CHAPTER 5 MORE GOA'ULD?! AAGH!!


Heru-ur spotted SG-1 and Imhotep and broke into a run, his guards jogging behind him.

Daniel cried. He turned to Imhotep, pointing at the advancing Goa'uld and Jaffa. Hey, look! People whose souls you can steal! And there are more of them than of us! He tore off in the opposite direction.

Marie shrieked, following him. Teal'c glanced at Heru-ur and his entourage, then took off running after Daniel and Marie. Carter and O'Neill, not wanting to be run over, had no choice but to pick themselves up and run with the rest of their team.

STOP THEM! Heru-ur roared in Egyptian, and Daniel heard staff-weapons being fired. Blasts of force hit the ground under his feet, and he was thrown forward and landed face-first in the sand. He guessed from Marie's cry that a similar thing had happened to her.

Ahead of them, Teal'c paused and turned around to help them up. Catch up with Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter, he directed. I will draw away fire. He aimed his staff-weapon and shot.

As he scrambled up, Daniel could not help but glance back, and he saw Imhotep suspend one of the Horus guards in the air. The Jaffa screamed as his life energy and vital fluids were sucked out, and the sparse flesh hanging on the mummy's frame rippled and increased. It was rather sickening. Daniel turned away and continued running before his gorge could rise any further.

Colonel O'Neill suddenly doubled over, panting. Captain Carter skidded to a halt next to him and pulled on his arm, but he waved her away. I'm tired, God-damn it! Daniel heard him say. You know why!

Sir, you have to keep going! she insisted. She looked back over her shoulder, to where Imhotep continued to draw sustenance from one of the Horus Guards while the remaining ones futilely fired on him. Heru-ur aimed his blasty-thing at the mummy and sent him hurtling back, but Imhotep recovered quickly and stole some of the System Lord's life-essence. Heru-ur reeled in shock and pain, furious that Imhotep had dared do such a thing.

How dare you, worm! he snarled in Egyptian. Bow before your god!!

And what god might that be? Imhotep rasped.

I am Heru-ur, son of Ra and Hathor! You will be punished for your insolence, mortal!!

Imhotep did a double take, then fell to his knees in mock obeisance. Oh my Lord, how can I be of service? Despite the distance and Imhotep's lack of vocal cords, Daniel could hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice. May I suggest we destroy those infidels? He pointed at SG-1, who had slowed down when the Horus Guards had stopped firing on them.

Shit! Keep going! Daniel yelled, but Marie dashed towards where their foes were gathered. MARIE!! WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE ANCIENTS D'YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!!?

She didn't respond to him; instead, she took a deep breath and began belting out a song. Pappara funi-funi, pappara hoé-hoé / Pappara funi-funi, tamago! / Pappara funi-funi, pappara hoé-hoé / Yaita-ra kagechatta! / Pappara funi-funi, pappara hoé-hoé / Pappara funi-funi, o-imo! / Pappara funi-funi, pappara hoé-hoé / Yudeta-ra togechatta! Heru-ur, his surviving guards, and Imhotep let out wails of agony and clutched at the sides of their head. Marie kept singing, slowly advancing on them.

She was about to begin the second verse when a ring of naquadah popped out of the ground and hovered about seven feet high, followed by several others. Daniel immediately recognised it as a Goa'uld teleporter, but tried to quell his fear; maybe it was Tok'ra coming to their aid. A light flashed within the rings, and they descended back into the sand. Standing between SG-1 and the group of Goa'uld, Jaffa, and mummy were two people dressed in Egyptian-style robes, flanked by four Lion Guards.

Lion Guards?! Captain Carter cried. I've never seen any of those before!

Daniel, however, felt his heart plummet to his feet. He was sure he recognised the backside of one of the non-Jaffa. Oh, God, no, he moaned. It was a trap! Skaara was never exorcised!

Marie cried.

Heru-ur pointed at the newcomers. There is the son of Apophis! Seize him!

the female Goa'uld bellowed, and the advancing Jaffa halted. I am the System Lord Sekhmet. This is my consort, Klorel. You have trespassed on my domain. For that you shall pay dearly!

