CHAPTER 49

Original idea here, not the greatest I admit, but kinda cool.

Yesterday another address that was in the computer that had not been dialed, was dialed. And they found something that made them send a UAV to find out what else they might see. What they found…..was strange and interesting enough they got General O'Neill right away.

"Okay, the tech's down there tell me they found an interesting planet for you guys to check out." Jack said in his manner of wishing he was going with while waving his hands. "They say the planet looks really….freaky."

"Sir?"

"You'll have to see for yourself Colonel."

"What are you not telling us Brigadier?" Ford asked.

"You can see the UAV footage. It will give more detail than I can, considering what I saw."

Jack turned around and pushed a button on a remote. A screen came down and the room went dark. Hitting another button, it started playing. There was the UAV showing the bottom of the ramp at the moment. It changed as the UAV went through the Stargate and then started showing the ground moving away quickly. Trees, lots of trees. A few mountains, hills, a couple of open meadows with dirt roads apparently. The sun was really shining brightly and a moon was present.

"I haven't seen a road off world in a while."

"It gets better Major."

The next scene showed a village as the UAV turned. It was a old village. Very old, wooden built with maybe mud and straw along with straw roofs. Kinda medieval like.

"That's different, but not totally unusual." Daniel said. "Not better though."

"Ah, ah. The better part hasn't showed up yet." Jack said shaking a finger.

The next scene changed to more trees and the most unusual thing they had ever seen. It was a very old castle on top of a low mountain. It looked old, like centuries old. There was cobwebs and dead trees and a large open moat around it that looked bottomless. That was a close up scene since the UAV couldn't get to the castle actually. The weather around the castle suggested a movie scene seeing as lightening and other bad weather was surrounding it and the mountains around it.

"Okay, now I'm thinking this is a practical joke made by the tech guys, and maybe you involved Jack. I thought we made a promise to not have anymore of that."

Jack turned off the recording, made the screen go back up and turned on the lights. He turned the chair around slowly with little if any expression.

"I have to agree sir. That looked more like a movie clip."

"Yeah Jack. Is this a joke?" Daniel asked.

"You guys actually think I'd do something like that?" he asked surprised.

"Yes." they all said.

"Now Carter, you I didn't really expect an answer. Daniel maybe, Ford definitely, Teal'c, you not at all. I'm hurt." he said looking offended. "I asked the same question to them. They said it was real and that it was a live feed I was watching!"

"Okay Jack, you've made your point. What else can you tell us?" Daniel said.

"The planet is designated PX1-CVA. We know little even from the detailed scans that was done with the UAV. Basically, you go check things out, call back in an hour or two and tell us what's going on. The UAV landed near the gate, so return with it. The price of those things are really high." Jack stated casually as he waved a hand. "As much as that recording looked like a nice movie shot, it's real. You go in one hour."

"Are we suppose to go to the….castle sir?" Carter said with a short laugh.

"Something funny about it Colonel?"

"I have to agree. It did look like a old black and white horror movie, a bad B rated one."

"Thanks for stating the obvious Major. You're still going and no you do not go near the freaky, probably haunted, spooky castle unless I say so. Check out the village if you can, otherwise look around as normal mission directives state, call home like good children and we go from there."

"Good children? That was different." Ford said checking his coat one last time.

"I'm still not believing that castle."

"Well it is an interesting find Sam. Think about it, castles once were around, but only in certain area's. Mostly Scotland and England though." Daniel said adjusting his coat.

"I have never seen a castle before." Teal'c stated as the first chevron was called out by Walter.

"Your team ready to go?"

"Yes sir." Carter said turning around. The rest turned after a few moments.

"Good." Jack said with his hands in his pocket. "Oh, if you see the Werewolf, Frankenstein, the Mummy or any of the others. Get an autograph."

"I can't believe you said that." Ford said shaking his head with a small chuckled. Less than a second later. "Or wait, I can. You also once said, take me to your leader."

"I was serious." Jack said standing up straighter.

"That's what scares me. You're a cliché magnet, and if you're not getting it, you give it out." Ford said as Jack grunted.

The gate activated and settled as it always did.

"All right people. Get going and be careful of monsters." he said in a sweet tone.

"Oh grow up Jack." Ford said just before he walked through. Jack yelled something about cartoons as he disappeared.

"Was the General yelling at us?"

"No, at me." Ford said walking off the ramp as he was the last one through. "Damn, that castle is real. Kinda give ya the creeps looking at it."

"This causes you fear Ford Carter?"

"Not really. Just looks dangerous, foreboding, that sort of thing."

"Let's move out." Carter said.

They followed along watching carefully. The castle was behind the gate while the village was in front of the gate. Though the caste was many miles away from the gate. The village was about two miles from the gate through a section of the woods. It was a nice sunny day. The only clouds, ironically, were around the castle. They were deep into the forest and it was starting to look just about the same all around.

"On the off chance we got lost…."

"We won't Ford. I have a device that detects naquada with me. The gate is the biggest source around." Carter said as they kept walking. "Didn't you know that I always bring one?"

"I should have. I'll know next time."

"These trees are fascinating." Daniel exclaimed looking one over.

"Why?" Ford stopping near him.

"Size for one thing."

Ford and the other two had to really look up to see the top of the tree, which they still couldn't see.

"Wow. Reminds me of the Red Woods. But without the exposed roots and arches."

"The Red Woods are quite a feat." Teal'c said.

"You've seen them?" Ford said looking at Teal'c.

"Indeed."
"Let's get moving. We can have another team look of researchers come look later."

"Yeah. This isn't my field of study anyway." Daniel said.

A very low sounding crack made all but Daniel stop. He stopped when the other three pulled their weapons up and looked around.

"What?"

"Daniel must not have heard it." Carter said looking around.

"Heard what?" he whispered pointing his gun around.

"I could swear I heard it over there." Ford said pointing his gun in one direction.

"I heard it in this direction." Teal'c said pointing another direction.

"Then we are surrounded possibly." Carter said looking another direction.

Daniel was pointing the direction she was while trying to look with squinted eyes.

"What do we do? Whoever is out there or whatever…."

"Whatever?! You didn't believe that stuff Jack was saying?" Daniel exclaimed quietly.

"I meant, oh never mind. Something is out there."

"You care to go out there and look?" Carter said looking at Ford.

"I don't mind. I'll be back in ten to fifteen. Any longer, I'll call."

Carter nodded and had them get down and hide near a tree.

"Ford, any longer than ten minutes, and I'm calling."

"Got it."

They could hear minuet sounds of movement a couple minutes later. Then a creak and snap followed by a cry of pain somewhere behind them. It wasn't very loud, which made it hard to determine.

"Ford must have found something. Just in case though." she said moving away from the tree.

Teal'c moved the other direction while Daniel used the tree peeking out. Ford came walking out holding some metal object and muttering to himself. He walked up tossing the object aside.

"There is nothing out there but maybe a animal. If this was Earth, I'd say a big fat bear!"

"Ouch. I bet that hurt?" Daniel said seeing a trapping device and then the mangled right shin of Ford's pants. There was quite a bit of blood on it too.

"Like hell! Broke my leg." he almost yelled. "Anyway, nothing's out there."

"You walk?"

Ford didn't say anything at first as he moved the trap to lean against the tree and gave her a look. She'd seen that look before when she asked a stupid question concerning his health.

"I'm fine. Thanks for the concern though. Let's just hope no one really ask any questions." he said gently as he wrapped a ace bandage around his leg to hide the blood stained pants.

"Well, we know people are here. Just in case we are not alone we keep moving and continue at ready."

They agreed and moved on. As they started getting near the end of the forest seeing as their was smoke on the horizon and smelled it. Then there was another crack, but this time they all heard.

"Go check it out. We don't need any surprises." she said kneeling down with the others. "And kept watch on the ground better this time."

"I didn't see it until I stepped on it Sam. In my defense, it was very well hidden."

Ford walked off quickly with his gun pointed. He passed through a large section of bushes and was gone from their view. He looked around seeing more trees and a stream very close by. Close enough he almost walked into it seeing as the ground was very slick and muddy. He turned and started walking along the small stream to look at the mud to see any tracks and wasn't surprised to find some. They were not human as thought.

"Oh man those are some big paw prints." he said kneeling down to look at them. Luckily they were not too fresh.

"I found a stream, but it's to quiet to be what we heard." he said through the com as he got up and put the gun away.

"Anything else?" Sam asked.

"Other than some large paw prints, no."

"Large. How large?" Daniel asked with obvious worry.

"Oh, about eight to ten inches across. Not bear, looks more like a large dog."

"That's big. Wait, dog?"

"Yeah. I see several tracks. Must have been here minutes ago getting a drink. Wait, I'm not alone anymore." he whispered.

"What is it? Should we…"

"No. Stay there. I'll call if I need anything." he said aiming his gun slowly.

He saw the bushes move nearby and moved closer with the gun pointed. As he got nearer, there was a very low growl.

"Oh no." he whimpered.

One moment he was standing, the next he was on the ground looking at the teeth of a very large wolf. Those teeth clamped down on his right hand that he had brought up. Its left front paw was on his chest making it difficult to breath. The gun wasn't in his hand anymore and he didn't see where it went. What was once a menacing growl was just a low growl now. He didn't move or jerk away and left his hand not moving it. Training he was taught told him that if a dog grabs you, don't jerk around because it can make things worse and can cause more damage, such as limb removal.

