Chapter 52
The Star Gate on Abydos activated and SG-1 emerged with Jack, Thor and Isabelle. Izzy listened close to what the nanites were trying to tell her. Anubis had found a way to block the nanites but they could detect ripples in space and time. It was if Anubis was moving underwater but leaving a wake.
Izzy spoke up, "Anubis is almost here. The nanites can't detect him. He's cloaked somehow but they can detect ripples in space. It's like he's in a submarine and moving underwater. The nanites know he's very close to Abydos but they can't actually see him."
Sam figured, "He's somehow cloaking himself to block the nanites from detecting him. We have to move!"
In the distance the team spotted Skaara walking towards them smiling for he missed his friends. He had no idea why they had come and assumed it was to visit.
"My friends! Brother!" he greeted as he came close.
Jack told him, "You need to get everyone body and evacuate now. Anubis is on his way to attack."
"We can find shelter in the mines," he assumed.
"No," Jack disagreed. "He's got some kind of weapon that he can use from space. Get everyone out now!"
"Where shall we go?" he wondered concerned.
"Earth for now," Jack told him for he could think of no other safe place.
Izzy warned, "He's closing in. We are nearly out of time."
"Now!" Jack huffed to Skaara.
The young turn swiftly and ran back to the village. Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c all ran after to help send the warning. Thor retrieved his laptop to see if he could detect Anubis using the nanites and the ripples in space. He brought up the nanites program he invented with displayed a model of the planet on the screen. Around the planet were small lines that represented space weather. He could visually detect a bulge coming near the planet on approach. He initiated a calculation program as Sam looked over his shoulder.
Sam pressed the talk button on her radio, "Daniel! Anubis will be here in 1 minute and thirty seconds."
He replied, "Understand."
Skaara and Daniel started sending the villagers towards the Gate. They instructed people to leave everything behind and run as fast as they could over the dirt and sandy hills. Teal'c and Mitchell assisted with the children and the elderly.
Sam and Thor watched as the display showed the bulge in space come near to the edge of the plant and settle into an orbit. She figured, "He must be locking on target." She looked up and saw nothing. Anubis did not need to enter the atmosphere to operate the weapon. To her it looked like a nice sunny day on Abydos.
"Twenty five seconds," Thor announced as children gathered near waiting for the dial out.
Izzy tried a command, "Tiny robots! Amours! Place a shield over the village." She then waited.
Thor reported, "No shield detected over the village."
"Why aren't they responding?" she wondered. She listened and closed her eyes. The nanites showed her a vision in her mind of the thin shell. She figured, "There isn't enough nanites to deflect the energy of the weapon over a large area. The shield would be too thin."
Thor then replied, "I'm detecting a nanites shield directly over us. The nanites are shielding the Star Gate."
Sam figured, "The village is too large of an area for them to shield against Anubis's weapon. They are concentrating on the Gate. It's the nanites protecting the Star Gates and not Anubis."
Thor announced, "They are out of time." He looked up at Daniel, Mitchell, Teal'c and Skaara frantically tried to clear the village.
Jack radioed, "Time's up Daniel! Get out of there." He wanted run down himself but his old knees would only slow him down. He took a desk job to finish out his career and get his full retirement. He knew he was not going to last in the field.
Isabelle figured there was only kind of power that could stand up to whatever weapon Anubis had possessed. She had not done so in eight years. She knew it would take a lot out of her. She stretched her mind to tap into the universal knowledge and draw on the raw power of the universe that surrounded them. This time she would need to draw far more power than she did as a child. The surrounding temperature in the air began to drop.
Sam noticed the coolness. She looked to Isabelle. "Izzy! What are you doing?" She came to her side, "Izzy!"
"I'm going to shield the village," she told her.
"Izzy!" Sam rebutted. "That will take too much out of you. The last time you tapped into that kind of power you nearly died."
"I know," she nodded "but we have no choice."
Sam stood before her and could only watch as the raw power of the universe took its toll on Isabelle. Blood began to run from her nostrils. Her eyes closed. She began to bleed from the tear ducts. Sam inspected closer and found blood trickling down from both ears. "Oh' god," she gulped as Izzy placed her life on the line to stop Anubis once more.
