge of disruptor fire. He felt the fingers around his neck loosen and he fell to the floor, gasping for air. The drone hit the floor hard beside him. He looked up.
Daniel stood near where Sam had fallen, his weapon still raised. "You okay, Jack?" he called out.
He gave a thumbs-up and rubbed his throat. He spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.
Daniel knelt down to check on Carter.
"Daniel!" Jack yelled.
Daniel shot up and turned around, right into the beam of Ba'al's hand device.
Instantly, he fell back to his knees, his eyes wide with pain.
Jack searched the ground for his P-90. It had to be in the rubble somewhere! The movement jarred his shoulder and sent stabs of pain through his chest and arm. Forget it! It would probably be too difficult to handle the P-90 anyway. Instead, he reached for his sidearm in its holster on his leg. He had to shift a bit to reach for it with his left hand.
"You Tau'ri are like rats!" Ba'al said. His eyes flashed. "Everywhere I turn, you're there waiting to destroy what I have worked so hard to accomplish." He moved the device nearer to Daniel's forehead and smiled when Daniel let out sharp cry.
Jack raised his weapon and aimed it at Ba'al. Blood ran down his chest from his shoulder. His vision dimmed.
"My only regret will be that I killed you so quickly," Ba'al continued. Daniel's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell to his hands.
A streak of light shot forward from the far wall. It raced across the room and struck Ba'al in the back.
He let out a sharp cry and his eyes flashed.
Jack jerked his attention to where the shot came from. Bra'tac leaned heavily against the wall while Teal'c lowered the staff weapon he'd just fired.
Jack pushed himself painfully up off the floor and walked up to Ba'al, who continued to move on the floor. The hole in his back smoked. "Guess you'll have to wait on that regret, Ba'al," he said.
The Goa'uld grimaced. His face reflected pure hatred. "I will kill you, I swear."
"Hasn't happened yet," Jack said.
Teal'c approached, his weapon raised.
Jack gave him a once over and clapped him on the back. "Nice shot." He holstered his sidearm.
"Thank you, O'Neill."
"So," he said to Ba'al, "looks like this time, you get to come with us."
Ba'al smiled tightly. "Once again you are incorrect, O'Neill." He reached quickly for a device on his wrist; in the next instant the light of a transporter swallowed him.
"Damn," Jack said.
"It is of no matter," Bra'tac said. "We must complete what we came here to do."
Jack nodded.
Daniel helped a conscious Carter up off the floor. She looked relatively fine.
Together, they made their way back into the control room. Most of the smoke had cleared and it looked like there wasn't too much damage to the computers.
They moved quickly to the two women lying on the floor near the cryo-chamber.
Daniel reached to check for a pulse on Aisa. Jack knew even before Daniel shook his head what the verdict would be. Her lips were blue and her skin chalky white.
Anise lay face down, her body twisted at a weird angle. "She's alive!" Carter said as she removed her fingers from the Tok'ra's neck. She sat on the floor and gently rolled Anise over to her back.
She groaned in pain and clutched her middle. It was a mess of blood and charred flesh.
"Don't move," Carter said quietly.
Anise's eyes cracked open and she sucked in a watery breath. Her gaze fell on Jack and she smiled. "I am glad you are alright, General."
"You didn't have to do that," he said.
She shook her head. "Yes, I did. Had to… right a wrong. Make up… for my… deception."
"It wasn't just your deception," Carter said. She glanced down at Anise's body and sighed.
Anise sensed what Carter was thinking. "I am going to die," she said. "My symbiote is trying to heal my body, but she tells me the damage is too great."
Carter nodded. "I'm sorry."
"It is I who am sorry," Anise said. "I never… meant to betray. Merely tried to… prevent Ba'al…"
Jack interrupted. "We know."
Her eyes rose to Jack again. "Do not let these events… destroy all we have worked for. The Tok'ra alliance… will need time to heal… but Ba'al cannot be allowed to have… the weapon."
"We'll take care of it."
She smiled. "I regret… that we will not work together… again."
"Thank you," Jack said.
Another smile and then Anise's eyes rolled back into her head, her body limp.
Carter looked up at Jack and stood.
He shook his head. They didn't have time for regrets. "You heard the lady. Let's get rid of this thing." He stepped toward the nearest console. "Carter? Is there a radio that'll reach the Prometheus in orbit here?"
Carter moved to his side. "There should be."
