Author's Apology: Okay, so to start, I'd like to say I'm really sorry it took so long to finish this. And I hope no one is disappointed. I plan to go through and edit the whole thing later, but it's been so long already that I'm just going ahead and posting now.
Thanks to FCOL for putting up with me and giving so much help, and thanks also to Lesley, for the support and the occasional nudge. You can thank them that this is finally finished.
Part Two: Dissemblance
"What the hell is 'Voyager'?" Jack demanded in a whisper.
Tom didn't answer as he watched B'Elanna walk away. He wanted desperately to follow her, but he knew that there was no way he'd be able to help her -- not yet.
"Hey, what's a Voyager?" Jack asked again.
Tom turned to him distractedly. "My ship," he said cautiously.
"You have a ship?" Jack said. "Where is it?"
"Through your Stargate, apparently," Paris answered. "We should return to the others."
Tom didn't wait for Jack to agree, he quickly got to his feet and made his way back to the tunnels. Jack sighed deeply and followed.
* * * *
B'Elanna was fighting her. Her warrior's mind would not give Neith even a moment's rest. If the Goa'uld let her guard down even for an instant, her host would pounce.
Neith pressed her eyes shut--and tried to banish her host to a small corner of the mind they shared. She couldn't. The host remained pushing at her, screaming without a voice, just at the edge of her awareness.
Neith had said it herself--the body she possessed was not that of a simple slave. The woman she was trying to control was as much a warrior as herself. And holding her at bay was not nearly as easy as it should have been.
She could feel the difference in the physiology of this host--and the last one she had inhabited. Even if she could not see in the memory of her host that she was half Klingon--she could feel the difference. Feel the strength.
Briefly, Neith considered taking another host. A weaker one. But her vanity won out--and she was unwilling to part with the feeling of strength she got from the Klingon host.
She headed out of her bedroom, preparing to see Heru-ur off as he went through the 'gate to do her bidding. Na'sre blocked her way.
"My queen," he said, his eyes lowered in grudging respect. "The prisoners have escaped."
Neith tilted her head back, the glow returning to her eyes as she did so. "Then find them," she ordered.
"I have sent patrols," Na'sre said. "But there is no sign of them."
"You will find them," she repeated. "Or you will die by my hand."
"I will find them," Na'sre promised.
Neith watched him go with contempt, before turning and continuing on her way to Heru-ur. "The prisoners are missing," she informed him, the moment he was in sight. "You will go without them."
Heru-ur turned to face his queen. "You said they would be needed as leverage."
"You will have to make due without them," she snapped. "Or is this task to much for you?"
The challenge, this time, was unmistakable. And Heru-ur was unable to back down. "I can do it. I will take this ship Voyager you have told me will be on the other side."
"Then go. They will be looking for this host. If the Voyagers find a way to use the 'gate--things will be more complicated."
Heru-ur nodded once. "I will assemble the Jaffa and leave at once. And rest assure, my queen, we will have a discussion about this upon my return."
Neith watched him go with calm eyes, despite the battle taking place behind them. "If you return," she whispered.
* * * *
Janeway glared at Paris, as he returned to the tunnels, with Jack right behind him.
"What did you think you were doing?" she demanded. Paris met her gaze, and Janeway's anger turned to concern as she looked into his eyes. "What is it?"
"They're going to send through an attack fleet to get Voyager. B'Elanna told them what they needed to do to be successful. And if we don't stop them--I think they'll be able to do it."
"What's Voyager?" Daniel asked instantly.
"Our ship," Janeway murmured. "We have to shut that 'gate down. We can't let them go through."
"You can't do that," Sam said. "Putting aside that it would leave us all stranded here, it just isn't possible. We could destroy the dialing device, sure. But it can be dialed manually, and short of a naquada bomb, I can't think of anything with enough force to destroy the 'gate."
Janeway lowered her head in anger. "Well, we have to do something."
Jack sighed resignedly. "Well, we do have a Jaffa on our side," he told them reluctantly. "If we took out a few of the pilots--we could take their uniforms and fly through the 'gate with the fleet. You know, that old Wizard of Oz trick."
Tom frowned. "What did you say?"
"We could disguise ourselves and go through the 'gate with them."
"No, the part about the Wizard of Oz."
Daniel smirked at that. And Jack glared over at him. "It was a movie. There are many great tactical hints in it."
Janeway went pale. And with a wince, met Tom's eyes. She had a sinking feeling none of them would survive Tom being Captain, not even for a day.
Tom grinned. "I think I'll like being Captain for a day."
"What?"
Jack asked.
"We had a bet about the Wizard of Oz . . ." Tom trailed off.
"You know about the Wizard of Oz?" Daniel asked with a frown. "Let me guess--you stopped by Blockbuster on one of those trips to Earth?"
"I told you--" Tom began.
"You can't tell us anything," Daniel finished.
Jack frowned as he listened to the exchange. "Alright--look. I'd like to help you. And more importantly--I don't want Heru-ur getting his hands on your technology. But I'm not going to go through that 'gate without knowing what I'm up against. And I'm not going to help you unless you tell me what you are."
Tom and Janeway exchanged a look. "No, Tom," Janeway warned, when she read his eyes. "We can't."
"What choice do we have, Captain? Whatever damage our being here is going to cause has already been done. What do any of us have to lose?"
"Tom--we can't."
"You're from the future," Daniel said suddenly.
Tom and Janeway turned to him in shock, and even SG-1 and the Tok'ra looked surprised.
"You're from OUR future," Daniel continued. His eyes lit up as they always did when he was just about to make a discovery. "You saw our weapons--and you recognized them. That's why you asked what year it was. You knew you had been sent to the past."
Tom and Janeway shared another look. They had never thought any of the others would figure it out. The possibility had never crossed their minds. Tom shrugged, in a way that obviously meant, we might as well come clean now.
"Yes," Janeway said. "Quite far into the past, actually."
"How is that possible?" Jack asked.
"It's happened before, sir," Carter reminded.
"It has?" Tom asked.
"Once when we went through the 'gate, a solar flare passed through the matter stream and sling shot us back towards earth, only thirty years in the past," Sam explained.
Janeway shook her head. "That couldn't have happened this time. That man--"
"Heru-ur," Daniel supplied.
"Heru-ur," Janeway continued, "came through to the planet we were at, then returned here with my crew member, B'Elanna Torres. Then we followed through. There's no way there would be three consecutive solar flares, all sending us back to the same exact time."
"She's right, sir," Sam nodded. "The chances of that are incalculable."
"You said you followed them through," Daniel said. "How did you know how to use the 'gate."
"I saw them do it," Tom said. "And memorized the nine buttons they pressed--"
"You mean seven," Jack interrupted. "There's only seven." He looked over towards Daniel and Carter. "There is only seven, right?"
"No," Tom said. "I'm sure--the address to get here contained nine."
Carter frowned. "That can't be right."
"Maybe the ninth chevron has something to do with the time you're sent too," Daniel mused.
"No, no that isn't possible," Sam said firmly. "The Stargate and time travel are for the most part unrelated. With the exception of the incident with the solar flare, there is no indication that the wormholes could take you to another time."
"It wasn't so long ago that you said the Stargate couldn't go anywhere but Abydos," Daniel reminded. "And there have been scientists saying for years that wormholes could conceivably have ends at different areas of time. The ancients were obviously advanced, what if they found some way to control that, and simplified it into simply adding another chevron?"