Daniel ran with two small kids as Teal'c had come to his aid and took one of the children. Above them a red beam come down from the sky and was suddenly stopped by a resisting force. The sky above sparkled with light as the two forms of energy collided. Daniel looked up and light reminded him of a kaleidoscope he had as a child. The different colors seemed to blossom above him in different direction from a center point. It was ironically pretty from the point of view of standing below in the kill zone.
Isabelle held the shield long enough for the last villager to arrive at the Star Gate. It was just a mere minutes but for Sam and Izzy if felt like hours. Isabelle then lost consciousness and collapsed as Sam caught her to break her fall.
With Isabelle unconsciousness the weapon proceeded to the village and destroyed it in seconds. For Jack it reminded him of a nuclear explosion. The nanites hardened themselves around the Star Gate to withstand the blow. Jack realized they were too close to the event horizon to dial out. They were stuck in front the Gate under the nanites' shield. All they could do watch the results of the attack.
From under the shield the sky turned red with fire. The air was on fire for a brief moment. Then everything turned black as dust and sand from the impact covered the sky. They were surrounded by thick and heavy dust and debris. Jack turned on his flashlight and found the nanites were still holding around the Gate. He spied Sam hovering over Izzy's lifeless body. She felt for a pulse and listened for breathing. She gave two breaths hoping Izzy would start breathing again for she had stopped.
Cameron Mitchell dropped to his knees beside her and asked, "Does she have a pulse?"
"So far," Sam told him. She then gave two more breaths, "She's not breathing," she cried.
Thor never felt so helpless in all his life. He wished he had the aid of an Asgard ship's infirmary that would certainly save her life. But all he had was a first aid kit. He reached for the kit leaving the computer that monitored the nanites and shield around them. He came to their aid. He dug through the kit looking for medications for he understood Izzy would go into cardiac arrest without a shot of adrenaline. He retrieved the small bottle and began to fill the syringe.
Sam announced, "I just lost her pulse. Start CPR!"
Colonel Mitchell found the hand positions after opening Izzy's tactical vest and began compressions as Sam monitored from Izzy's head. Thor held up the long needle, "Stop compressions! I need to administrate the medication. I need access to her rib cage. Lift her shirt."
The Colonel stopped and opened the field jacket exposing the military issued t-shirt. He pulled the shirt up over the bra. Thor then placed the needle right into her hear through the side of the sternum and gave the injection. He added, "Hand me the AED in my kit."
Jack, Teal'c and Daniel used the flashlights to ensure Thor could work. He moved much like a physician and he tended to her. He showed no emotion but deep inside he was screaming in anguish. He placed on the pads of the AED and gave the clear signal. With no one touching the body he delivered the shock. He then stated, "Continue CPR." He went back for more medication hoping the next round would be enough to restart her heart.
Jack glanced down at Thor's computer for a moment. He found an indication of a nanites activity on Izzy's body. He watched as they continued CPR and the nanites swarming around her. He began to wonder if Izzy was right about the tiny robots not letting her die when she was a child.
Sam announced, "I have a heart beat!" She spoke into Izzy's ear, "Come on, Izzy. Come on!
Jack noticed the dust cloud around them was thinning and a small amount of light was getting through. He figured the debris was settling but it was still very dark. It remained him of the twilight just before the dawn.
Thor instructed, "Continue breaths."
Sam started giving one breath every five seconds as Thor monitored the heart rhythm with a stethoscope for the AED did not have an external monitor for him to read.
"Her heart rate sounds normal but I will need a detailed measurement upon return to base." he informed. He looked up at the Gate, "Can we dial out now?"
"Soon as the dust settles," Jack told him. He then looked back at the computer and noticed the nanites swam around them was fading. The shield soon dissipated and the air around them grew a lighter gray in color. Jack shouted, "We can dial out now!"
Skaara had his people move away from the Gate as Daniel started the dial out to Earth. After ensuring Izzy was stable enough to move, Thor reached under her body and lifted her up in his arms. He waited at the end of the stone steps the event horizon to establish.
Jack sent the SG-1 signal and then radioed ahead, "SGC, we are coming with casualties and refugees."
"Affirmative," Hammond responded.
Jack gathered Thor's computer as Thor lead the retreat with Isabelle in his arms back to the SGC.