"Ah, hey there…" he said looking down quickly then back up. "Girl. What do I do now?" Ford said.

This earned him another growl as he moved his other hand.

"Ford? Ford! What's going on? We heard a loud noise like something large falling."

He slowly reached up with the wolf looking at his hand as he grabbed the com. The wolf let go of his right hand and kept watch on his other one. He shook the right hand as it healed instantly. She sniffed his face and right hand as he talked.

"Nothings wrong. I'm fine. I'll be there in a minute. Just fell."

"Ford? Your voice says different." she said worried.

"Seriously, I'm fine. I found our….follower."

"Follower?" Sam asked looking and Daniel and Teal'c.

"I think he means…."

"I know what he meant Daniel. It was the way he said it that sounded funny."

"I'll be there in a few minutes. Trust me, stay where you are." he said then let go of the com unit as she growled again.

Ford got up slowly after the wolf backed off and sat down about a minute later. He didn't see a collar, not like he figured there would be one, but he'd never seen a wolf much less a dog this big before. He looked over seeing his gun lying a few feet away. This earned him a menacing growl.

"Easy girl." he said slowly and calmly.

"I mean no harm. I just need to take this with me for protection from…never mind." he said slowly still as he picked the gun up and put it away slowly. He got a low growl until he put the gun away.

"I got to go, so you can stay or do whatever…."

What am I doing justifying myself to a dog? he thought while shaking his head.

He walked away slowly leaving the wolf which followed him anyway, but a few paces behind. As he came through the bushes they had their weapons pointed at him.

"You can lower those. There's nothing dangerous here." he said brushing dirt off his shoulders and back.

"What was the noise? What happened to your hand?" she asked looking where he had came seeing the brush moving. "And what is that?"

"The noise was me being knocked to the ground and that is what knocked me down." he said looking back. He could see the wolf, they couldn't, yet. "My hand is fine though. Got bit."

He pulled another part of a bandage out and covered his wrist as they looked.

"You got bit?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. No big deal."

"I don't see anything?" Daniel said.

"She must be shy. Let's get moving."

"She?" Daniel and Carter said as Ford started walking off.

"Sorry, she is a very large wolf that seems to like me and left me alone once I showed I wasn't a threat and meant her no harm."

"Wolf?" Daniel asked before Carter could.

"Don't ask, I don't understand it either. And is case it crossed your mind, no it was not the wolf…women. Whatever."

"You think it's a werewolf?"

"Funny Daniel. I….I think hanging with Jack has rubbed off on all of us more than it should." Ford said seeing the joking look Daniel had on his face.

"I believe she has decided to follow us." Teal'c said as the bush parted and the wolf walked out and sat down looking at them.

She didn't move or growl, just sat and looked at them.

"That….is the biggest dog I have ever seen." Daniel said.

"You sure that….she?"

"Is a she, yes."

"That's not what I meant. Is she a threat…"

"To us, I doubt it. Just a feeling. To be on the safe side, I say we don't shoot at her. Just treat her like any other dog, show no fear and you'll be safe. Always works for me."

Carter took his word for it, but the rest of them glanced back occasionally to see the wolf following along, until they exited the forest. They came to the old village, very old. The buildings were all made of wood, all very old and graying. The buildings formed a half circle around a large non functioning water fountain in the middle of the square. More buildings were behind other's on the opposite side of where they were standing. There was four buildings on the left and a small road that went to the buildings behind those and five on the right. From what they could see, there was another ten buildings behind those near the fountain. They walked up slowly into the center seeing the windows and doors all shut. The semi cold air and dark look made everything really creepy looking.

"I feel like I just walked into a old black and white monster movie." Ford said looking at the fountain.

It was designed with three sprouting area's that had a tulip look, crude looking though. The base of it had a octagonal shape, also crude. There was no water in it, just some dirt and old dead leaves. The rest of the fountain had a foot high circle around it.

"That was a bad clique." Daniel said looking around.

"Admit it though. It looks like it." he said looking down the fountain with a flashlight.

"I have to agree." Carter said looking around. "Kinda creepy."

"I do not see anyone here." Teal'c said.

"I don't see that wolf either." Daniel said.

"That doesn't surprise me. She's probably not welcome here." Ford said tapping the fountain. "Hello!!"

That startled them and made a few windows open.

"That got their attention." Daniel said.

An old man walked out of the building closest to them with a cane that wobbled. He stopped a few feet away and got on his knees as Ford stepped off the fountain.

"Please spare us oh servants of the most high Lord. We have need of our people still in these trying times. Take me if you must have a sacrifice!" the man begged with his hands intertwined in the air as he looked at the ground.

"Well, the bright side of this is that you don't have to translate anything Daniel." Ford commented as he looked around. "I seriously doubt he's talking about Jesus either."

"I agree. Sir, you can get off the ground. We mean you no harm." Carter said going over and kneeling next to the old man.

"We need our women dear lady, please…"

"Old man. We are not here for anyone. We are explorers from another planet and serve no lords, no gods….I hope you get the idea." Ford said trying to calm the man down.

"You are not here from Lord D?"

"No. Who's Lord D?" Daniel asked.

Carter and Ford helped the man up and over to the steps. More people came out including a tall bearded man that looked like he might be halfway to being a sumo wrestler, but his clothes suggested that he did work on wood and farming. He must have been the leader of the small town by the way he held himself.

"You say you do not serve Lord D?" he asked in a slightly booming voice.

His beard was covering his chin and was very black like his long scraggly hair. His was taller than Ford by a good three inches and much wider.

"No." they all said.

"That is well then. We have much hatred for our evil Lord. Any enemy of our enemy is our friend. Welcome to our village."

"Thank you mister…" Carter asked.

"I am Mal'chek, leader of this community. Please come in and we can talk here." he said gesturing to the building behind them.

They went in finding it looked like an Inn. One of those old ones like you'd find in movies. Ford thought it reminded him of a game. The main room had a long counter which was a bar and behind it had a section of shelves that needed filling. There was few if any drinks that might be alcoholic. Most it was jugs of water in vase containers from what they learned later. There was a fireplace just off to the right of the bar, if you were standing behind it. Also upon entering there was several tables around the place, six in all with chairs. Off to the left was a set of stairs that led up to a second level. There was a lamp on every table though they were not lit. Mal'chek told them to pick a table and pulled up a chair of his own as they sat down.

"You must have came through that old ring out there in the middle of nowhere."

"We call it the Stargate, but yeah." Daniel said.

"There hasn't been anyone new on this planet for generations. The ring hasn't been active for about that long as well." some guy said.

He must be the bartender considering his outfit. He had an apron on and was wiping a glass even though he was sitting at a table.

"When was the last time?" Daniel asked.

"According to the stories handed down, four generations." Mal'chek said.

"Who was it?" Daniel asked.

"The last person who came through was taken by Lord D's henchmen. We never found out who it was." he said sadly.

"Who is this Lord D?" Carter asked.

"He is a ruthless tyrant over us. We live each day in fear of him and his army. Lately he hasn't been around though."

"Any idea why?" Daniel asked.

"We are not sure really. It may have to do with the sun being out much more lately than in the last several generations. We still have rain fall here often enough to keep the streams filled for our crops, but mostly we see the sun."

"Sun…sun." Ford said looking at the table in thought. "Has anyone seen this Lord D…or is there pictures?"

"He has not been seen for many generation, but his features have been passed down in stories. He has white and black hair, about as tall as you sir and the strength of ten men."

"When you say ten, do you men ten like you or…" Ford said.

"The average man."

"Oh." Ford said nodding.

"Anything extremely defining that would help us know it's him if we ever see him?" Daniel asked. "Clothes he might always wear, a cut on his face or missing…"

"He wears a long black cape and wears an unusual metal thing on his right hand as it has been heard in the stories. He has long fingernails and eyes that pierce a man's very soul." he said sounding scared.

"A metal object on his hand huh?" Daniel said looking at his team mates.

"Might be a Goa'uld hand device." Carter said.

"Anything else?" Ford asked.

"His very skin is as pale as a ghost. The one thing that is spoken in all the stories is his teeth." he said looking around.

"I do not understand. Why would his teeth make him different from others?" Teal'c asked.

"He has fangs like a wolf that has been terrorizing this village." he said with visible anger.

Teal'c was the only one who looked somewhat lost. The other three looked at each other with the same thought. This guy was nuts or…they didn't want to think about the other idea really.

"Fangs?" Ford said slowly.

"Like that of a bat sir! In some stories it is said he hungers after the blood of the young." he said with a shiver.

"Do you know this Lord D's real name?" Ford asked with a barely contained smile.

"His true name has not been spoke for generations and is considered forbidden to even speak."

"Oh man. If he's talking about…" Ford started running a hand across his face.

"About who I think. Jack's going to love this." Daniel said covering a chuckle.

"Yeah, I know. We better get back and give him this news. It's about time to check in anyway." Carter said as she got up.

"Must you leave so soon?" Mal'chek said getting up with them.

"Our….leader needs us to check back in with him. It's part of our laws." Daniel said explaining it in ways they might understand.

"I see. You must check in with your village leader through the….Stargate you called it?"

"Yeah. That's right." Daniel said.

"Then I bid you good day and hope you return soon. Beware of the wolf though."