She inspected the panel and moved a few things around, then gave him a nod. "Speak into here," she said, pointing to a square box.
"SG-1 to Prometheus."
A voice answered almost before he finished speaking. "Go ahead SG-1."
"I'm calling for an immediate evacuation of the moon and everything above it. It's about to go boom."
"Yes, sir," the voice said. "How long do we have?"
"Oh, I don't know." He looked questioningly at Carter.
"We'll give you ten minutes, Prometheus," she said.
"Copy." There was silence and then the voice spoke again. "I've been informed we won't be able to transport you from your location if we get much farther away."
"That's alright, Prometheus. We'll come to you."
OoOoOoOoO
"That's the sign," Reynolds called into his radio from his position behind the fallen Tel'tak. "All teams prepare for immediate evac."
"The drones have slipped past our line!" Lieutenant Chen called. "They're advancing on our position!"
Reynolds ducked a blast, surprised that this time it had come from the side. "Just hold your ground. The Daedalus will have us in a moment!"
The corner of the ship shattered under fire and shards flew into his face. He felt the sharp sting as metal embedded itself in his cheek just under his right eye. The concussion of the blast knocked him back. He landed hard on the ground.
Another shot blew his weapon out of his hands and sent it skittering into the undergrowth. Pain raced from his fingers to his wrists. He looked down and his eyes widened at his scorched hands.
A sound drew his attention. The black form of a drone stepped out from the trees right in front of him. Its head turned slowly as it looked around and finally settled its glowing eyes on him.
He braced himself as its arm straightened, weapon pointed right at his head.
There was nothing he could do but wait for the kill shot.
The warm sensation of a transporter embraced him and he sighed with relief. He saw the drone get off a shot, but it was too late. He was gone before it reached him.
OoOoOoOoO
"You heard the man, Major," Caldwell barked. "As soon as the last of the SG teams are on board, get us as far away from here as you can."
The addition of the Jaffa ships to the battle had been a life saver. Literally. Their combined presence had taken a lot of the heat off the fighters and allowed the bigger ships to take a more offensive role. He felt a lot more satisfied leaving this battle than the one they'd started.
"The Daedalus and the Daniel Jackson are already moving away. Thor sent word to the Jaffa fleet," Captain Kleinman reported.
"Good. Keep your eye on those Ha'tak and tell the F-302s to keep harrying the gliders. Just because we're retreating, it doesn't mean they'll want to stop being a nuisance. When we're clear of the combat zone, recall all squadrons."
Kleinman nodded. "Yes, sir."
OoOoOoOoO
"It's just about ready, sir," Carter said. Her face was lit by the glow of the computer she leaned over. "Aisa already had it set to auto dial the Gate once the weapon is fired."
He nodded. Now came the hard part.
Daniel beat him to it. "Uh, guys… I know it's kind of been the elephant in the room the last couple of minutes, but…"
"Who is going to fire the weapon?" Bra'tac finished for him.
Daniel nodded.
The room went silent.
"What if none of us can? Aisa seemed pretty adamant that she and it were connected somehow," Jack said.
Carter shook her head. "I don't think it's a problem. I've looked over the chamber and the computer. Nothing seems geared towards a single biology."
"Then why was she so adamant?" Jack asked. "'I am Aisa'—remember?"
"Think about it," Daniel said. "She's spent thousands of years in that chamber ready to die. It's no wonder she would consider herself an extension of the weapon."
"She also mentioned evil being able to use it. Would she have said such a thing if she were the only one who could fire the weapon?" Bra'tac asked.
Jack shook his head. "I guess not."
"So, the question remains," Teal'c said.
Daniel's voice was quiet. "Who's going to fire the weapon?"
Everyone looked around the circle. One of them was going to die today.
"I'm doing it."
"I'm doing it."
Jack met Carter's eyes. "No. You're not."
"Sir…"
"That's an order, Carter," he snapped.
"I won't let you do it, sir!" Her voice rose.
"You don't have a choice." He stepped over to her side at the computer panel and studied the controls. Nothing looked too complicated. Carter had done all the work. As far as he understood, all he needed to do was step into the chamber and it would do the rest.
Carter didn't budge from her spot next to him. He raised his eyes and gave her a hard look. "I gave you an order. Prepare your team to leave."
Her eyes went cold. He saw the stubborn set of her jaw.