Sam was still skeptical. "I just don't--"
"It's just points in time, Sam," Daniel said. "I mean, before we thought there was only seven chevrons, but then we learned there could be an eighth. You said the eighth chevron was like dialing a different area code, and now we have a ninth chevron that can dial different times."
"I can vouch for the fact that wormholes can go different times," Tom said.
"Tom," Janeway warned. "The less they know--about everything--the better off we'll all be."
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that," Jack grinned.
"She's right, sir," Sam put in. "Playing with time travel is extremely dangerous."
Jack flashed her a look. "I'm not going through that 'gate blind, Captain."
"We'll tell you want we can," Janeway said reluctantly. "You seem to already have an understanding of the universe--especially considering this very obviously isn't Earth." She sighed and then continued.
"Voyager is, as we've said, a ship. It was orbiting the system that holds the planet we came from--but they've most likely returned by now, and are in orbit of the planet. They won't be expecting an attack from a planet with no life signs. They'll never know what hit them."
Jack nodded. "Okay. Teal'c, Jacob, Martouf and I will try to get aboard a few of those death gliders and go through the 'gate with the rest of them. Then we'll try to destroy them before they can do any harm to this Voyager. Will the ship be able to defend itself? Do you have firepower?"
Tom grinned. "Oh, we have firepower, alright. We just have to stall long enough that they can get a handle on what's going down--Voyager will take care of the rest."
"We?" Jack repeated. "You can't come with us. You have no understanding of Goa'uld technology, and I need people with me that I can trust."
Janeway glared at him. "Tom will be going with you. And I will stay here to get B'Elanna back."
"He won't be able to fly it," Jack snapped. "I don't even know how to fly them, exactly, and I've been in them before."
"Don't worry," Tom said with a big grin. "I can fly anything."
Jack shook his head irritated. "Fine. Paris--you'll come with Teal'c, Martouf and I. Jacob--would you stay here and try to help them get their friend back?"
"I should be going with you, Jack," Daniel said instantly.
Jack barely spared him a glance. "We're going into combat, Daniel."
"But it's also a first contact," Daniel reminded.
"A first contact with our OWN people," Jack snapped. "Just a long time in the future."
"Nearly all the people we encounter through the 'gate are our own, Jack. But each has evolved in a different way, made for itself an entirely different culture. This will be no different."
"No,
Daniel. That isn't a good enough reason--and I need people out there that
either know how to fly or how to shoot."
"I can shoot, Jack," Daniel said smartly. "I can read Goa'uld,
and I doubt it's very hard."
"Martouf is coming, Daniel," Jack said firmly.
Daniel frowned. "Fine. I'll probably be unnecessary and a lousy shot--but, Jack, I really, really, want to go in a death glider."
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Everyone has been in one but me." Daniel turns to look accusingly at Sam. "And some certain people keep reminding me of that."
Sam bit her lip to hold off a grin. Jack threw his head back in frustration and muttered, "Oh for crying out loud."
Jacob and Martouf were both smiling. "We will probably be of more use here, Colonel," Martouf said. "Both of us have familiarity with this planet, the layout of the palace. We have a better chance of locating the host than any of the rest of you."
Jack sighed in resignation. "Fine," Jack said. "Daniel, you're with us," he said with false sweetness.
Daniel grinned.
"I know a back entrance to the palace," Martouf said. "It will take us very close to the quarters of Neith, the Goa'uld in your friend."
"Sounds like a plan," Jack said. "Carter, you okay with this?"
Sam nodded. "Yes, sir. We have it covered."
Jack grinned. "Good. This oughta be a piece of cake."
* * * *
Jack lay on the grass, pulling himself up just high enough to see over the edge of the hill he rested on.
Arranged in straight rows, on the other side, was a fleet of shiny, small, death gliders. Jaffa milled around the area, preparing their armor, and preparing for battle.
"That's a lot of ships," Jack said quietly.
"I count just over twenty, O'Neill," Teal'c whispered back.
"Is that all?" Tom asked. "Oh this will be easy."
Jack turned to look at him strangely. Tom grinned back.
"Now, if we could just find a few unsuspecting Jaffa . . ." Jack said.
"Jack?" Daniel said softly.
"Not now, Daniel," Jack said. He lifted his binoculars to look down at the preparing Jaffa soldiers.
"But, Jack--"
"Not now," Jack hissed.
Daniel rolled his eyes and pushed Jack's binoculars down and to the right. Four of the Jaffa were talking and heading off towards a small building--one that probably held supplies.
Jack froze as he watched them, and didn't speak.
"I just thought you might want to see that," Daniel said sweetly.
"Stow it, Daniel," Jack said, in an effort to save his pride. "Let's go."
The four crept back down the hill, and then slowly made their way to the building. The four Jaffa had disappeared within the doors, and none of them could be sure they were the only Jaffa inside.
"I should go first, O'Neill," Teal'c said. He hit the button for the helmet, and the Horus mask clinked shut to cover his face. Without waiting for Jack to respond, he rose smoothly to his feet and walked confidently through the doors.
Moments later he walked back out, hitting the button on his helmet, folding it down to once again reveal his face. "The guards are unconscious, O'Neill," he said with a small, superior smile.
Paris looked at him in admiration. "Nice," he said.
Jack spared him a glance. "You have NO idea."
* * * *
Samantha Carter trailed carefully behind as the four of them made their way back to the palace. Her father was on point, with Martouf and Janeway just behind him.
Sam looked Janeway over. She respected the woman already--and wasn't even sure why. She had a presence about her that simply demanded it. She also had a mystery about her that intrigued the younger woman.
Sam knew better than anyone that she couldn't ask questions--but there were so many things she so wanted to know.
Meeting someone from the future was something most only dreamed about. She had found it easy to lie to the men and woman they encountered when they were sent to the year 1969, but she was finding it was much harder to be on the opposite side. It was a lot easier to have the answers and know not to give them, than it was to have so many questions that you just knew you couldn't ask.
Logically, she knew that her curiosity in this situation could be dangerous, and she tried desperately to reel it in. But the fact that Janeway knew nothing of the Stargate stood out to her. She had always hoped the Stargate would be made public knowledge. And even if it hadn't been, it was obvious Janeway was part of her future's military--so why hadn't she heard of it? Seen it? Used it?
Carter shook off the thoughts as they reached the palace. These were things she shouldn't--couldn't--know. Things she couldn't ask.
The palace had come into view, and there seemed to be no Jaffa patrols around. Sam guessed they must all be preparing for their attack on the ship, Voyager. She hoped her team was okay--and wished she had been able to go with them.
But the man, Paris, would be a better help than she could. He knew what was on the other side of the 'gate, and none of the rest of them, with the obvious exception of Janeway, did.
"Through here," Martouf whispered quietly, moving ahead to take point. He led them to what appeared to be a dead end, and stood confidently before an outcropping of rocks. He placed his hand to one of the stones, and pulled down.
The large rock in front flickered and disappeared.
"A hologram?" Janeway asked.
Martouf shook his head. "Much more advanced. It's a hologram and a force shield, when activated, the picture you see of the boulder is just as strong a barrier, if not more so, than if it were real."
"Impressive," Janeway nodded.
Martouf gave her a quick smile, and then led the way through.