"Wolf? You said something about a wolf." Ford said as they walked out. Ford told him a quick description.

"Yes. You have seen it then?"

"Seen her. Got knocked down by her. She followed us here then turned away when we entered your village." Ford said pointing out at the woods.

"You must be blessed by the gods! Every villager that has encountered the cursed beast has never lived to tell about it!" Mal'chek exclaimed in astonishment. Several other villagers were surprised as well.

"Maybe I just got lucky. Dogs just like me naturally." Ford said quickly before they started worshiping him or something close. Thankfully he kept his hand hidden in his coat the entire time after the old man came out.

"Why do you call the wolf cursed?" Daniel asked.

"It has plagued our village for many years. We have lost many people to it. Some very close. The last person taken was a woman who was family to all. Her name was Etheria. She was the best healer we had. She knew the land and how to use it for helping us in times of great need if we had bad crops or drought. She knew the plants that were poison to us or could be used to heal us. Her loss was a devastating curse to us all." he said sadly.

"We might be able to help you if you're still having trouble. We have people skilled in medical.." Carter began and noticing the strange look. "You call them healers. We have some people who could come help your people and we could send food and other supplies you think you'd need."

"Any help would be greatly appreciated dear lady. I thank you for whatever you can provide. We await your return." he said turning away moments later to help a villager that had came up asking for something.

As they walked through the forest.

"Please tell me he was not talking about Lord D meaning Dracula?" Ford said almost laughing.

"I don't know. It sounds unbelievable." Daniel said with a chuckle.

They had all watched a vampire movie the other day as a group.

"I have never heard of any Goa'uld that ever sucked the blood from their victim." Teal'c said.

"We may have to check it out. If anything to see if that metal object he talked about is a Goa'uld hand device." Carter said as she stepped over a log.

"Question is, what do we do if it is him?" Ford asked trying to be serious. Though he laughed some anyway. None of them had a response. It just sounded to stupid to be real.

"I believe we are being followed by the wolf again." Teal'c said.

"I noticed. She came out a few minutes after we entered the woods." Ford said looking back a moment. She was there, somewhere.

"What do we do about her?" Daniel asked.

"Seeing as she left us alone, we let her be." Ford suggested.

"She isn't bothering us. She's not stalking us is she?" Carter asked looking at Ford.

"No, more like a pet hanging back." he said seeing he walking through the forest behind bushes and trees.

He thought about calling out to her, but didn't. Not that she would probably come anyway. They pretty much stayed silent the rest of the way until the left the forest.

"She still there?" Daniel asked seeing Ford turn around.

"Yes, but she's…" he said as the wolf ran past them suddenly.

"That is most unusual." Teal'c stated.

"I'm no expert on dogs or canine's in general. Ford?" Daniel said looking at him.

"Don't look at me. Wolves are not usually this friendly." he said as they came up to the DHD.

Daniel started dialing the address home as the wolf was sniffing around the gate. Teal'c stared at her but didn't get close. They all just gave her leeway. She actually seemed more like she was, avoiding them.

"That's it." Daniel said as he hit the red button in the middle.

Carter lifted her sleeve and punched in the necessary code. As she did the wolf bolted and ran though the gate after it stabilized.

"The wolf has jumped through the gate Colonel Carter." Teal'c said turning to her sharply.

"She did what?" Ford said looking up at the gate. "Jack you have a dog coming through the gate. Do not fire, I repeat do not fire!"

"We better go." Carter said rushing up to the gate with the rest of them.

Jack came down from his office as the gate was dialing.

"Close the Iris. Who is it?"

"Still unknown sir. It should be SG-1 seeing as their time is almost up." Walter said as he closed the Iris.

Armed soldiers moved into the room and took up positions. The gate stabilized and they waited for the IDC code which came moments later.

"It's SG-1."

"Open it the Iris."

Just then over the speakers.

"Jack you have a dog coming through the gate. Do not fire, I repeat do not fire!"

"Did he say dog?" Walter said after a moment.

"I think he did…" Jack began.

Right after Walter spoke a large wolf pounced through the gate. Guns cocked and the armed soldiers stiffened slightly as the wolf moved down the ramp slowly with its head down.

"What the hell?" Jack said slowly.

He left the control room quickly and entered the gate room as SG-1 walked through quickly.

"What's going on here? When did bringing home animals without permission become normal?" he asked walking up slowly. The wolf stopped at the end of the ramp and laid down whimpering slightly. "Though I like dogs and this one is cute. If not extremely large. Someone going to explain or do I have to guess?"

"Sorry sir. She jumped through on her own after we dialed home." Carter said as they walked off the ramp.

The armed soldiers left the room seeing as there was no threat and Jack dismissed them.

"She? On her own?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Indeed. I saw her go through myself." Teal'c said.

"Can we send her back?"

"I wouldn't Jack. The locals don't seem to like her much. Seems to like us though." Daniel said. "I haven't figured out why though."

"Let me guess, she terrorizes them?"

"That's what they say." Ford said confusion on his face as he looked at her. "It must be a different wolf they are talking about though. This one…has got to have been tamed by humans. Maybe the owner was killed by the other wolf or something and the villagers think this is the same one."

He knelt down and the wolf licked his hand.

"See? Friendlier than before."

"What do we do with her?" Jack asked with a gesture.

"I don't know. I thought you liked dogs?" Ford said standing back up.

"I do. But I hardly have time to clean my house. Where would I find time for….take her to the infirmary with you and have her checked out. Then put her in a room and we'll deal with her later. Debrief in an hour. Get her something to eat as well. Dismissed." he said begrudgingly as he turned away and left.

Down in the infirmary they were all checked out and everything seemed fine. They had to wait for several other test. The wolf absolutely refused to go up on a bed but seemingly allowed a vial of blood to be taken and its heart listened to. Beyond that, there was little else they could do for her. Sure the doctor/vet that helped out at the SGC and was sometimes on Gia'as looked her over, but other than the unusually large size of the wolf, he felt the wolf was probably in perfect health.

"What is it with you and animals? We take those morning jogs and dogs just ignore us or lick your hand when we come by. " Carter asked as they walked through the facility to a empty guest room.

"I don't really know." he said opening the door and walking in. He set a plate of food that he got back at the commissary down that was a cooked roast on the floor. "I doubt you understand anything, but we'll be back."

They left the room as the wolf began eating the roast.

"Good thing she's a dog or else I'd be extremely jealous." Carter said as they walked away.

A guard stayed outside the room just incase or to call them if anything happened.

"If she was human, I'd brush off her advances if it came to it. You should know that by now." he said with a seductive smile.

"I do. I was making sure you knew." she said leaning into him.

After they told Jack what they saw and learned.

"So," he said with a raised eyebrow and in a tone that made it sound like he was really about to laugh and the answer. "Your theory is that…Dracula may exist and that he's on that planet, in that castle?"

"That about sums it up. It might be true, we don't know. Mal'chek just said his name was Lord D." Daniel said.

"That is a far fetched theory guys." he said chuckling. "C'mon, how did he survive all these years! Dracula was a blood sucker! The Goa'uld aren't! At least not in that way!"

"Maybe it's not sir."

"Excuse me?" Jack said with a tone like he was questioning her sanity.

"Remember what we told you in the briefing that involved Ford's parents. They told us about a race that sucked the very life out of a person. What if…" she started saying while trying to be serious. It was somewhat difficult and she was having trouble not chuckling about the thought.

"Lord D, or Dracula is one of them and was taken over by a Goa'uld. That would make perfect sense! That would be almost like the perfect host. A sarcophagus would be for serious injuries and for any others, they just suck the life out of someone. We'll say for the sake of argument it is Dracula, then he went through the Stargate or left in a ship to hide in order to stay away from the other Goa'uld. Or it was a Wraith that was running away and was taken by a Goa'uld…"

"There could be a million theories here people, but that makes the most sense. Considering what this…" Jack said looking at Daniel.

"Mal'chek." Daniel offered.

"Okay, considering what he said, it's possible that this…guy is a Wraith. If he is, we need to find out, get any information we can from him and destroy him."

"Jack…"

"Sir…"

"No buts. If it is a Wraith, then we need to get rid if it or him or whatever. This race nearly wiped out the Ancients! We don't even have technology close to theirs and their technology didn't save them. We have enough trouble with the Goa'uld. We don't need to start a war with a race we have no intelligence on and little if any capability to defend ourselves. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Yeah Jack."

"I understand O'Neill." Teal'c said with a nod.

"Major?"

"I agree with you Brigadier. If he's one of them, I'll take him out."

"Good. You're the only one that can anyway from the sounds of it. I thought about sending a UAV over to the castle, but the tech boys say that it is too far out of range."

"Yeah, it's pretty far away Jack. A good couple of days hike." Daniel said.

"Can we take the Prometheus and have them just drop us closer? Maybe seeing a space ship after so long will make Mr. D think twice." Ford said.

"That would work, but the planet we are visiting is to close to Goa'uld territory. Prometheus would be spotted as soon as we dropped out of hyperspace." Carter explained.

"That puts a damper on a otherwise fine plan. To bad the SGC doesn't have vehicles of their own to take on missions."

"That sounds like a great idea. Wonder why we never thought about it before?" Jack said.

"Probably because there is no place to park vehicles in the mountain sir. As ridicules as it might sound, we could take motorbikes." Carter said.

Ford coughed a few times as he seemed to laugh at the idea as he covered his mouth with a fist.