"Sam," he said. His voice softened. "You know I can't let you." His tactic was low, he knew, but the sentiment was true.
She stiffened. Her eyes searched his face, saw his determination. He knew the minute she decided she couldn't change his mind. "Fine!" she snapped.
She left his side and addressed the others. "Get your gear. We're about to leave."
They looked from Sam to Jack, reluctant. No one wanted to leave him behind.
He cursed. "Get moving, folks. We haven't got all day!"
Teal'c was the first to move. He reached for the staff weapon resting against the wall beside him and handed it to Bra'tac.
The old man took it and nodded to Jack. It was an understated farewell that Jack thought suited the Jaffa.
Jack nodded back and stepped away from the computer. Carter wouldn't meet his eyes as he passed her.
"Jack," Daniel said sadly.
"Daniel."
They looked at each other. Jack had no clue what to say. Apparently, neither did Daniel. He reached out his hand and Jack took it.
Jack saw an emotion akin to panic cross Daniel's face. His eyes widened at something over Jack' shoulder.
"Sam?" he asked.
Jack spun around to find Sam standing at the computer panel. She looked up quickly and her hands moved over the board.
"I'm sorry, Jack," she said quickly. "I can't let you do it."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. He took a step forward, but knew he wouldn't make it. "Sam…"
Her eyes filled and she reached out one last time to the panel in front of her. "Goodbye."
"No!" Jack yelled then he was transported away.
OoOoOoOoO
Cam's 302 pushed through the debris field of a newly destroyed glider, his wing on fire from the latest tussle. It wasn't long-lived since there wasn't any oxygen to feed it, but the damage was done. The controls felt sluggish in his hand.
"Prometheus to all 302 squadrons," he heard through the comm. "Come on home."
"And none too soon," Griff said.
Cam smiled. "Ah, this old bird could've handled a lot more." He dodged an enemy ship and dove into a loop that sent him flying back towards the Daedalus.
There was a large part of him that felt a twinge of sadness. He sure was going to miss the feel of pulling three Gs in the middle of a dog fight.
That was fine, he told himself. He was on to bigger and brighter things.
OoOoOoOoO
A flash of light and the bridge of the Prometheus surrounded Jack.
"We have to go back!" he said, his mind spinning. His thoughts only on somehow erasing what had just happened… stopping what was about to happen.
"There's no time," Pendergast said. There was a flurry of activity as the ship pushed its engines to move away from the impending disaster.
"I'm registering a power surge inside the moon," Grant reported.
A stream of light shot up from the surface of the planet and Jack watched as it impacted the lead Ha'tak's hull. It blasted apart in an instant. One second there, the next gone.
"Enemy vessel one has been destroyed," Kleinman said, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Pendergast nodded. "Keep us on our current trajectory. It won't be long now."
Jack couldn't move. The weapon had been fired. His brain refused to accept what that meant.
"I'm detecting another power surge," Grant said.
"The computer's dialing the gate." Daniel's voice shook. His eyes looked hollow.
Grant continued to report. "Something's happening."
His heart in his throat, Jack stood and watched through the window ahead as fire encapsulated the moon, now so far away. It exploded; a blue halo of energy shot out from its axis that took out first the Ha'taks that remained in orbit and then the gas giant beside it. The wave shot through space towards the ship.
"Shields," Pendergast ordered— but Jack barely heard it. He just watched it come, numb.
"All hands, brace for impact." Another order on the edge of his awareness, but none of it mattered.
The wave crashed forward, losing its intensity the farther it got from its epicenter until a mere fraction of its force collided with the shields and pushed past the Prometheus with barely a nudge.
Cheers rose from the personnel on the bridge, the celebration of a victory hard fought and thought impossible.
Jack heard none of it. Silence surrounded him. Except the pounding of his heart. His brain refused to function. It was stuck on replay of his final moments with her. Not enough time.
He closed his eyes. He didn't want to look anymore. He felt the strength leave his neck and his head fell to his chest. His knees weakened, but a steady hand wrapped firmly around his upper arm and held him upright. Daniel. Teal'c's heavy palm landed on his shoulder. He felt its comforting warmth and knew they felt the loss as much as he did.
"She's gone," he whispered.
The three stood side by side, stuck in their sorrow as if the universe had gone still. Outside the window the remains of the Destroyer of Worlds quickly turned to ash and drifted away into the vastness of space.
ooooooooooooooooo
Don't hate me.