(Writer's Notes: Sorry for the delay in posting but I'm back on track now. Also, please remember that feedback is always appreciated or I will start to think that I'm wasting my breath. :-) No worries.)
Chapter Eighteen: A Little
Late
Chiana followed what was currently the sole remaining Moya controlled DRD through the maze like passages of the Leviathan until she heard the loud sound of a powerful weapon being discharged. Moving more quickly down the corridor, she reached the final corner and heard voices, one sounded like Sheba and a cell gate either being opened or closed.
Holding the alien weapon tightly and at the ready, she leapt out in the middle of the corridor and screamed, "Don't anybody move!"
What she saw took her completely by surprise, Sheba was standing out in the corridor with Jool and Rygel, having just let them out of their cell. D'Argo, Aeryn and John were just behind them. They all looked a little startled by Chiana's sudden appearance and her screeching command.
Sheba first reacted by pointing a strange staff device right at Chiana, then sighed with relief when she realized that it was the young Nebari.
Chiana was relieved too, but a little disappointed. "So much for charging to the frelling rescue," she grumbled.
"It's the thought that counts, Pip." John said smiling at her. "Glad to see you're okay."
"Back at you, old man." Chiana grinned.
"If it would make you feel better we could go back into our cells and have you let us out again." Sheba smiled while aiming the dangerous end of her staff weapon toward the ceiling and away from Chiana.
"Yotz! Why would we do that?" Rygel threw up his tiny hands at the Colonial warrior. "Sheba truly is Human, she's making as little sense as Crichton usually does."
Both Sheba and John turned to the Hynerian both saying in unison. "Stuff it Sparky!"
"I rest my case!" the floating ex-potentate bellowed.
D'Argo ignored Rygel. "What's happening out there, Chiana?"
"The bad guys are everywhere, but I got some help from Moya and contacted Talyn."
"You contacted Talyn with Moya's help?" Aeryn said in surprise.
Chiana pointed to a little DRD parked next to her feet. "Moya is running this DRD and we used your Prowler's radio to contact Talyn. He and Crais should be along soon."
"That had to be some trick accomplish while not alerting the Goa'uld," Jool commented.
"Is that what they're called?" Chiana asked.
"They're fried daggits as far as I'm concerned." Sheba murmured, eyeing a familiar Colonial blaster and belt about Chiana waist. "May I have that back?"
With a nod, Chiana, unfastened the belt and handed the weapon back to Sheba.
"Sure, besides I like this weapon better." She showed them the Goa'uld Zat'n'ktel.
"That's very nice but I doubt you'd feel the same way if you got hit by one of those." John said stepping closer to Chiana, then asked. "How long before our good buddy, Crais gets here with Talyn?"
Chiana shrugged. "Hard to say but maybe under a half an arn by now."
"That's not much time, we better be ready to move when he does show up." Aeryn suggested. "We need to free Pilot and regain control of Moya."
"We could use the air ducts to get into Pilot's den." D'Argo said.
"The Goa'uld leader is here, Apophis." Sheba remembered.
"Apophis?" Rygel gave Sheba a questioning look.
"He calls himself a System Lord, probably the leader of some galactic empire. If we could capture him, it would give us the upper hand with him as a hostage." Sheba suggested.
"Then that'll be the plan, free Pilot and capture this Apophis guy." John said, checking over a staff weapon he held in his hands. "What does he look like?"
"You can't miss him. He'll be the one dressed in gold armor and his eyes glows occasionally." Sheba explained.
"Got any ideas about how we're going to do this?" Aeryn asked, John. "Or are we going at it in our usual style?"
"What style?" Sheba said.
"Make it up as we go along," John answered. "But not to worry, I have an idea..."
***
In the Pilot's den, Apophis was growing more and more impatient while waiting for his guards to bring the prisoner. He also noticed that the creature called Pilot was unusually calm now, where before it had been twitching nervously at the possible execution of it's friend. It was as if it knew that something that he didn't.
At that moment a Serpent Guard entered with a new prisoner. It was a humanoid female, with whitish grey skin and hair. Her hands were behind her back, as if tied together. She was brought before Apophis and pushed to a kneeling position on the floor before him.
The Serpent Guard bowed his large helmet covered head, announcing. "My Lord, I captured this woman trying to free the prisoners."
"Was she?" Apophis said, eyeing the young Nebari. "Are there anymore of you?"
"Yeah, there's hundreds more like me hiding all over the ship." Chiana spat.
"Kegalo!" Apophis eyes glowed with anger, then looked to the Serpent guard standing beside Chiana. "Kree, Jaffa! I'jaji'biai!"
When the Serpent guard failed to obey, Apophis grew angrier. He repeated his command.
"Jaffa! I'jaji'biai!"
The guard tilted his head at Apophis. "I'm sorry my Lord..."
Then swung his staff like a baseball bat, catching the Apophis in the side of the head. The Goa'uld System Lord fell to the ground, hard.
"... My microbes can't understand a word that you just said!" The Serpent guard finished saying as he fired his staff weapon at the nearest Jaffa, but missed. Frustrated, the guard quickly raised a hand, slapping the control button on his right collar, lowering the Serpent helmet down. Thus allowing John Crichton finally to see clearly.
How do these guys see while wearing those things! He thought.