"I have never driven this vehicle you speak of." Teal'c said.

"It's that red two wheeled vehicle that I brought here once. You must have seen other versions on the road."

"Yes. I have never driven one though. I was under the impression the name was motorcycle."

"It is. Either or." Ford said.

Teal'c nodded.

"What were you laughing at?" she asked suddenly.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Ford said quickly. No one else noticed, but she heard a subliminal hint of fear.

"We'd be there in a matter of hours and out just as quickly if things worked out. What are you afraid of?"

"Um…nothing. It's a good idea. Better than horses." he said sitting up straighter. "Seeing as they tired out, need to be feed and watered and such."

She turned back to Jack then turned back to him slowly.

"What?" Ford asked.

"What is it Colonel?"

"You've never rode on a motorcycle."

Ford fumbled over words.

"I…um…well…."

"No wonder you won't even sit on mine." she said turning away shaking her head. "And to think I believed that you won't do it because you thought you'd damage it."

"You've never rode a motor bike?"

"Have you Daniel?"

"In Egypt once or twice."

"I did once in my youth. Did once for a brief moment on a black op mission." Jack said.

"Teal'c hasn't."

"He doesn't count Ford. So what's the excuse?" Jack asked.

Ford looked down at his fingers as he tapped his thumbs together.

"Well?" Jack prodded.

"Do we have to go here?"

"Yes." Jack, Daniel and Carter said together as they looked at him.

"At least Teal'c isn't asking." he muttered.

"I am curious as to why, with your experiences, that you have not mastered such a vehicle?"

"Oh fine. I never even learned how to ride a bicycle much less anything bigger than that. Other than a stationary bike, I've….you get the picture." he said quickly then looked back at his hands.

"You never…" Jack started saying with a laugh.

"Oh shut up." Ford said semi smartly.

The other's thought Jack was going to yell or worse. Jack instead brushed it off as he tried not to laugh to hard.

"We'll stick to the current method at the moment then. It would take to long to learn to drive, much less learn to maintain balance, even with training wheels." he said with a small laugh that got the others to laugh.

"Not funny."

"Anyway, we'll get a team ready for helping this village and you four get ready to go to the castle tomorrow. Pack for a several day trip, just in case. We'll try contacting you every couple of hours and hope we get through. If you're not back in four days, I'll send a couple more teams to come get you. You embark tomorrow at 0900. Dismissed." he said chuckling.

They all got up and started to leave.

"Oh and Major?"

First thought that came to mind for all of them was, here it comes.

"Check on the dog and do something with her. You're not leaving her here."

"So, do you have a plan?" she asked as they walked through the base headed back to the room with the wolf.

"On the wolf? Nothing yet. I guess she has no choice but to come with us. I mean what else can we do? We certainly can't give her to the pound or any state rangers or zoo's. You get my drift."

"Her blood work might be back by now. If she looks like a normal wolf she might be able to go out in the wild." Carter suggested.

"It's possible, but if she likes the taste of human's as….I'll get it….Mal'chek said, if it's also that wolf, then it won't work. Besides, she way to big for a normal wolf."

"It has to be a different wolf. This one is….too friendly. She even let Teal'c touch her."

"That's what throws things off." he pointed out as they rounded a corner.

"I'll go see if the blood work shows anything while you check on her and clean up."

"Oh joy." he said as they got to the door. "Just call if they or you find out anything."

"Sure." she said walking away.

"I've got it now airman." Ford said dismissing the guard.

He opened the door and walked in, and walked out just as quick slamming the door. He saw something he didn't expect. If it wasn't for Sam and upbringing, he would have went back in.

"That…what….oh hell." he muttered then yelled. "Carter!"

A few moments later she came running up.

"What's wrong?" she asked with urgency and worry. "She got out or…"

"No. Ah….."

"Why are you blushing?"

"Ah…um…ah…you…go in and deal with this. I can't." he said stepping away from the door.

"If she made a mess and destroyed the place…"

"No. That's not it." he said shaking his head as he tried to get rid of the flushing in his face.

She was totally confused. A couple of guards came running up.

"Major, Colonel is there a problem?" one of the airman asked.

"No." Ford said quickly. "Not, um, really."

"Wait a moment airman. I need to see in here first."

Ford motioned for one of the airman to come over and rattled off a few instructions and asked a quick question seeing as it was the same airman that was guarding the door. The airman then started to ask a question as Carter entered the room. He just told the airman to do it as Carter came back out almost as quickly as he did.

"There's a naked woman in there!"

"Dismissed airman!" Ford said to the man who was about to ask a question. He then turned to Carter quickly as the guard left. "I noticed when I walked in and walked out just as quickly."

She gave him a cocked eyebrow look and had her head tilted as she crossed her arms.

"You noticed huh?"

"Don't give me that look. I had no idea until I walked in. I was out of there so fast all I knew was there wasn't a wolf there anymore, but that was as far as I noticed. The security camera can prove it."

"If you say you didn't stay, I believe you."

"I didn't even notice her hair color or even if she had hair. We got a lot of questions I hope she can answer." he said extremely confused.

"Here's those clothes you requested sir." the airman said running up with a couple bundles. "Can I ask what they are for now sir?"

"Our wolf isn't a wolf anymore." he said handing the clothes to Carter. She actually looked at him questioningly. "I ain't going in there. And we sure as hell aren't sending any man on this base in there either."

"Sir?" the guard asked confused.

"Go get Daniel please."

"Yes sir. I assume you want me to say nothing sir."

"To no one." he said with a order tone.

He did a quick salute and hurried off.

"I'll let you know when it's okay to come in." Carter said.

"I'm not sure if I want to go in."

Ford was still standing outside leaning against the wall across from the door to the room when Daniel came around the corner.

"What's up? One of the airmen said you and Sam needed me and he couldn't tell me why." he said adjusting his glasses.

"The ah wolf has….ah hell, she's a werewolf I guess." he said tossing his hands up lost. "Or a form of one, maybe."

"You're kidding right?" Daniel said with a small laugh.

"No." he said with a look.

"You mean she is human? How do you….you know, know?"

"The guard outside said no one came in or out while he was guarding it and he never left for any breaks at all. Deductive reasoning says it's her, not to mention…..ahem, what I….ah, saw…ahem…when I walked in." he mumbled out the last part.

Daniel had a fair idea of what it was, but he asked anyway.

"What did you see?" he said with a serious face as he crossed his arms.

"A…ahem…naked woman sitting on the bed. I walked in and was out quicker than I draw my gun." he said quickly.

"A naked woman?" he said slowly. "Seriously? How did Sam take it?"

"She's in there right now. It's been a couple of minutes." he said looking at his watch. "One of the airman brought me a bundle of clothes and she took them in."

"So, what does she look like?"

"I don't know." he said with a shrug. "Like I said, I didn't stay long enough to find out. I knew better than that. She could have been bald and I wouldn't have noticed. I didn't stay long enough to check her skin color either."

"Well, she's not bald." Carter said coming out of the room and closing the door.

"What's going on? Someone just told me that something was up with the dog? Did it die? Kill someone? Get lose?! I knew this…" Jack said as he practically rushed up.

As he was starting to rant Ford reached over grabbing his shoulder hard enough to make him stop.

"Jack. Calm down. It's none of the above."

Jack visibly calmed down and looked at Fords hand who let go quickly. He then regained his composure.

"Then would someone explain to this out of the loop General."

Ford really resisted the urge to tell him he was born out of the loop. They all three started, stopped and let Carter explain.

"The wolf is not…a wolf anymore sir." she said still shocked herself.

"Huh?"

When she decided to try going scientific.

"Okay stop right there. Base line point please."

"The wolf became a human sir."

"Right. You all thought the Dracula joke wasn't enough…"

"It's not a joke Jack." Ford said quickly. "Is she dressed?"

"Yes." Carter said. "She's willing to talk. For some reason she likes you."

Ford heard that hidden lace of jealousy in her voice.

"How about I go look at that blood work, and you all talk to her. I'm better off not being in there." he said walking away quickly afterward before they could say anything.

"But…oh well." Carter said slowly.

"Considering what he told me, it is the best plan." Daniel said.

"Out of the loop here?" Jack said turning back around.

"Ford walked into the room, not knowing he'd find a woman in there.."

"So?" Jack said.

"You didn't let me finish." Daniel said.

"Ford walked in on her, while she was without clothes sir."

"Oh. Oh!" he said now understanding why Ford walked away.

Carter had a disapproving look on her face as she saw Jack smile.

"What did he see?" he asked mostly looking at Daniel.

"Nothing." they both replied.

Knowing he wasn't going to get any information, they all walked into the room.

Ford walked into the infirmary almost scaring the doctor.

"Major, what's up? Are you hurt?" Dr. Brightman asked.

"No. What gave you that idea?"

"You barely come here unless it's after a mission. Or someone close, such as your wife is injured or a member of your team."

"I see your point. Anyway, I'm here to look at that blood analysis that you have on the wolf."

"Okay, it's right over here."