Sam grimaced as she entered. These tunnels, like the others, were covered with moss and small, quick insects and spiders. The last time she had been worried about Martouf, and had not allowed herself to be distracted by the eerie conditions--this time, she noticed. Taking care not to stray too close to the wall, she made her way behind the others.
Martouf stopped at a dead end, and turned to the others, speaking quietly, "This is another illusion," he told them. "It leads to a basement in the palace, and from there we will be able to travel to the west wing--where the queen's quarters have been prepared."
Janeway watched as this wall also flickered and disappeared at one touch from the young man. Together they entered the dank basement. Much like the other room, the floor had areas covered in thin layers of water. There was a staircase on the other side, winding precariously up to nowhere.
"Is this staircase safe?" Janeway asked dubiously.
Martouf nodded. "It has stood for many thousands of years," he told her.
"Is that supposed to be reassuring?" Janeway mumbled.
Sam grinned at the comment, and began to run her flashlight along the other walls--checking to make sure they were alone.
"I'll go first," Jacob said. "Sam, I want you behind me. Martouf, if you could take care of our friend."
Janeway glanced at him indignantly. "I do not need to be taken care of. I've been in situations like this before, in fact, I've been in much worse."
Jacob smiled at her grimly, his eyes flashing, and his voice, when he spoke, much deeper, "As have I. For hundreds of years. You'll excuse me for believing I may have slightly more experience than you. Especially when dealing with the Goa'uld, a race you have never even met."
Janeway held her tongue, but her eyes remained defiant. She was a Captain--and she was not used to being told what to do. She didn't like it. She watched in irritation as first Jacob, and then Sam started up the steps.
Beside her, Martouf offered an apologetic smile, and motioned her up first. She reminded herself that these people were her only chance of finding B'Elanna, and cautiously stepped onto the first rung.
The staircase was stone, a dull, lifeless grey that was covered with dying moss. There had been a railing on the left side, but most of it had crumbled and fallen away, leaving no barrier between them and the drop.
Janeway estimated that the staircase rose only four stories above the ground. Not incredibly high, she'd certainly climbed higher--on an even less stable staircase now that she thought about it--but the climb was not insignificant.
She counted the steps as they climbed, before tiring of the habit and looking up once more. Jacob and Sam had reached the top, and were standing on a small platform, facing the wall. Jacob reached out, pressing his hand to one of the stones, and a portion of the wall slid forward and then to the side. Streaming light bleed into the room, bouncing off the staircase, and hitting the far wall.
The drop below remained untouched by the light, a dark abyss hanging just below them. Janeway fought her first instinct and looked down. She knew in her mind that they could not be very high, but from her view you wouldn't know it. It was too dark to see the ground she knew was there--it was just blackness, and the sound of water as it leaked slowly through the walls.
When she looked back towards the partition, she saw the two ahead of her had already disappeared inside the doorway. Martouf laid a gentle hand on her arm.
"Here," he said. "You should take this."
He handed her a small weapon--and she recognized it as the one that had been used on her earlier that day.
"It's a zat-nik-itel," he told her. He lifted her hand, and showed her how to activate it.
"Zat-nik-itel?" Janeway repeated.
Martouf grinned. "The Tau'ri prefer to call it a 'zat gun.'"
Janeway nodded and looked at the weapon in her hands. "Zat gun sounds good," she said.
Jacob peeked back out at them. "Come on," he hissed, before disappearing once more.
Janeway glared at the doorway, before moving through. Martouf had been nothing but nice, but she wasn't sure how much she liked his friend. He was constantly taking the lead--and that was her job.
Martouf entered just after her, and closed the doorway behind them.
"Her quarters are this way," Martouf said, before moving to the front and leading them down the hall.
* * * *
"No, no, no . . ." Neith paced her quarters restlessly. Grabbing at the side of her head at every other step. The voice in her mind, the voice of the host grew louder still, and she was no longer able to fully block it out.
Her tenuous control over the humanoid was wavering, but she remained too arrogant to admit defeat and take another as her host.
"Silence!" she screamed.
B'Elanna didn't listen. She was a warrior, and even if the battle required no weapons she refused to back down. She'd been stuck in a dazed dream state since she first lost consciousness--but was aware of everything happening, like having a waking dream.
The parasite controlling her was not as strong as she believed she was, and B'Elanna was far stronger than she had been given credit for. She wasn't about to lose herself to this evil--not when she stood a chance at getting her body, her life, back.
Neith screamed as B'Elanna broke through every last one of the barriers she had created, and then brokenly collapsed to her knees. She took in a deep gasping breath, and fell forward, her hands grabbing onto her thighs for support.
When she found the strength to raise her head, it was B'Elanna's eyes that looked desperately around the room. She gasped as her senses returned, as a small amount of control was restored. Neith had not given up--but at the moment, she'd been pushed aside.
B'Elanna looked at the weapon wrapped around her hand in horror. Visions of Tom on his knees before her ghosted through the pieces of her mind that still belonged to her. The look in his eyes as her hand wrapped around his throat was one she had never wanted to see directed at her. What had she done…?
She ripped the device off, pulling each golden piece covering her fingers roughly from her hand, and then throwing it across the room. She looked around confusedly then--she recognized the room from her time spent here when Neith was in control, but she had no idea where it was. From what she remembered of Neith's excursions outside of the palace, it was a planet she had no memory of. That 'gate, whatever it was, must have taken her to another world.
Yes, it had, she realized. Flashes of what it was entered into her mind--some of Neith's memories, her knowledge, seeping into her own.
She tried to raise herself to her feet, but her control was not complete, and she tiredly fell back to the floor. A voice in her mind whispered that she could not win. Whispered for her to submit.
"Never," she growled.
She would win. She had to.
B'Elanna looked towards the doors as she heard voices. The door opened slowly, and an older man shed didn't recognized stepped in, a weapon that she knew from Neith's memories was called a zat-nik-itel aimed down at her.
"She's here," the man said.
Three more people filed into the room, and B'Elanna gasped as she caught sight of the last one to enter. "Captain . . . ?" she breathed desperately.
* * * *
Daniel winced as Teal'c dropped the last of the four guards into the small closet and shut the doors, hitting the small Goa'uld panel beside it to lock them in.
Luckily, the small building had been for supplies--and there were spare uniforms near the back. Daniel was happy they wouldn't have to try to strip the guards of their armor, because it didn't look like it would be easy to get off.
Jack had worn the armor once before, and had already deftly put it on. Even Paris seemed to have figured it out. Daniel looked back to the pile of chain metal and armor at his feet. The boots he could figure out. He just had to put them on his feet. But the rest of it . . .
Jack cast a look over at him, and rolled his eyes. "For cryin--you don't even know how to put it on?" he demanded.
Daniel looked at him defiantly. "Of course I do."
Jack crossed his arms and rose his eyebrows expectantly. Daniel's eyes strayed back down to his feet. He carefully picked up a piece of the chain metal in a tentative hand and looked at it in bemusement.
Jack shook his head and walked over to him. Helping Daniel to get it over his head, and then showing him how to put on the rest. When Daniel was fully dressed in the armor, Jack took a step back to admire his work and smirked.
"Oh you're a fearsome sight," he grinned.
Daniel rolled his eyes. He was sure he must look at least a little intimidating. Maybe. He sighed. Probably not.