Chiana suddenly brought her untied hands forward, holding the Goa'uld Zat'n'ktel which she had skilfully hidden behind her back. She activated it, and fired upon another Jaffa, fatally wounding him.
The remaining five Jaffa, taken by surprise were arming their staff weapons to fire when behind them on opposite sides of the room, Aeryn and Sheba jumped out of the vent hatches. The two women warriors opened fire, Sheba fired her powerful blaster, while Aeryn discharged another Zat'n'ktel, catching the Jaffa in a crossfire.
Overwhelmed, the Jaffa started to fall to the withering firepower, but stubbornly refused to surrender. One Jaffa, taken down by Aeryn's weapons fire managed to fire his staff weapon at John. The blast struck the Human in a glancing blow that didn't pierce through his armor chest plate, but the impact momentarily stunned him, knocking him backwards towards the edge of the bridge ramp that was suspended above the seemingly bottomless pit of Pilot's den.
"JOHN!" Aeryn screamed as she watched him tumble over the side before she could charge forward.
Chiana watched, as if in slow motion, as John took that fatal stumble over the edge of the ramp. She leapt after him, as John's hands were extended outward for something to grab onto as he went over. Chiana's hand reached out and took hold of John hand just before he fell out of sight.
"ARRGGHHH!" Chiana screamed as she was pulled flat to the ramp deck, with her right arm over the ledge, as it was threatening to be wrenched from its socket under the intense weight as she caught him, but she refused to let go.
"I've got you, John!" She yelled, but she wasn't too sure for how long. Or who would get her if she went over with him.
Sheba saw what was happening and quickly snapped off a shot that cut down the last Jaffa warrior before she went racing to help, but halted when Apophis stood up in her path. The Colonial warrior glared at the Goa'uld, but managed a grim smile as she switched her blaster from kill to stun. She aimed and fired.
Apophis watched with an arrogant smirk and simply touched a large wrist band on his right arm. Sheba's blast impacted on a shimmering forcefield now protecting him.
Sheba gasped in surprise. "Oh, frack..."
***
Outside in the corridor, several Jaffa heard the weapons fire and were quickly responding.... both to see what was happening and to assure the safety of their Lord. As they rounded the corner towards Pilot's den, up ahead D'Argo and Jool were waiting for them.
The Jaffa warriors didn't even make it halfway down the corridor before they were hit by a powerful Interon scream. The armored warriors were startled as their metal suits and weapons slowly started to melt about them. This made them easy targets for D'Argo who was shooting a continuous stream of fire from his newly acquired Zat'n'ktel, though the Luxan sorely missed the feel of his Qualta blade.
***
As for Sheba, she was in severe trouble against Apophis. Seeing that he was protected by a forcefield, she switched her blaster back to kill again. She fired it point blank with no apparent effect, his shield absorbing the full charge without trouble.
With an intense look of hatred, he raised his gauntleted hand, which had a jewel-like crystal located in the palm area. It glowed briefly before unleashing an invisible wave of force, that rippled the air before striking Sheba like a giant fist. She flew backwards nearly twenty feet and almost skidded off the platform herself.
Helplessly, Pilot could only watch, unable to assist his friends, but he had other options of an entire army of machines that were able and willing. He reactivated the DRDs and sent them into battle. He knew how tough the Jaffa warriors were against the weapons his friends were using, but the DRDs had other tools that were just as effective. He remembered what the DRDs did when Moya became pregnant. One actually glued Aeryn's boot and hand to the floor when she thought the crew would harm her baby. Why won't that work here too?
With their combined strength, Chiana assisted by Aeryn slowly pulled up the armor laden John Crichton.
"Climb, damn it!" Aeryn shouted, using one of John's Earth expletives as she strained to heave him up to safety.
Slowly, John was hauled partially onto the ramp when Chiana saw Sheba flying through the air, knocked away by Apophis who was using some weird gauntlet as a weapon.
"Sheba's in trouble!" the Nebari said.
"I've got him." Aeryn replied as she continued to pull John up.
"Go on!" John encouraged her as he managed to throw a leg up on the ramp, hauling himself up a bit more.
Chiana raced up behind Apophis and fired her Zat'n'ktel, but it too struck harmlessly against his personal forcefield. When he turned to face her, Chiana continued to fire repeatedly, as fast as she could but the weapon was completely useless against him. Growing annoyed Apophis slowly raised his gauntlet weapon again and took aim.
Chiana saw the jewel located in the palm area flare to life and immediately dived to one side as he fired. She felt the concussion blast from it as it pushed through the air just missing her. Chiana had landed in a rolling ball as Apophis tracked her for another blast when John and Aeryn charged forward, firing.
Apophis focused on the new attackers with even greater contempt as their weapons impacted harmless against his shield.
"Do you think you can oppose me?" Apophis boomed.
"On the scare-a-meter, you barely even register." John taunted, holding his staff weapon. "Scorpius, now that's a scary guy."
Apophis eyes glowed briefly.
John paused for a second, surprised. "Okay, now that was a neat trick you got there."
"Fools, with one single command I will have a legion of Jaffas on this vessel instantly!"
"That won't be possible, Apophis," Pilot said with obvious amusement. "Talyn has just arrived and he and Crais are dealing with your ship very efficiently."