What of the slaves who came before us?! Heru-ur snarled, pointing beyond her to where SG-1 stood, petrified.

Sekhmet and Klorel glanced back, and Daniel felt cold sweat break out on his face as he locked gazes with the Goa'uld prince. But then Klorel winked at him.

Daniel did a double-take. Had he really just seen that?

**Calm down, SG-1,** came a familiar voice in his head. **This is merely a disguise. Skaara-kun and I are here to kick Heru-ur's ass up, down, and all around.**

Kali!!' he thought, nearly floating with relief.

Heru-ur's face hardened. Sekhmet? I have never heard of you.

Haven't you? You insult me! Then, with a leonine roar, she leapt forward before the Horus Guards could react and threw an ofuda at Heru-ur's head.

Heru-ur fell back, screaming in pain, just as Klorel had. His Horus Guards, unsure of what else to do, fired on Sekhmet, but the blasts bounced off a faint blue forcefield in front of her as she laughed and pointed at them.

Daniel sprinted over to Klorel'. Are you really Skaara? he panted.

The young man nodded, grinning. Kali possesses great powers of disguise, does she not? he replied. I can appear as a Goa'uld if I so wish. He inhaled, threw his shoulders back, and his eyes glowed. It is all illusion.

Who are the Lion Guards? Dr. Jackson asked, gesturing at one of them.

The one who had been pointed at opened his helmet to reveal a young man with wild red hair and pointed, catlike ears. Hajimemashite, Dr. Jackson, he said, with a foolish grin.

Uh, hi, Daniel responded, confused. Are you another ThunderCat?

The cleansing of Heru-ur finished. The erstwhile host stood back up, put a hand to his head, and looked around him in shock. What just happened? he cried in Hebrew. The creature in my head—it's—gone!

My lord! one of the Horus Guards said in Egyptian, opening his helmet. What has happened to you?

The human man shook his head slowly, gazing at the Jaffa next to him as if he thought the guard wasn't really there. am notyour lord, he said in halting Egyptian. That oneis gone.

Well, I guess I'll have to clean this up, Sekhmet said, morphing into Kali. It might take a while. Oh, Teal'c— She turned around and faced the Jaffa member of SG-1. Your wife is in childbed. Do you want to go to her or anything?

Teal'c's eyes widened. I—I do. He glanced at the other members of the team. But I am afraid that is not possible. I have an obligation on this world.

Oh, just go, Kali called, leading bemused Horus Guards to the Stargate. I'll cover for you.

Teal'c blinked and thought a moment. Then he bowed his head to Kali. Thank you! He dashed toward the Stargate and activated it.

Wait—WHAT ABOUT IMHOTEP!? Marie screeched, looking over to where the mummy was loitering angrily.

Find the Book of Amon-Re! Kali replied.

Thanks, that's a lot of help! Marie cried. Can't you do something about him?!

Ahh! Imhotep! the red-haired Lion Guard cried, spotting him. Go-shimpai naku! Ore wa yorokonde taosu zo!! He fired his staff-weapon.

Teal'c-san wa mou sono koto wo yatte-mita yo—! Marie shouted, then threw up her arms in frustration.

Imhotep was struck by the blast and stepped back involuntarily, but rebounded and aimed his newly-acquired Zat gun at the Lion Guard. The man in question yelled in surprise, then dropped his staff-weapon and began running in circles. Imhotep, unable to simultaneously aim the gun at a moving target and figure out how to fire it, roared in frustration and shot Daniel.

Pain beyond anything he had ever experienced wracked the archaeologist's body. It was even worse than when Sha'uri—or rather, Amaunet—had used her blasty-thing on him and knocked him unconscious, because that had been limited to one area of his body. He screamed and fell down, twitching.

Through a veil of agony, as though far away, he heard Marie's cry of rage and anguish. He heard a whooshing sound and then a muffled explosion, and saw in his peripheral vision that Imhotep was struck by an invisible force and hurled back end-over-end. Then, faintly, he heard the sound of a Zat gun being fired, twice, then a third time. Imhotep roared, but his cry was cut off as his body dissolved.

Slowly, the pain began to subside. Daniel willed his quivering muscles to hold still and took a deep breath, then another. He lay on the sand for what seemed an eternal minute, then gradually sat up. He gasped at what he saw.