"My name is Etheria. I was a healer for my people back in our village that you visited. I was helping a villager that was attacked by the wolf one day. It was late at night and the moon was coming out. They turned into a wolf before my eyes. I remember waking in the morning to find blood everywhere. The people came to my home and went crazy. I tried to talk to them, but I realized I was a wolf as well. I ran away and found more wolves, but they were all…insane and full of blood lust. It only effected me during the night. During the day, I was in control and knew who I really was. Yet there was nothing I could do about it. Only once did I change back, but it was during the day and the moon's were gone from sight. I tried to go home, but night fall came and I changed back. Since then I have tried to stay away from the other wolves and the village. When I saw you come through the old gate, I followed along hoping that you would help me. Seeing you enter the village, I felt all hope was lost, but stayed close enough to hear everything. When you left I followed behind and waited to see if you would attack me as well. When you didn't and I saw you returning to the gate. I decided to go with. I have no where else to go." she said sitting on the bed in SGC BDU's crying.

She was about Carter's size. She had long black hair that went just down past her shoulders. Her face was soft and had a chiseled look to it. The two men could easily admit that she was a looker. No wonder Ford left quickly. She started telling them what she knew after they came in and asked who she was.

"We have known that on a full moon, the wolf comes to feed, and usually on anyone in the village they can get. Even though I know there are a few more wolves out there, only one at a time ever comes though. I have watched the village at night for some time now and have not noticed any wolf go near it. The other wolves may have killed each other in the blood lust or may have moved on." she said wiping her eyes.

"Wasn't there a full moon a couple nights ago sir?"

"Yeah, there was. I was looking at it too." Jack said.

"That might explain why I have changed back." Etheria said looking up at them. "On our planet, there are two moons. For several years one or both have been up every night."

"That would explain the reason for you being a wolf more often than a human." Daniel said. "Though the, medical and scientific reasons are something I don't get yet."

"We only have one moon and it comes around just about every twenty to thirty days." Carter said.

Jack looked at the door as it was gently knocked on.

"Hey Jack. I guess it's okay to come in." Ford said walking in.

"What's with the needle?" Jack said backing away quickly and using Daniel as a shield.

"Funny. But it's not for you." he said closing the door. "Wimp."

"Hey now…" Jack started saying as he came out from behind Daniel. He stepped back quickly as Ford shook the needle at him. Daniel and Sam covered a laugh.

"What did you find?" Carter asked quickly before Jack could say anything.

"Her blood showed some interesting results." he said handing a folder over he brought with him.

"It's mutated." she said after looking the results over.

"Want to fill me in?" Jack said looking at the open folder and not seeing anything he knew. "In words I understand please Colonel."

"Her blood results sir. According to this she has dormant human gene's in her system." she said.

"Oh. I thought we already knew that. Wait, we did know that." he said sarcastically.

"This makes it scientifically positive Jack. This is for her." he said walking over slowly and kneeling in front of her. "Hey there."

"Hello." she said smiling.

"I'm Ford."

"I'm Etheria."

"Interesting development. I have to take some blood if you don't mind."

"Will it feel like yesterday?"

"Ah…you remember that?" he asked surprised.

"Yes. It hurt, but went away quickly."

"It will be just about the same here. Might be less painful in this case. You jerked when it was done yesterday."

"What do I do?"

"Just hold out your arm and try not to move it. If it helps any, anyone that goes through the gate has to go through this. I've forgotten how many times I've been stuck."

She held her right arm out and Ford rolled up her sleeve.

"It's best not to look."

She looked away and noticed the older man named Jack did to.

"What is his problem?" she asked as Ford gently stuck her and got what he needed. After he was done.

"Daniel or Jack?" he said standing up.

"The one called Jack."

Ford snorted at that remark.

"He's afraid of needles." Ford said shaking the one he had.

"Ah."

"Thank you. I've got to go now." he said to her then left quickly.

"I need to go." Jack said leaving quickly. "Ford…Major!"

"General. What's up?" Ford asked stopping at a corner.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Scientific research." Ford said being serious.

"You don't want to be in there do you?"

"That woman was practically ready to crawl all over me. re as hell I don't want to be in there. You like her so much, you go after her." he hissed before taking off again.

"You noticed then? That's a first." he said following along.

"What does that mean?" Ford asked not liking Jack's tone.

"There have been several woman who have flirted with you, and you have never noticed. Some of them work here, but have since backed off. Even Janet once mentioned she thought about asking you out, but she didn't want to hurt Carter."

"What? When? Wait, I don't care." he said quickly.

"You better not. Carter would have your head. I've got to get back up to my office and figure out what I'm going to do with her." he said eyeing the needle warily.

"Sending her home will only ensure that she turns back into a wolf. Here, she just has the trouble once a month."

"That's why I'm considering having her stay here or see about her living on that planet with the other versions of you and Carter."

"Seeing as there is no moon on that planet. It would work out well. From what we heard, she has no family to say bye to."

"That helps." Jack said walking on. "Keep that away from me."

Ford laughed lightly as Jack started walking away fast.

"What is going to happen to me?"

"Well, ah the General is probably going to decided that overnight and let us know in the morning. You might be coming back with us." Carter said.

Daniel could hear a hint of anger in her voice. He even noticed Etheria flirting with Ford. Sam saw it more than anything else.

"Can't I stay here? If I go back I will become that accursed wolf again. I don't want that." she said with a pleading voice.

"I'll go see what the General says. Can you help her Daniel?"

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead."

After Carter left.

"I noticed she was anger at me. Did I do something wrong?"

"Well, not really. Not knowingly anyway." Daniel said sitting next to her. "You were hitting on her husband."

"Hitting? I don't understand."

"That man that used that needle on you…"

"Yes. He was very kind. Why did he leave so quickly? He was sweet and very handsome." she said sighing.

"Ah, that woman that left is his wife."

"Oh! I am sorry. I didn't know."

"If he comes around again or you see him, I wouldn't make any sudden moves to get close, if you know what I mean."

"I do. Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Sure."

Ford was looking through a high powered microscope when Carter walked in. He was making notes as she dropped the folder he left with her on his paper work. He looked up briefly at her, then back into the microscope. Luckily they were alone.

"As cute as you look when you are jealous, it doesn't suit you." he said making a note. "If I haven't proved that you're the only one I care about, then I haven't done something right. Especially with everything we have done on most nights. And the fact I waited, somewhere near fifty years."

"She was all over you." she stated.

"I noticed, for once Jack said, but I did nothing to encourage her, or so I hope. Interesting."

"What?"

"Her blood sample has completely changed from the one that we got yesterday. This one is practically the exact opposite." he said stepping back. Carter moved over and took a look.

"It is. This is strange, but apparently possible. There's another unknown in this sample."

"I think that, in theory, that that is probably what causes her to change form. Here, now check this sample." he said changing it.

"That same unknown gene is in this sample. But this sample is different. It's not her blood." she stepped away from the machine and looked at him. "Where, no, who did it come from?"

Ford grabbed a SGC coat off the table near him and handed it over. There was no name tag on it, but there was blood on the cuff of the right sleeve.

"Who's is this?" she said looking it over even after seeing the blood.

"Mine. When you heard that fall earlier…"

"That's right, she bit you."

"Look at this slide here now." he said replacing the slide and taking the coat.

"This is the same sample."

"It is?" he said looking as she backed off. "Oops. I made two. Wrong one."

He picked another off the table and put it in.

"Here it is."

She looked in as he backed off and put the coat back on the table.

"This looks familiar."

"I took it a few moments after I checked the coat. As I thought, my body rejected it. My hand still has a itch to it every so often, but otherwise I'm not going to be howling at the moon."

"You already do that at home." she said smiling as she continued looking through the microscope.

"Say what?!" he said turning from the coat.

"I was kidding." she chuckled as she looked up at him.

She looked through the samples again and got the sample of his blood with the wolf bite containment. She switched between the samples a few times.

"Some thing in those wolves changes the DNA of whoever they bite." he said.

"Someone must have used genetic manipulation to do this." she said stepping back.

"I would have to agree. I may be the only possible help for an antidote or cure for her and any other's. But highly unlikely."

They took the idea to Jack who told them to get a team together to check it out. A couple of hours later, the medical and science departments were on it. They were to continue looking until told otherwise. Carter and Ford didn't have to really worry about it seeing as they had a more important job to do the next day.

The next day……….

"Okay, so far the science boys have found nothing to help wolf lady yet. Not that I'd expect them to this soon." Jack said tossing a folder aside. "If at all."

"She does have a name Jack." Daniel said.

"I forgot what it was." he said shrugging. "What is it anyway?"
"Etheria."
"Okay, anyway…Etheria is going to stay here since she says her control at night is not at best. I'd rather not send a team to find your remains…"

"Wouldn't happen anyway Jack, so go to the next part." Ford said waving him on.

"In any case, she's staying here, you are all going to check and find out about the castle. I'll be leaving SG-5 stationed by the gate or near it to keep watch in case anything happens. You can contact them if you need anything."

"Good to know."

"Sounds good sir."

"Good. The sooner you guys leave, the sooner you get home. Dismissed. Oh and Daniel, get some pictures."

"Seriously?"

"Yes seriously! I've never seen a spooky castle up close and probably never will." Jack said with a serious face as he started to get up.

"You could come along then, be like old times." Ford said with a smile.

Sam and the other's looked at him actually thinking he might go. Jack tapped his fingers on the back of the chair, looked to be thinking it over and shook his head.

"Maybe another time, another mission. Got to many things here to deal with and the only other person that…..Etheria seems to trust is me since you will all be gone."

"No problem sir." Carter said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"We'll see you in a few days Jack." Daniel said as they left the room.