Daniel cast a slightly resentful glance at Paris, who had figured the armor out on his own and was ready to go--wondering how he managed to pull off the Jaffa armor as well as Jack and Teal'c, while he ended up looking like a trick or treater.
Jack moved to the door of the building, pulling out his binoculars as he went. "Okay, kids. Looks like the show's about to start. Everyone's getting next to their ships. Let's get moving before baldy shows up."
Tom grinned. "Baldy. I like that."
Daniel sighed. Jack was hard enough to deal with without encouragement.
"O'Neill," Teal'c said, as they started out of the building. "Will you be able to fly the death glider?"
Jack
nodded. "I'm not a pro, or anything--I won't be
breaking any speed records, but I'll be able to handle it."
Tom glanced at him. "You won't have to. I'm flying."
Jack glared at him. "You've never even seen the inside of a death glider, let alone flown one."
"I need two minutes to study the controls and I'll have it in the air. Trust me," he said with an easy grin. "I do this all the time."
Jack was wary. He saw far too much of himself in the younger man to trust him for even a second. "We'll see how it goes," he said at last. "You can look at the controls and tell me, with certainty, if you'll be able to fly it. Otherwise I will."
"I can tell you with certainty now--" Tom began.
Jack held up a hand. "Humor me," he snapped.
Tom opened his mouth again but Daniel shook his head covertly in his direction, swinging his hand across his neck in the universal 'stop' motion, and mouthed, 'Just humor him.' The 'take it from someone who knows' part was implied.
Tom backed down. Jack swung around to glare at Daniel, who quickly pushed his errant hand through his hair, trying to look casual.
"Heru-ur will be arriving soon, O'Neill," Teal'c reminded stoically. "Should we not join the others and claim a ship?"
"Right," Jack said, with one last squelching look in Daniel's direction. "Okay, helmets on. We've got to blend in. So, walk Jaffa-like."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Jaffa-like?" Daniel asked amused.
Jack reached over to Daniel's armor and hit the helmet switch, causing the armor to clink down over the younger man's smiling face.
The other three quickly activated theirs, and headed back down towards the ships. They noticed two vacant death gliders together near the back, and went over to them.
"Daniel," Jack whispered through the helmet. "You're with Teal'c."
Daniel nodded. Or tried to. The helmet wasn't the best choice for maneuverability.
Teal'c walked to the death glider and slid the cockpit back. None of the Jaffa had yet to get into the gliders however, and they appeared to be waiting for Heru-ur to do so. They didn't wait long.
Heru-ur came marching into view, a sneer on his face, and his armor pristine--shiny instead of worn like the rest of theirs. "Jaffa--" he shouted, his tinny voice carrying even to where the humans and Teal'c stood at the back. "We are going through the 'gate to take a great ship--you have your mission. You must not fail. You must take the ship as your Queen Neith has instructed, and you must protect me, your god, as we go into battle."
"Protect him?" Tom sneered. "We should just shoot the bas---"
"We'll get him eventually," Jack cut in with a whisper. "We always do. Focus on the ship. Can you fly it? Are you CERTAIN you can fly it?"
Tom turned to the cockpit, trying to focus on the controls through the hazy lenses of the helmet. He leaned over the edge to get a closer look and smiled. Ships were all so different--but they all had certain things about them that just didn't change, no matter who built them.
"Oh I can definitely fly it," he said, his tone sure enough that it almost convinced even Jack.
"Really?" he asked skeptically, looking in at the complex system of buttons and levers and dials.
"This design is actually quite simplistic," Tom said. "I flew something similar when I was ten."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Ten?"
"Yes--well, I made the ship when I was eight," he said, as though he felt he needed to explain why he'd been flying something so simple at ten.
"Made the ship?" Jack whispered incredulously.
"It was a fad," Tom said, still leaning over and running his eyes over the controls. "My friends and I would build them and then hold races."
Jack stared at him. "We had go-carts."
Tom spared him a glance, finding it hard to turn in the bulky armor. "Oh, right," he said. "I forgot I was . . ."
"Way smarter than I am," Jack finished.
Tom grinned, though Jack couldn't see past the head of the Horus helmet. "No--just from a different era."
Around them the Jaffa began to get into their ships. Tom motioned for Jack to get in first. Jack looked over at Teal'c and Daniel, and made sure both we're inside their vessel before climbing into the backseat of his.
Tom climbed into the front, hitting the button to close the cockpit and gratefully retracting the helmet. Jack did the same, as did Teal'c and Daniel.
"Hey, Paris," Jack said. "On your right, there's a small com piece. You just kind of…stick it on your face."
Tom grinned and reached over to grab the small piece. He fit it on, and instantly heard Heru-ur's horrible voice again--giving orders as a Jaffa beside the DHD began to dial the 'gate. He pressed nine of the symbols.
The 'gate was spinning, lighting up and the tension in the men about to fly through was tangible. As the wormhole formed--the first of the ships had already lifted up off the ground, and were flying through, disappearing from this world.
Tom checked over the controls once more, making sure he was confident about flying as Teal'c took off beside him. Sure he would be able to do this, Tom turned the systems on and hit the lever on the right, jerking the ship forward and falling into formation behind Teal'c's.
Jack was slightly impressed, but didn't let on. "You want to be a bit more careful?" he snapped. "I think you left my stomach back there."
"You should have left your voice box with it," Tom snapped back.
"What?" Jack asked incredulous. "Is that considered an insult in your fancy future world? Is that what jokes come to? For crying out loud. I bet you all wear silver jumpsuits too."
Tom's mouth quirked upwards. "No silver suits. And I'm usually much better with the insults. It's an off day."
"I don't know how I feel about flying with you on an off day."
Tom broke out into a full blown grin then. "I could fly rings around any of the rest of these pilots on my worst day--don't worry, you're in good hands."
* * * *
Daniel leaned sideways to see past Teal'c's head as they grew closer to the event horizon. "Teal'c?"
"Yes, Daniel Jackson?"
"There aren't any seatbelts."
"Do not worry, Daniel Jackson. The ships internal systems should protect you should we encounter turbulence."
"Should?" he muttered, shifting restlessly in the armor. "This isn't so different," he said at last. "This is kind of like riding in a plane."
Teal'c smiled slightly, before gunning the engines and sending them into the wormhole. He pulled out on the other side, on another world, the ships in front of him already heading high into the atmosphere, their sights set on the unsuspecting ship suspended in orbit.
"Wow," Daniel gasped, trying to catch his breath as the rush of the trip started to fade.
"Indeed," Teal'c said.
"That was cool," Daniel said at last. "That was nothing like a plane."
Teal'c frowned. He believed that Daniel Jackson was spending too much time under the dubious influence of O'Neill. It was rare that the linguist was reduced to words such as 'cool.'
Tom flew quickly out of the wormhole behind them, flying so fast they passed them only moments later. Daniel watched as they flew higher, easily evading the other ships ahead of them and slowly making their way past all of them. "Aren't they going kind of fast?" Daniel asked concerned.
Teal'c frowned. "Extremely."
* * * *
Jack, man of action, thrill seeker, fearless, O'Neill sat in the back seat of the death glider, chanting to himself to not close his eyes, as he braced his arms against the sides of the cockpit. Paris was flying like a man possessed. Moving as though he was part of the ship and not just tapping in commands.