Marie lay on the sand, still and deathly pale. Captain Carter was leaning over her, checking for a pulse, and Colonel O'Neill was rushing toward him.

Dr. Jackson! Are you all right?! the colonel cried.

he moaned in response.

You should be in a bit, O'Neill assured him. Here, let me help you up.

M-Marie—is she—all right?! Daniel called, hobbling over to where the two women were.

Captain Carter looked up at him, her face grim. I don't know what she just did, but whatever it was, it knocked her out. It's going to be quite a while before she wakes up. I only hope there isn't any brain damage.

Daniel looked around, his head throbbing slightly every time his eyes moved in their sockets. What happened to Skaara and the Lion Guards? he asked.

I don't know, O'Neill told him. Kali looked back just before she went through the Stargate, and made a gesture, and they all just disappeared.

At any rate, we need to get Ms. Onosaka back to the SGC as soon as possible, Carter stated. Daniel, could you go back to Earth and tell Dr. Fraiser to come here with a team of paramedics?

Colonel O'Neill glanced at Dr. Jackson. I'll do it, he volunteered. You two stay here with her. I'll be right back. He turned and ran off towards the Stargate.

Oh, God, Marie, Daniel whispered, kneeling next to her and taking one of her hands in his. Please be all right.

In the space of five minutes, Colonel O'Neill returned with doctors in tow. Marie was lifted onto a stretcher and carried back through the Stargate to Earth. Through it all, Daniel never let go of her hand.

——————


Daniel glanced at his watch and sighed. It was past 11:30, and he was tired. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, and would have drifted off to sleep if the whisper of his name had not caught his attention.

He opened his eyes and looked down at Marie, lying on the medical room bed. She was still a little pale, and the various tubes and electrodes hooked up to her looked supremely uncomfortable, but her eyes were open and she was smiling slightly.

I'm glad you're awake, Daniel said softly, leaning over her. How do you feel?

Mmm. Tired, she replied. She sighed and closed her eyes. I had no idea manifesting Detonation would deal that much subdual damage to me.

Co-come again? he said, perplexed.

She opened her eyes and glanced at him, and her smile widened. D&D terminology. I'll explain it to you later.

There was the sound of a footfall in the doorway, and Daniel looked up. Teal'c stood there, his hands clasped behind his back in his normal stance, but with a look of pride on his face.

Hello, Teal'c, Daniel said, and Marie murmured a similar greeting. How did it go?

I have a daughter, the Jaffa replied.

Well, congratulations! That's great! Daniel said, getting up and walking over to clap Teal'c on the shoulder. So it went all right?

Teal'c nodded. Drey'auc and I have named her Eleyhenia. It means freeborn' in the language of the Land of Light.

What a pretty name, Marie commented quietly.

Teal'c strode over to her bedside. I was told you were badly injured. It is good to see that you have recovered to an extent.

Marie squirmed under her sheets and managed to prop herself up on her pillows, despite Daniel's urging her to stay lying down. What happened was, I concentrated all my mental energy into a powerful blast, and nearly destroyed Imhotep. But the backlash knocked me unconscious. At least, that's what I'm assuming happened. All I remember is blasting Imhotep, then everything went dark for a long time.

Daniel nodded. Colonel O'Neill finished Imhotep off with his Zat gun, then went back through the Stargate to get a medical team for you. Access to P4X-718 has been declared restricted until further notice.

Marie said. I would have liked to visit the ThunderCats some more, now that I know about what to expect.

Well, in time, maybe you can. He sighed and brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. Oh, God, I'm just so glad you're all right! He bent over and embraced her. She was surprised for a moment, but then returned the hug. After about thirty seconds, they broke apart, and Daniel sat back down, nervously taking off his glasses and polishing them.

Marie smiled and shifted in her bed so that she was lying on her side, and propped her head up on her arm. I think I'm going to teach you guys how to play D she announced. Teal'c raised an eyebrow and looked down at her, amused. Daniel chuckled and put his glasses back on.

That would be great, he said.

THE END
(of this story)

More to come in the next installment: HEIR CONDITIONING