"Chevron one locked." Walter said as SG-1 entered the gate room. He kept going as they talked.

"I almost can't believe this mission." Ford muttered as he adjusted the bag on his shoulder. The other's wore backpack's and he carried a backpack modified with a strap. He had been using that sort of thing for some time now.

"It is one of the unusual ones." Carter agreed as she made she her gun was loaded and ready.

"Maybe we'll find written information that will help us on the castle walls about these Wraith's, if it is a Wraith. Oh, Jack should be yelling at us in three, two.." he said after glancing up at the control room then at his watch as Walter was finishing.

"You all better come back and in the same condition as you were when you left!" Jack said from the control room.

"Yes sir." Carter yelled back as the gate opened.

They walked through with SG-5 and looked around. It was midday on the planet already. No one was around and only a few birds were flying on the horizon above the trees.

"Do…you have a plan of action or anything?" Ford asked making sure she only heard it as they all fanned out some from the gate.

"Yes I do. Seeing as we have to camp out for a night, maybe two, we are going to go to the castle through the forest over there. Can't make a fire without wood." she said looking at the trees.

"You thought that plan before we got here?" he said impressed.

"Yes. The trees will also provide cover in case we are being watched by any army or other followers of this Lord D."

"We are thinking on the same wave length there."

"Good. Colonel!"

"Yes." the leader of SG-5 said as he came over.

"We are going to go to the castle by taking the forest route. I suggest that you might want to do the same with your team and camp out in a location close to the gate. Just in case this Lord D is watching."

"Agreed. We'll have the M.A.L.P. with us instead of near the gate so it will keep the signal boosted." he said looking around at the forest.

"We'll see you in a few days or more depending on what we find. Let's go." she said talking to her group.

On their first day through the forest, they encountered nothing, other than the birds and saw even less. Other than the frequent contacts with the SG team back near the gate, there was little in anything going on. They took shifts that night as always and awoke without any trouble, other than Daniel having a complaint about not getting enough coffee.

"Well, that run we usually have isn't being taken away, just in this case, we have friends with us and we're walking." Ford commented.

"Ah, I forgot that you two do that. If I lived closer I'd probably join you."

"Daniel, you're not a morning person unless you have to be, but that takes an emergency."

"So? I could try."

"I'm sorry to say I doubt it."

"He is correct Daniel Jackson."

"Thanks for sticking up for me Teal'c." Daniel slightly grumbled. In truth, he probably wouldn't get up that early.

The rest of the day was about the same as yesterday. They saw a few snake like creatures that slithered away before they could get a good look at them. Night came and they hadn't all went to bed yet. They were sitting around the camp fire just staring at it and making small chat occasionally. Daniel whispered something to Carter who at first cocked her eyebrow then smiled with a small nod. Ford was coming back from the small stream they found close by with a pot of water. He didn't see them talking as he came back and sat down.

"I can remember a few times we did this, well not this mission, but having a campout on another planet." Daniel said from his sleeping beck he was leaning in.

"And?" Ford said after Daniel hesitated.

"You didn't let me finish."

"Sorry. Go on."

"Well, when we were on this one mission that was to observe and wait, which nothing happened….anyway, one the second night of being there, Jack got bored."

"Now that doesn't surprise me." Ford said leaning back into a log he and Carter were sitting next to. "Let me guess, he brought fishing equipment and tried to get the rest of you to fish?"

"He did that on a different mission Major Carter."

"Wish I'd been there for that." he said with a smile as he was taking a drink from his cup of coco.

"You'd probably join him." Carter said smiling herself at the thought.

"Not only for the fun of it but to keep him off your backs about it too."

"Yeah, he went on about us trying to join him for an hour." Daniel said flicking off something on his bag. "Anyway, where was I….oh the campout! Anyway, Jack got bored and couldn't fish seeing as he had no fishing equipment and there was no fishing spots around. We all weren't all that tired so we were all up still."

"Kinda like now. Guess he forgot his Gameboy again. What does he play anyway?"

"I have no idea." Daniel said.

"Me either." she said.

"Despite the many times I have asked, he still refuses to say." Teal'c said.,

"Figures. Couldn't be anything adult rated, but then again I don't look up that stuff so. Anyway, what were you saying Daniel."

"Jack wanted to…" Daniel said with a chuckle. "He wanted us to do a sing along."

"He did what?" Ford said as he wiped coco off his SGC coat.

What Daniel just said caught him off guard and he almost gagged on his drink.

"You know? Singing around a camp fire. A lot of people do it." Daniel said casually.

Ford tried not to laugh at the thought but wasn't succeeding.

"You have to be kidding." he said between laughs. "You're pulling my leg! Jack doesn't have a voice to sing. Commanding voice yes and scary sometimes too, but singing, no way."

"No, he was serious, though we all thought he wasn't." Carter said.

"Did you all actually go through with it?" he asked not laughing anymore.

"Not really. He tried to order us to, but it was only going to work on Sam and she refused."

"So he gave up then?"

"Not at first. He eventually did though. He started to sing to trying to get us to try."

"Strange you didn't try Sam. Your voice is really good."

"Ford, I am a scientist, not a singer." she said stated.

"He is right Sam."

"Knock it off guys. I'm not that good. Besides, I couldn't do it anyway." she said picking stuff that wasn't really on her.

"Wait a minute. You said not that good, that means you do sing." Daniel stated.

"No I don't." she said quickly.

"No comment." Ford said quickly as Daniel looked at him. "We could try though. I can play guitar."

This really caught them off guard by the looks he received.

"I guess I never told you all that." Ford said looking at the ground and flicking a stick into the fire.

"No." they said.

"Since when…wait, which one?" Sam asked.

"Ah, normal, bass and electric." he said looking at the ground still.

"You two could make a team then. Play for…"

"No. I do not sing." she said waving her hands. "Forget it boys. Not happening."

Ford knew better than to tell them that she sings in the shower. And really well, at least to him. That was when she was alone in the shower anyway.

"Well, if you ever change…."

"Not happening Daniel." she said then looked at Ford who saw the sign to keep quiet. "Subject change please."

"Okay. I know, Daniel I have a question of a serious nature that I have been meaning to ask well before I got married but never got around to it."

"What is it?"

"Is there a history to your car?"

"My car?" he said totally confused and lost as to where the question was going. "I don't understand?"

"Me neither." Sam said.

"Does…did you inherit it? Just buy it in some lot? That sort of thing."

"Ah no. I just bought it some time before the first Stargate mission, well sometime before that…a few months anyway. Why?"

"No offense, but seeing as we, that includes Jack, are the first line of defense for Earth and even though we have to keep it quiet, we should have better if not the best transportation for getting to work. Teal'c has that Durango that will get him to work easily, which me and Jack helped him pick out, Jack has that Ford Truck or is it a Chevy, I forget. Me and Sam have…..well. What I'm trying to say is that unless you really have a close connection to that old green four door car, then please, if not for you, for me, let me get you something else. That car is an insult, I'm sorry. It's pathetic."

"I admit it is problem. But it gets me to where I need to go."

"That thing has broke down like six to seven times or more since I started working with you all. And I've looked at it a few times. It needs more help that you can afford to give. I'll buy you a new car or whatever it is you want."

"Really. In that case, I'll have to think about what I'd like to have. I've never really thought about that sort of thing. Did you give this same offer to Jack?"

"Jack likes his truck, a lot. He just had me check under the hood every so often."

"That's the General for you. He admits to really liking that truck." Carter said getting up. "Especially after you had to rebuilt it."

"Oh yeah, that took some work." Ford said remembering the incident with KARR.

Jack wanted that truck fixed no matter the cost and he really got in Fords face about it too. Ford was able to fix it and made a few adjustments that helped the truck work better too. They went to bed after that and Ford took first watch like last night. They got up with no problems and headed out after talking to the SG team back near the gate. It was static filled, but the message was sent that they would be at the castle soon and were so far okay.

"How long do you think it will take us to get there?" Daniel said getting his pack off the ground.

"Oh…I'd say maybe…two hours." Ford said thinking. "Sam?"

"Two hours? Possible if we try not to rest." she said adjusting her pack.

"Then we should hurry before it becomes nightfall again." Teal'c said taking his staff from the resting place against the tree.

It took a little after two hours but they made it to the base of the mountain.

"Oh man. This is like a bad movie." Ford muttered.

The route to the castle was wide enough for a big truck to drive up. One either side of the small road was a long drop that looked bottomless. The castle stood out because it had nothing around the base except the tall rock that was holding it. Waves of heat came from the large black pit around the castle. It wasn't a intense heat, but enough if you stayed there long you'd start sweating. Luckily the path was short, maybe twenty yards and the large hole was mostly behind the castle.

"Talk about a heat wave." Daniel said backing away.

"It ain't that bad." Ford said as thunder rolled across the sky.

"I know this is going to sound stupid, but a dragon or some other flying creature isn't going to come out of there is it?" Carter asked more just talking than really asking.

They all looked more closely at the dark pit, but nothing was seen even when lightening struck. They took off as Carter motioned them forward and they kept their weapons at ready. Nothing showed up, no sounds other than the storm overhead. The doors were closed and had wolf head door knockers on them. Though the wolf's looked more…evil like. The door was in really bad shape as was the castle. Sections missing, bricks sticking out or in. Dirt, dust, mud, mold, and cobwebs were everywhere on the walls.