"Don't you think we should slow down?" he asked finally.
Paris frowned, tilting the ship sideways to move smoothly between two ships in front of them, and continued up into a higher stratosphere. "We want to get up there in time to give Voyager warning. They can disable these ships easily, but if they're caught off guard a lot of damage could be done. And if they lose their weapons systems, this attack might be successful."
"We can't warn them if we're dead," O'Neill muttered. He wasn't the type to get nervous. But he was beginning to think this guy was nuts. They were passing up the ships easily, one by one, zooming right on by, as Jaffa pilots gaped at them in disbelief.
He could sympathize. This ship shouldn't be able to go this fast and still be under control. It seemed to respond instantly to Paris's touch, however, and the man seemed to blend with the controls, easily bending it to his will.
"Shouldn't we be trying to take some of these ships out?" Jack demanded. "I could get a few shots in if you weren't going so damn fast."
"Don't worry about that," Tom said. "We wouldn't stand a chance fighting them alone. Our first priority has to be contacting Voyager."
Tom broke free of the clouds, and Voyager loomed ahead of them. Jack's eyes widened as he caught sight of it. "Nice ship," he said.
"Oh yeah," Paris grinned.
"How are you going to warn them?" Jack asked. "Won't they just think we're part of the attack?"
Paris was already reaching for his combadge and didn't answer Jack. "Paris to Chakotay."
"Paris!" Chakotay's deep voice boomed over the com link. "What the hell is going on? We've been trying to contact you for hours--we couldn't find your life signs. Are the Captain and--"
"Now is not the time, Chakotay," Tom interrupted calmly. "Voyager is about to be attacked. I'm in one of the ships--and one other ship holds allies as well. They're last in the formation and you'll know them by the human life sign."
"Human life sign?" Chakotay questioned.
"I'll explain later--you've got to prepare Voyager, we'll only be able to do so much from here. I need you to disable as many of the ships as you can."
"Don't worry. We'll take care of it. Chakotay out."
"Once Voyager starts firing we'll have to provide backup," Tom told Jack, easily taking control of the situation, much to Jack's annoyance. "How good of a shot are you?"
"I think I can handle it," he snapped.
Tom nodded and pulled the Goa'uld com device off. The static and conversations were distracting. He saw Teal'c fly up behind him, and the enemy ships were already circling Voyager, preparing for their attack.
Tom saw one ship heading for the section of Voyager containing the weapons, and sped off after them. "We don't have time to wait," he said. "We've got to take this ship out now."
Jack nodded, preparing himself to fire as Tom easily pulled them up behind the other ship. They fired one quick shot, sending the other ship into a downward spiral, back to the planet below. Moment's later orange phasers began to shoot from Voyager, disabling the ships one by one.
Jack watched in admiration as the phasers connected with one ship, causing a small explosion and rendering the ship dead in the water. Or, he supposed, dead in space.
Voyager was doing a good job of taking out the ships, he noticed with a grin. Perhaps Paris had been right to not be worried. He noticed Teal'c wasn't doing too shabby himself, and had already taken out two of the enemy ships. He'd have to remember to compliment Daniel on his shooting.
Problem was, Jack thought, that despite an appalling lack of good fashion taste, the Jaffa weren't entirely stupid. They'd realized about the traitors in their midst, and were now firing on Teal'c's and his vessel as well as Voyager.
Paris didn't seem concerned, and was evading the volleys easily. Teal'c was having a bit more trouble, and there were three ships right on his tail.
"We need to help them," Jack snapped.
Paris nodded and swung the ship around, coming up behind the three ships after Teal'c and Daniel's ship. Jack fired three consecutive shots, but only managed to hit two of the ships. The other spun out of the way at the last second, and continued pursuing Teal'c's ship.
Jack cursed and Paris flew behind them again. Jack was just lining up his shot when the ship in his sights fired themselves. He watched in helpless horror as the volley headed straight for the ship carrying his friends--slamming into the back and breaking it apart. Fire erupted and flaming pieces burned up in the atmosphere, a few stray pieces making it through and crashing back to the ground below.
Jack froze, staring out the cockpit in disbelief. Daniel and Teal'c had been in that ship. There was no way they could have survived.
* * * *
"B'Elanna," Janeway said, instantly stepping forward.
Jacob blocked her way. "The symbiote may be deceiving you. We cannot trust her," Selmak said.
Janeway glared at him, and Sam touched her supportively on the shoulder. "Please," she said. "We've been in this kind of situation before."
Janeway nodded reluctantly.
"Sam," Jacob said. "You have any of those plastic ties you can cuff her with?"
Sam nodded and pulled them from her jacket. She got out three of them, hoping that would be enough. She stepped forward cautiously, and the woman on her knees looked up at her warily. "I'm Samantha Carter," she said, lowering carefully to the woman's side and looking into her eyes. "We're going to help you--but we have to do this--"
"Because
of whatever's inside of me," B'Elanna rasped. "It's making me do
things . . ."
Sam winced and carefully took the woman's wrists, binding them securely
together.
"Don't worry, B'Elanna," Janeway said confidently. "We're going to get you back to Voyager. You'll be fine."
"I will go nowhere!" she shouted suddenly, her eyes lighting as she swung her bound wrists in Sam's direction. Sam moved quickly, jumping to her feet and back, out of harms way.
"Martouf," Jacob said, motioning to B'Elanna.
Martouf nodded, and moved behind the snarling Neith. He pulled her to her feet, and pressed a zat at her back. "You will not fight us," he said. "Or we will be forced to shoot you."
"You would not harm this host," Neith growled knowingly, staring directly into Janeway's grey eyes as she spoke.
"You know as well as I," Martouf said. "One shot will do no permanent harm."
"Filthy Tok'ra scum," Neith sneered. "You will not get off this planet with me. I am Queen. My Jaffa will stop you."
"Your Jaffa," Jacob said. "Have been trying to locate us for hours."
"B'Elanna, can you hear me?" Janeway asked quietly.
"Nothing of the host remains," Neith growled.
"Then who were we talking to just moments ago?" Sam demanded.
Neith didn't answer.
"We need to get out of here," Jacob said. "Her Jaffa will be patrolling."
"You'll never make it out the palace doors," Neith told them, titling her head back in arrogant certainty.
"Then we won't use them," Martouf whispered, before pushing Neith out the doors of her quarters. The others followed quickly, and they made their way back to the staircase.
Jacob pushed his way in front of Martouf and Neith, leaving Janeway and Sam to guard their six. He went to the wall, and casting a quick look in both directions, he placed his hand on another stone. The door slid open again, revealing the dank cellar.
Neith eyed the entrance with distaste.
"I'll go down first," Jacob said. "Give me a head start and then come down with the Queen. She tries anything and I'll be ready for her at the bottom."
Martouf nodded, and he stood with Neith in his grip, watching as Jacob confidently went down the steps, disappearing into the shadows below. A small light on his wrist was all they could see of him as he went deeper.
"You're next," Martouf said, pushing Neith down on to the next step. He herded her downwards, keeping the zat trained on her back. Janeway followed, watching B'Elanna worriedly, and Sam turned back to the door, closing it behind them.
Sam could barely see Janeway in front of her, let alone Martouf or the Goa'uld. But she could hear her. The woman was practically growling with each step. Sam didn't know what to make of her. She was beginning to get used to alien species, but she'd never met anyone quite like this woman. She had just assumed that the friend Janeway and Paris had been looking for would be human, like them.