"Should we knock or find another way in?" Daniel said looking around.

"Nice idea Daniel. Let's let them know we are here." Ford said touching the door. "As for the other idea, I doubt we could find another way in without falling or climbing. Neither I plan to do."

"Right. So?"

"We just enter." Ford said pushing on the doors. It opened with a loud squeak. "Needs oil. About a bucket or two."

"Needs more than…..oh my." Carter said walking in.

The inside showed much decay, oldness that looked to be in the centuries of never been touched. There was a table and a few chairs around it covered with cobwebs. A chandelier was on the ground nearby where it might have hung over the table. Several doorways left going out to other parts of the castle, but cave ins made it impossible to go those ways. A set of stairs on either side near the walls went up behind a large stone brick circular tower that ran the center of the castle. The table and chairs were just in front of the tall tower that went into the ceiling. Everything just looked extremely old with decay and smelled of it. Around the floor was bricks and other sections that had crumbled in or had parts of the ceiling that came down.

"I couldn't fix this place. Martha Stewart couldn't fix this place." Ford said glancing around.

"I do not like this place." Teal'c said with uneasiness.

"Give me the creeps." Sam said looking around with her weapon at ready as she slowly walked around.

There was old decaying bodies on the ground in some places, but they were not human. Ford slowly put his weapons away and went over to a old suit of armor on the wall.

"This is…strange. Hey Daniel."

"Yeah."

"Check this out."

"It's a suit of armor." he said after coming over. "Ah…not really my field."

"Crusade time I'd say. Judging by this old beat up shield." he said picking it off the ground.

The arm on the suit of armor was missing and was under the shield. The shield had what either was a dragon, griffon or a lion on it. It was hard to tell because of it's age and being weathered away.

"Must have fell off."

"Yeah Daniel. Hmm, now this is interesting." Ford said handing the shield to him.

Daniel set it down almost immediately seeing as it was really heavy. Ford moved the gauntlet off the pommel of the sword it had in front of it.

"What?" Daniel asked.

"It's a solid silver sword. Hmm, heard once that vampires were…effected by silver. It kills them like ultra violet light. Or so the theory goes."

"You may have a chance to test it Major Carter. I hear movement up stairs." Teal'c said.

"Let's see who it is then. Ford, take the lead."

"Got it." he said pulling the sword from the sheath.

"Not going to use a gun this time?" she asked as the slowly walked up the stairs.

"If I need to, I'll get them out. But I'm guessing any loud noises could serious disrupt the stability of this place." he said as they all heard someone walking.

The entered the upstairs and found the room to be empty, except for what looked to be a few human bodies here and there, all dead and decaying. The other side of the room had another set of stairs that was the other way up to the room. The unknown tower was still going up the center of the castle and went into the ceiling where the sounds were coming from. Another set of stairs led up around the center tower going up to the other floor. There was nothing except old rotting away clothes, some old rusted and entropy infested weapons, and some armor around. All covered in cobwebs and dirt. More unknown decayed bodies littered the place too.

"This place just gets dirtier and dirtier." Daniel said looking around then suddenly sneezing.

"Bless you." the other three said.

"Thanks."

"I don't see any other way up." Carter said as they all circled the room slowly.

"I know you are here." a lowly voice that gave a slight chill to all of them, called out.

Carter made a few hand gestures and they all crept up the stairs slowly. Ford was first to come up and he noticed instantly that the tower didn't go up in further. It stopped just above the top of the stairs. It looked like a bottomless drop and had the smell of death coming from it. He took a brief look around and saw someone sitting in a chair. A old chair with a high rise behind them. The room had another table and possible had a computer like system to it, but objects under cobwebs made it difficult to identify anything. The unknown man had silver hair and very pale skin. His eyes had the look of evil as did the smile that made you cringed involuntarily. Sharp pointed teeth on both top and bottom could be seen with in the large and wicked like smile. That explained the long fang look, they all looked like fangs. The left hand was as pale as the rest of him with longer fingernails. The right hand was the same, but had a Goa'uld hand device. He wore a old and faded black cloak. Under it was a faded black tuxedo or what would be called one once. With the exception of Daniel, the other three felt the presence of a Goa'uld.

"After all this time, someone has decided to try and come after me again." he said tapping his fingers on the right hand against his chest. "I have not fed in some time. A sarcophagus can only do so much."

"Are you Lord D or should we say Dracula?" Carter asked seriously as she kept her gun pointed at him.

They had all came up behind Ford shortly after he took a quick look around. Daniel had his PC-90 aimed at him as did Teal'c and his staff weapon.

"So you know my real name! Impressive." Dracula said getting out of the chair. "I have not heard that name in many years."

They backed away from the stairs as he walked forward toward them.

"Tell me, did you come from the Chap'pai? From Earth possibly?" he said slowly approaching.

"You're a Wraith." Ford said holding the sword out at him.

"Ah! I am that and more! Once I ruled all of Transylvania! But I was forced to leave and retreated to here when other Goa'uld showed up taking my empire. I now rule this pitiful planet." he said with distaste as he kept himself just out of the swords reach.

"But with your arrival here, I can begin anew!" he said waving his hands into the air.

"The Goa'uld have not been defeated. The Tauri have became a powerful foe against them. Any attempt on taking over Earth will be dealt with easily." Teal'c stated.

"I have more power than you think!" he said quickly as he lifted his hand. It started glowing.

Carter didn't waste any time and all three of them opened fire. It was pointless as the shield blocked everything.

"Pathetic." Dracula growled.

"Drop!" Ford said as he did so and Dracula fired the hand device.

Instead of being thrown across the room, they were rolled. They still slammed into the wall anyway. This caused them all to go into a coughing fit as the dust was thrown around the room from them being rolled and the force wave attack blowing it around.

"You all will replenish me, slowly, painfully. You will watch your friends die and see that fate of those that fight the Wraith." he said standing over them.

"Are you going to do something?" Daniel asked in a hoarse whisper before going into a sneezing fit.

"I am now." Ford growled as he grabbed the sword off the ground.

"Worthless attempt." he said jumping several feet away as Ford took a swing at his legs.

"Maybe. Maybe I wasn't really trying. You guys okay?" Ford asked standing up quickly and not taking his eyes off the Wraith.

"I am fine." Teal'c stated.

He looked around seeing his weapon was not in reach and an attempt at it could be harmful if not fatal.

"I'll be okay, I think." Daniel said getting up with another sneeze.

"Sam?"

He glanced over when she didn't say anything. She was laying against the wall with her eyes closed.

"You deal with him." Daniel said quickly as he moved over to her. Teal'c got up slowly moving toward his staff weapon.

"That was you first and last mistake Drac. You're dead now." Ford said with pure anger.

"You may try to take me lowly human." he said with his arms open in a taunting gesture as he bared his teeth at them.

"Taunt me huh?" Ford said spinning the sword with one hand.

He thought about pulling his gun but Dracula activated the shield as Teal'c grabbed his staff weapon quickly and fired. The shield absorbed it and Dracula shifted his aim to Teal'c. Ford dropped the sword and slid himself over quickly and planted himself in a blocking stance as the force wave came at them both. It certainly surprised the Wraith when Ford wasn't tossed but shoved back a few feet. Teal'c got knocked down but didn't get hurt. He recovered quickly and moved.

"I shall return your taunt by telling you this. I am a Ancient!" Ford said uncovering his face. "A special Ancient!"

"That is impossible!" he sneered. "Your kind were wiped out with your city long ago!"

"Wrong. We still have the city of Atlantis and it has more power than ever before. Your wretched kind will never stop the Ancients!"

Dracula screamed and jumped at him. They both slammed into the wall with enough force the room shook causing a few bricks to fall here and there. They struggled against the wall as Dracula tried to get the upper hand. Ford noticed the strange mouth like thing in each hand and was keeping himself from being bit. Dracula leaned in and tried to bit his face. Ford let go of the guys hands, slapped them away and slammed the palm of his hands into the guys chest throwing him back against the open hole. Dracula grabbed his chest with one hand and stood back up.

"Damn." Ford said waving a hand in front of his face. "I got two words for you, breath mint."

He brought his hand up quickly and went to shoot Ford. Teal'c came up behind him and swung with the staff weapon hitting him in the face. Dracula staggered and fell back as Teal'c tripped him and went to hit him in the face again. The guy's leg lashed out kicking Teal'c in the gut and shoved him away. He got up quickly and was shot in the back several times from a PC-90. He grunted and turned around receiving more hits until he fell to the ground. Carter lowered her empty gun and had Daniel help her up.

"I'm fine, just dazed." she said waving them off. Ford was walking over but she told him to check the guy out.

"Where did that sword go?"

"It's right here." Daniel said tossing it to him.

Ford grabbed it in mid air. No one noticed Dracula jump up quickly behind Ford, until it was too late. Ford was spun around quickly and Dracula took a swipe at him ripping his shirt open. With his left hand he slammed it into Ford's bare chest and took a bite. Ford dropped the sword and screamed in pain as he fell to his knees. Carter, Daniel and Teal'c tried shooting Dracula, but the shield blocked them.

"Teal'c! Shoot the ceiling!" Carter shouted.

"You will…..aaaaaaggghhhh!!!!!" Dracula yelling pulling away from Ford and grabbing his hand. "What have you done?!!"

"I….told you that I was special." Ford said getting up real slowly. "Damn, that hurt."

He looked down seeing bite marks in his chest that were bleeding. It took a few seconds and they went away.

"An immortal!" he hissed lunging at Ford again.

It was a grappling battle as they spun around the room a few times. Ford didn't let go and neither did he. The others had to move as they came dancing by.

"I will send you to the depths and then kill your friends!" he said pushing Ford back against the open hole.

Ford saw out of the corner of his eye that the stairs were near him.

"Never." Ford growled pushing back harder.

"You will die a thousand times over and more!" he said pushing hard. "Just like the many other Immortals I have encountered!"

The small section that rose above the stairs cracked as age gave way to pressure. Ford lost footing and started falling back into the hole.

"Goodbye An…"

"You're coming with!!"

"Ford!" Carter and Daniel yelled as they fell into the hole.

The both rushed forward as did Teal'c and looked down the dark hole. They heard nothing and saw even less. They didn't even try to shine their lights seeing as the smell got to them quickly.

Ford and Dracula bounced off the walls of the small hole several times. They landed and were instantly buried under decaying old and very dead bodies. Dracula rolled out while Ford had a little more trouble.

"I'm going to be sick." he muttered trying to keep from throwing up and he finally rolled, crawled and walked out of the pile.

He turned and heard movement in the dark. He pulled his Desert Eagle out and fired one round at the noise but missed as he saw the guy in the muzzle flash.

"You cannot defeat me Ancient. Enjoy your time down here alone. I can leave anytime, you cannot."

Ford heard the movement again and pulled flare from his pocket. He tossed it onto the pile and instantly regretted it. The dead people that had been drained over the many years were dropped down the hole in the ceiling. There must have been a couple hundred in the room that was around the size of a football field, but all the bodies that were drained also still had their clothes and other items with them. Being so old the whole pile caught fire quickly and stank of burning flesh.

"Foolish Ancient! You only led yourself to your quick demises!!!" he yelled jumping through the fire and slamming Ford into the wall.

"Wrong!" Ford yelled sending his elbow into his exposed teeth.

They broke and bled quickly all over him. He slid both blades out of the coat and stabbed him repeatedly before slicing his head off and shoving him into the fire at the same time. Moments later, he turned around and got sick as he dropped to the floor.

Carter and the others heard a gun shot from below but nothing else after that.

"He has to have made it Sam. Ford never gives up."

"I know. But I've never seen someone with so much strength that could match Ford." Carter said holding her emotions in check at the moment.

"There has to be a way down to where he is from the first floor. We just have to go find it."

"I agree." Teal'c said.

They got up and started down the stairs when smoke came from the hole. When the smell hit them, they walked faster.

The fire was burning hotter and the smoke was getting thicker. Ford was lying on the ground trying to breathe what air there was despite the never ending want to gag. He pulled his shotgun, loaded explosive slugs and aimed at the ceiling near the hole. The fire went out somewhat as the ceiling caved in, unfortunately it blew the smoke and smell outward. The smoke started clearing more as more of the ceiling came down allowing it to go upward.

Carter and the others got downstairs as the floor caved in near the center tower. It wasn't long after that the tower started falling in with it.

"I think this place is falling apart." Daniel said as he covered his head. The whole place was rumbling and starting to crumble.

"We can't leave without Ford!" Carter said as they got off the stairs.

Smoke and dust was pouring from the opening in the floor. It was getting larger as more parts caved in.

"The doorway is blocked by a cave in Colonel Carter." Teal'c said looking at the broken door way out.

A cave in crushed the large wooden doors and made getting out almost impossible.

"There's no other way out." she said looking around.

"How about we try blowing…" Daniel started saying as the buried entrance suddenly exploded.

"Don't stand there! Run!"

They looked around seeing only a crumbling building and lots of dust. It was Ford's voice, but where was a mystery.

"Run dammit!!"

They couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from but they started running and got out quickly. They turned around as the ground shook seeing the castle caving in on itself. Ford came out of the smoke running, tripped and almost rolled off the edge.

"Keep running!" he yelled slipping a few times as he tried to get up.

They managed to get off the rocky path up to the castle before it collapsed. As the castle and rock disappeared they dropped to the ground coughing from the dust around them.

"I never want to encounter another one of those damned Wraith as long as I live." Ford croaked out as he climbed up from the edge he had to grab. "He was strong."

The walkway dropped beneath him before he could make it across and he had to jump, luckily grabbing the edge in time.

"For you that could be a long time."

"Don't remind me Daniel." he grumbled out.

"Glad to see you made it out." Carter said waving a hand in front of her face. Something smelt like death.

"Me too. You guys go ahead. I'll be there after I jump in that stream we came across." Ford muttered as he got up and started walking away.

"What?" Daniel said standing up. He waved a hand as well smelling it suddenly.

"That's me. I fell into a pile of dead decaying people. A couple hundred of them. Don't ask. I'm feeling sick enough as it is. I'll catch you later." he said tossing a bone from his coat. A finger from the looks of it.

"We're coming with."

"I think this was a volcano, or is considering the glow."

"What?" Ford and Carter said walking over and looking into the crater. It was a volcano. It was glowing, but pretty inactive.

"We need to warn the village when we get back."

"Good idea." Daniel said agreeing with her.

Ford patted himself down a few times.

"Ah man, I lost one of my Eagles down there. Dammit! I lost my shotgun too."

"You can replace them Ford."

"I know, but I made that shotgun personally. I had it for years." he whined as he walked away.

"Colonel Carter. This is Colonel Martuf of SG-5. Come in please."

Even from their location, they could see the castle collapsed and smoke arise.

"Colonel Carter! This is SG-5, please come in."

"This…..Carter…..w….fine….m…e…..out."

"Too much static from whatever is around the now gone castle sir. I can't do anything to fix it or boost it. They have to get closer to us." another member said.

"Colonel, we read you but just barely."

More static but it almost sounded like same here.

"We'll try back in a few hours. You do the same if you can."

Just static.

"We just have to wait sir."

"I hate waiting. Let's call the General and tell him what he know so far."

Even with all the….washing he tried, Ford couldn't really get the smell out of his clothes. He was able to change into the other clothes they brought along that were left at the campsite with other things before they went to the castle. His coat smelled the worse of all, but he couldn't get rid of it. What made things even worse was he had to sleep well away from them all. Two days later, they made it back to the gate.

Carter had SG-5 go and inform the village of what they had done and what might happen seeing as it was now a volcano. The villagers were extremely happy for being saved and hoped to see them more in the future. Jack later sent a diplomat to do those sort of relation things. Etheria couldn't return home, but she was offered a chance to live on another planet without a moon. Gia'as ended up being the best place for her to live and they welcomed her with open arms. Trade with them was going well seeing as they managed to get some naquada from them during several negotiations. SG-1 was really pleased to get home, not only for getting home, but being with Ford the last two days wasn't all that great seeing as he stunk really bad. A skunk smelled better.

A couple of days later…….

Daniel gave his car over to an airman that had a child needing a vehicle. It was a good starting vehicle to learn on. Sam was over with Janet doing girl things with her and Cassandra giving Ford time to get Daniel a new vehicle. Daniel was having trouble deciding what he wanted since Ford said he'd buy anything, unless it flew which was out of the question. Daniel was going to wait until he got the new vehicle before letting anyone know what it was, other than Ford. When they got back, Daniel and him started looking online. Daniel found what he wanted and they were on their way to get it. They were using the General since Carter took the Cobra. No surprise there.

"You know, I got to say, I'm surprised with you Daniel. The car you picked is really cool. Almost think your trying to compete with me and Sam now. I didn't think you'd be a muscle car fan."

"Yeah, well I never really got a chance to try anything else seeing as I was strapped for cash before the Stargate program. I saw a few cars that caught my fancy, but the price was too high. Now I have a chance and I'm taking it."

"You picked a good car. Semi fast one too."

"We fight the Goa'uld. Driving a car to work shouldn't be that much of a problem. Traffic never gets that bad either. Besides, if I have any problems or need help with it, driving or otherwise, I've got you I can call on."

Ford shook his head with a small laugh.

"Oh man, you've been around Jack too long." he said as pulled the General into the warehouse district.

Ford placed the order and paid extra to have it brought the next day. And a new paint job. He complained about the paint job, but it was Daniel's decision.

"Ready for this new step in life?" he said stopping the car.

"A nice new car with power." Daniel said rubbing his hands together. "I think I can handle it."

"Anybody else Daniel, and I'd think not." he said crawling out.

They walked over to a metal container seeing a couple of men opening it.

"You must be Ford Carter?"

"I'm the one that called earlier." he said pulling is I.D. out.

"Sign this please." the older man said handing a clipboard over and a pen.

"Where are the keys?" he asked signing the clipboard.

"Right here." he said handing a small box over. Ford nodded to him to give it to Daniel who took them smiling.

The doors opened up and Daniel walked in.

"Who's your friend?" the guy asked as Ford handed the clipboard back.

"Somebody I work with that I got tired of seeing drive a old green four door that was in need of constant work."

"And you're giving him a classic?"

"I know how to fix things. My wife owns a classic Mustang Shelby Cobra. I own that over there."

Daniel got in and started it up. It came to life quickly as he drove it out of the container. Ford got back in his car and they drove back to the base. The car Daniel now had was a red, four door 57 Chevy Bel Air.