The staircase turned smoothly, and Sam's flashlight caught sight of Neith going down the steps across and down from her. The woman was shaking, and pale. Her mind automatically started searching for reasons. Perhaps whatever species B'Elanna was, was not compatible with the Goa'uld. It was obvious they were waging an internal war. Sam knew this was almost always the case--but no matter how strong the human, Skarra, Sha'uri--she'd never seen any of them push the Goa'uld back and emerge. Not without the help of a zat.
She hoped that Janeway and her people would be able to do something for her--they seemed extremely advanced, so Sam was sure they would have a method of removing the symbiote. She frowned. She couldn't ask what it was--so they could use it to try and rescue Sha'uri and Skarra, or any of the other many hosts. And Janeway wouldn't tell her, anyway. They seemed to have the same non-interference methods as the Tollan, and it was magnified by the fact they were playing a dangerous game with the timeline.
Sam's flashlight finally stretched to the last of the steps. Neith was again being held by Martouf, the zat gun pressed against her back, and Jacob on guard just beside her.
"What's the plan?" she asked. "I don't think we really talked past getting B'Elanna back."
Jacob looked over at her. "We'll make our way to the 'gate--and if Jack takes too long coming back--we'll go in after them."
"But we don't know the address," Janeway said.
Martouf looked at Neith. "She does."
"And she," Neith hissed, "would die before telling the likes of you."
Janeway glared at the woman, seeing nothing of her friend. "Then perhaps B'Elanna will tell us."
"She cannot help you," Neith sneered.
"I think she can," Janeway whispered.
Neith fell silent, settling for giving Janeway a defiant glance, and flashing her eyes. Martouf gave her a push and they started back through the tunnels.
By the time they reached the other side, and they were stumbling out into the light, Neith was barely able to walk. Sweat had formed on her brow, and she had long stopped cursing the Tauri and Tok'ra scum in favor of saving her strength.
Janeway grabbed her arm as B'Elanna started to trip, Neith angrily pushed her away. "Do not touch me," she ground out.
Janeway pulled away, hurt, but not letting it show. Sam took a step closer to her. "It isn't her," she whispered.
Janeway gave her a small, grateful smile. "I know," she said ruefully.
Sam gave a small smile in return, before falling back to guard the rear once more. They could see the slaves just over the hill, pulling carts holding more than twice their weight. Their clothes were falling apart. They were falling apart. Sam looked away. There wasn't anything they could do for them.
"Most of the Jaffa, at least, the best of them," Jacob whispered, "Are with Heru-ur and the attack against the ship Voyager. But we have to stay alert anyway." He nodded down the slope of the hill.
The Stargate stood down below, the centerpiece of a clearing.
"We can't just walk down there," Jacob continued. "We'd be too exposed. We'll have to go around the trees and come back out on the other side of the 'gate."
"We have to go now," B'Elanna whispered.
Martouf released his grip as he realized the host had emerged again.
"There are more Jaffa here than you know, and Neith is paranoid," B'Elanna gasped. "You have to get me to the 'gate…now…please. I can get you through to Voyager--but we have to hurry. I can't hold her off…"
Jacob
frowned, and Sam looked over at him. "This might be the only chance we
have at getting them home," she said.
"And what about us, Sam," Jacob asked tiredly. "We'd be walking
into a firefight, armed only with zats. There won't
be a whole hell of a lot we'll be able to do to help. And that's only if we
make it to the 'gate alive. "
"Voyager will have taken care of them by now," Janeway said confidently. "Our defense capabilities are quite advanced. Please, I have to get her back to my ship. I have to have that thing taken out of her."
Jacob looked over at Martouf, who met his gaze uncertainly. "There is no guarantee this side of the 'gate is any safer," Martouf said at last. "The Jaffa here could find us. Perhaps we should trust Colonel O'Neill was victorious and take our chances."
"It's a half a mile of open land," Jacob said. "We'll never make it."
"It will take too long to go around," Martouf argued. "She is weakening."
"Dad," Sam said softly. "We have to risk it."
B'Elanna had pulled from Martouf's grasp and fallen to her knees. She used her bound hands to draw nine symbols in the dirt. "That's the address," she said weakly. "We must go, quickly…"
Jacob nodded, motioning for Martouf to help B'Elanna back to her feet he turned to the 'gate. "We're going to have to run," he said. "I want to--" he broke off as the 'gate activated, one chevron after another lighting.
Someone was coming through.
* * * *
"Damn it!" Tom shouted. He was taking the ship back down to the planet, preparing to land now that all of the others were being finished off by Voyager.
As he grew closer to the earth below he saw Heru-ur and a few of his remaining Jaffa slipping through the 'gate, running back to hide on his world.
Jack remained silent. Sitting with a hand over his mouth as it started to sink in that Teal'c and Daniel were dead. He didn't care about Heru-ur. He didn't even care about Paris or his Voyager. His friends were dead.
Tom landed smoothly, opening the cockpit before the engine had a chance to completely shut down. He leapt to the ground and spun around to face Jack. "We have to go after him," he yelled.
Jack glared at him. "Listen, buddy, maybe you didn't notice, but my friends just died up there!" he shouted. "Killing Heru-ur isn't at the top of my to-do list at the moment."
That wasn't necessarily true, Jack admitted to himself. It was actually pretty damn near close to the top. But his priority at the moment was making sure the last member of his team was still alright. He'd failed two of them--he was going to have to find Carter and make sure she was alright before he could fall apart.
"Died?" Tom repeated puzzled. "Chakotay wouldn't have let them die."
"What do you mean? We saw the ship EXPLODE!" Jack yelled as he jumped from the ship. "We SAW it."
"He would have beamed them out," Tom said quickly. "I'm sure they're both on Voyager."
"Beamed them out," Jack repeated.
Tom nodded. "Don't worry--I'm sure they're fine."
"Take me to them."
Tom frowned, his eyes straying to the 'gate. "I can't. Please--it's bad enough they're on the ship, I can't take you up there too. We--"
"NOW," Jack ground out. "We just risked a hell of a lot for you--and Carter is still out there risking her life for your friend. So you 'beam' me up to that ship right NOW."
Tom met Jack's eyes. He hit his combadge. "Paris to Voyager. Two to beam up."
* * * *
Ow, ow, ow, ow. Daniel brought a hand to his forehead. Afraid to open his eyes. He knew he should be dead. He really knew he should be dead because he'd had this feeling of waking up knowing he should be dead before. Quite a few times before, actually.
He'd felt the enemy's weapon crash into the back of the ship, he'd even seen a bright light before it went dark. Cautiously, he opened one eye. Teal'c stood over him, surrounded by light.
"Oh god," he groaned. "We are dead." He wondered if Jaffa angels got wings too.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said. "We are not dead. We have been brought aboard the ship."
Carefully, Daniel opened the other eye. As his eyes adjusted, he saw Teal'c was framed by the overhead lighting and not some ethereal glow. He noticed Teal'c had changed out of the armor, and his was gone as well. "Oh," he said. "How did we--" he twirled his hand around.
"They possess a transportation technology," Teal'c told him.
"Please, do not upset my patient."
Daniel's eyes widened as a stern bald man stalked over and shooed the Jaffa a few feet away. He ran a device over Daniel.
"You're very lucky to be alive," he told Daniel sternly. "You weren't breathing when you were brought aboard."
"AGAIN!" came an exasperated yell. Daniel closed his eyes as he heard the voice. Tom and Jack stepped further into the infirmary, Jack staring at Daniel in disbelief. "I can't believe you died again."
"Hi, Jack," Daniel said, sighing and opening his eyes.
Jack looked him over with an assessing glance, and then moved his gaze to Teal'c. "You both alright?" he demanded.
"I am fine, O'Neill," Teal'c said with a nod of his head.
Jack moved to Daniel's biobed and stood by his side, staring at him intently. "Daniel?" he demanded.
"Headache," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I'll be fine."
The Doctor snorted. "Thanks to me," he said. "I have done all I can--it will take an hour or so for him to fully heal."
"An hour?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"The damage was quite extensive," the Doctor nodded.
Jack ran a hand through his hair. He was thinking days of recuperation were ahead for Daniel. An hour? These people were WAY, way, smarter than they were.
"Jack…?"
"Yes?"
"Next time I want to go for a spin in a death glider--talk me out of it."
Jack grinned. "Danny boy, you can count on it."
The sickbay doors slide open again, and Chakotay walked in, followed by Harry and Tuvok. Harry gave a relieved smile as he caught sight of Tom.
"Paris," Chakotay said tightly. "What is going on? Where is the Captain and B'Elanna?"
"They've been transported to another world," Tom said, turning and meeting Chakotay's eyes. "And another time."
"What?" Chakotay gasped. His eyes strayed to their three guests. "Are you telling me these people are from the past? Have you lost your mind?"
"We needed their help," Tom told him. "The Captain approved it. And she went with a few of our other new friends to try and get B'Elanna back."
"Back from what?" Chakotay demanded.
"We don't have time for this," Tom snapped. "I have to get back down there. I have to go after them. B'Elanna and the Captain are still in danger."
Jack walked to stand beside Tom. "I have people there too. I want you to send me and my friends back down as well."
The Doctor gasped. "I don't think so," he snapped. "My patient isn't going anywhere until I am assured of his recovery."
"I'm fine," Daniel said, his voice cracking and not anywhere near as convincing as he would have liked.
Jack glanced over at Daniel concerned. "Then just send me and Paris. We'll bring our people back."
"I can't do that," Chakotay said. "Paris--you have to tell me more about what is going on here."
"We don't have time," Paris snapped. "If things went as planned, they have B'Elanna and are headed for the 'gate. And the enemy just went back through."
"The 'gate?" Chakotay repeated.
"It's some kind of wormhole conductor," Tom said frustrated. "It sent us somewhere else. Chakotay, please, we have to go back through."
"How do you use it?" Harry asked with a frown.
"You dial in addresses," Jack explained brusquely. "It's really fascinating, and once I've got my friends back, I'd be happy to have them explain it to you."
"How do you know which . . . addresses to dial?" Harry asked again, obviously intrigued.
Tom ran a hand through his hair, wishing Harry wasn't so curious, and that out of all the questions he hadn't picked that one to ask.
"We watched them dial there," he said. He wasn't about to admit he didn't know the address that would get them back. He'd worry about that on the other side, and he'd get the information from Heru-ur or one of his Jaffa if he had to.
"What's the situation through this 'gate?" Chakotay asked. "How many people do you need?"
"I'm not sure of the situation," Tom admitted. "And I don't want you sending anyone but me. There's no reason to put more people at risk."
"I'm not sending you out there by yourself, Paris," Chakotay snapped.
"You won't be," Jack said with a grin. "Now, do your thing, beam us down. We're wasting time."
"The Captain and B'Elanna may need my help," Tom said softly, his blue eyes locked intently with Chakotay's dark ones.
"You're sure about this?" Chakotay demanding, knowing even as he asked that there wasn't anything Tom Paris wasn't sure of.
Jack turned to Teal'c. "You stay here with Daniel until the doc here says he can go, then I want you to take him and get him back to Earth."
"Earth?" Harry repeated brokenly.
Tom put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "It isn't our Earth, Harry."
"Of course, O'Neill," Teal'c said.
"I'm fine now, Jack," Daniel said. "I don't have to stay here."
The Doctor reached out and placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder, stopping him from trying to sit up before he even had the chance to start, all the while reading his chart from a PADD.
"Sure you are, Daniel. But you know better than to tell a doctor they're wrong," he said with a grin.
The Doctor smiled at him, pleased someone finally recognized his infallibility.
"Alright," Chakotay said uncertainly. He motioned to Jack and Tom. "You two come with me. Tuvok, you stay here with our guests."
Tuvok nodded and Chakotay led Tom and Jack back to the transport room, Harry tagging along behind them.
"Can we make a stop on the way?" Jack asked as he went out the doors. "I hate this armor--"
Daniel watched them go with a frown, Jack's voice fading and the doors closing behind them. "I can go too," he said certainly, looking over at Teal'c. "We should be going with him."
"You must rest, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c told him.
The Doctor nodded and glared at the young man. "I can't have you undoing all my good work. You have to rest for a little longer before you'll be any good to anyone."
"I'm fine now," Daniel said. Moving his hands shakily to the sides of the biobed, he braced them and tried to pull himself into a sitting position. With a groan he fell back down.
"Indeed," Teal'c and Tuvok intoned at the same moment. They turned to each other, right eyebrows raised.
Daniel looked at them in blurry disbelief. The guy beside Teal'c was like a Jaffa with pointy ears and no sense of humor. Oh, and no symbiote.
The Doctor had been watching Daniel in satisfaction. "Maybe now you'll listen," he said arrogantly. Then he went off mumbling. "No one ever listens, they've always got to find out I'm right the hard way . . ."
* * * *
Chakotay and Harry both beamed down with Tom and Jack. Harry looked over at the 'gate in awe. "This is it?" he asked, moving over to the DHD.
"Scientists," Jack muttered. Tom nodded his agreement.
Harry glanced appraisingly at the DHD and then moved over to the circle, running his hand over the smooth black stone. He pulled the hand back when it began to shake, and took a step backwards, staring at it confusion.
"Someone's coming through," Jack warned. He walked over to Harry, and promptly grabbed his arm to pull him out of the way of the forming wormhole.
The wormhole formed, and Chakotay and Harry stared at in astonishment. Jack glanced over at them. It had been a long time he'd looked at the 'gate with that kind of awe.
Jacob and Sam stumbled out, followed by Martouf and Janeway, holding a struggling Neith between them.
When Heru-ur had come through the 'gate, Neith had regained control once more and began screaming for her King. Even as far away as he was--he could hear her. Jacob and the others had prepared for an attack, ready to take on Heru-ur and his Jaffa.
But Heru-ur had not sent them after his queen. His eyes met Neith's, a gleam in them as he challenged her to save herself.
"Prepare my ship," he yelled to his Jaffa. "We are leaving this planet. It is not worth my trouble."
Neith had continued screaming, the pleas turning to threats as her King walked away from her.
"He's just leaving?" Janeway asked in disbelief.
"He's lost a lot of his Jaffa and his ships," Martouf said. "He'll need to go into hiding for now, until he can regain what he has lost. He's arrogant, but he is smart enough not to take on another fight this soon."
So they had made it to the 'gate, pulling Neith every inch of the way, as she expended the last of B'Elanna's energy in her efforts to escape.
And now they stood on the other side of the 'gate, standing tiredly in Voyager's shadow as Tom, Chakotay and Harry raced towards them.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry gasped in disbelief, staring at B'Elanna trying to pull from Janeway's grip.
"She's been infested by a parasite," Janeway ground out, trying not to lose her hold. Paris bounded up beside her, taking over holding B'Elanna secure.
He grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look at him. Neith glared back, but he could still see B'Elanna in there somewhere too. "We have to get her to sickbay," Paris said immediately before hitting his combadge. "Two to sickbay," he said.
Martouf instinctively let go of his grip on B'Elanna, and she disappeared along with Paris in the sparkling blue transporter.
Sam's eyes lit up as she saw the technology, but Jack cut her off at the pass. "Remember the Grandfather's Paranoia?"
She looked back at him puzzled for a moment, before she realized he was talking about the Grandfather's Paradox. She didn't bother correcting him--she knew him well enough by now to know the mistake was intentional.
"Teal'c and Daniel?" she asked, looking around for them with concern.
"On
the ship," Jack said. "Daniel had a little accident but their doc
patched him up good as new. Said he needed an hours rest and he'd be
fine."
Sam smiled. "Good--can I see them?"
Chakotay shook his head. "We really have interacted too much as it is. I'm afraid we can't--"
"Of course you can," Janeway interrupted. "We'll all go up to see how they're doing. Janeway to Voyager," she said, scanning everyone quickly. "Seven to beam up."
* * * *
Daniel sighed. He had Tuvok on one side and Teal'c on the other, and he just knew that mordant doctor was looming around somewhere. He had tried to explain he was fine, but they hadn't seemed to believe him. And the falling off the biobed thing really hadn't been his fault.
He glanced over at the center of sickbay as he heard a strange chiming sound, but when he tried to get a better look Teal'c placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him down.
Tom and B'Elanna appeared from no where. She was struggling desperately in his arms, screaming like a wounded animal. The Doctor ran immediately to her side, and pressed a hypo spray to her neck.
She went limp and Tom picked her up to place her on the biobed.
"What's happened to her?" the Doctor demanded.
"She's being controlled by a parasite. It's wrapped around her spinal cord. Can you remove it?" Tom said quickly.
The Doctor nodded, looking at his tricorder readings. He rolled over one of the pieces of technology, the same one he had used to transport out Naomi Wildman when her mother had gone into labor.
"What's happening?" Daniel asked Teal'c in a whisper, as Tuvok walked closer to see for himself.
"They are attempting to remove the Goa'uld," Teal'c said.
Daniel nodded, hoping they were successful, and wishing he was able to do the same for Sha'uri.
The Doctor's fingers moved quickly over the controls, and Tom held B'Elanna down as she began to awaken and stir. "Tom?" she moaned pitifully. "What have I done…?"
He pushed her hair back and glared at the Doctor. "Can't you go any faster?"
"I am going as fast as I can, Lieutenant," the Doctor replied calmly. "Hold her still," he said.
Tom nodded and held her down, the Doctor activated the transporter.
Daniel lifted his head up slightly, and grimaced as the symbiote materialized in the incubation tank, writhing around helplessly.
"It can't live without water," Daniel told them.
Tom glared at it. "Why would we want it to live?" he demanded.
B'Elanna moaned again, and Tom turned back to her. "I'm so sorry, Tom," she whispered, before falling unconscious.
Tom ran a hand down his face, and self consciously picked up her hand. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he whispered back.
The sickbay door's slide open, and everyone came marching in. Sam smiled as she caught sight of Daniel and quickly moved over to him, Jack did the same and the two Tok'ra held back as Janeway walked over to Tom.
"How is she?" she demanded.
"The parasite has been removed," the Doctor told her with a self satisfied smirk. "She will be fine."
Janeway grinned back and moved her gaze over to where Daniel still rested on the bed. "And our guest?"
The Doctor's smile faded. "Despite that he's one of the worst patients I've ever had the displeasure of treating, and that includes the both of you," he said, shooting a scathing look at Tom and Janeway, "he is fine. A half hour longer and he'll be able to return home."
"You got them back already?" Daniel asked.
"They came back on their own," Jack said, looking at Carter in admiration.
Carter smiled and turned to Daniel. "How are you, Daniel?"
"I'm fine," he insisted, for the twentieth time in nearly as many minutes. "We should get back home."
"I just heard doc say another half hour," Jack told him.
"I don't have to stay here another half hour," Daniel said. "We shouldn't be here at all. We're--"
"Messing with the timeline, yadda yadda ya," Jack said in a sing song voice. "A half hour, and then we'll leave."
Janeway smiled over at them. They were good people--and it was too bad so many years separated them. She headed over to the door, and Chakotay jogged to catch up with her.
"Captain? Where are you going?"
She glanced back in the infirmary, smiling as she caught sight of Tom's hand intertwined with B'Elanna's.
"I'm going to get a cup of coffee," she said with a grin.
Chakotay smiled and followed her out into the hall.
Daniel shot up from the bed, three pairs of hands instantly moving to push him back down. "Did someone say coffee? They have coffee?"
Jack rolled his eyes.
* * * *
When Daniel was finally released he was still somewhat unsteady of his feet. Jack held one of his arms in a tight grip as Carter dialed the 'gate. He turned to face Janeway and Paris.
The two had beamed down to say their goodbyes, though, Jack had noticed Paris had done so with some reluctance. Not wanting to leave B'Elanna's side, Jack guessed wryly.
She was doing better, though. Jack knew because soon after Daniel had been told he could sit up, B'Elanna had been trying to as well. Then the Doctor had gone off mumbling about stupid organic life forms never knowing what's good for them.
Jack didn't think he wanted to know what the doc was if he wasn't organic, so he didn't ask.
"Thank you for your help," Janeway said.
Jack grinned. "No problem. I'm always willing to try and take down a Goa'uld. I don't suppose you would want to give that symbiote to us, for study--"
Tom shook his head. "The Doctor put it in stasis is going to study it, he wants it with him in case B'Elanna suffers any after effects. I'm sorry," he said.
Jack shrugged. "It's alright," he sighed. "Just make sure she's okay."
"Thanks," Tom said, giving a slight grin.
Behind them the wormhole back to Heru-ur's planet formed. Carter had first tried to dial Earth, but it wouldn't connect. She assumed that it was because the 'gate was no longer on Earth in this time. None of them wanted to think on what that meant.
"Sir?" Sam called.
"Go through," Jack said, turning his head slightly.
Sam and Teal'c nodded, and with one glance back they headed through.
Daniel was sagging further against him, and Jack looked at him worriedly.
"It's just the sedative the doc gave him," Tom told him quickly. "He didn't think his patient would rest on his own."
Jack grinned. "Well, he shouldn't have worried about him. Our doc could take your doc on any day."
"Scary thought," Tom said with a laugh.
Jack led Daniel over to the wormhole, and they both looked back before they went through. "Goodbye," Jack said softly. And then they were both gone.
Tom and Janeway were silent for a moment, watching as the wormhole dissolved into a thin blue mist.
"What happens to them, Captain?" Tom asked quietly, breaking the silence.
Janeway turned to him with a small smile. "Only time will tell."
The End.
