Chapter 5
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Carter barely looked up as the phone rang. General Hammond, who was conversing with the head of the Tok'ra scientists, excused himself politely and then went over to the phone. After speaking for a few minutes, he said his thanks and then returned to the table, where Jacob and another were pulling the side off the artefact and showing it to Daniel, who ran his finger down the page of notes before him, searching for the piece of translation.
"I think that says 'For the use of - "
"Gentlemen?" cut in the General. "Colonel O'Neill believes that one of our alien visitors of this morning could possibly help us with this machine. He's escorting them up now."
"How will they be able to help?" queried Selmak, looking up from the machine part he held out to Daniel.
"Apparently the man knows something of technology. I don't see any harm in showing them."
"I know the pair have no military designs on any technology they discover," put in the archaeologist seriously.
"That's a point. When you're done here, Doctor Jackson, could you and Colonel O'Neill get some useful information from those two? They've kind of been put on hold, as it were... "said Hammond thoughtfully.
"No problem, General Hammond," nodded Daniel, picking up the paper he was holding and showing it to Jacob. Sam was still absorbed in the part that Daniel had surmised was the sub-space inverter. She seemed withdrawn somehow; Daniel was worried about her. He had expected a seething Carter after what Jack had said, but here was just a pensive silent Carter.
"Can I get you some coffee, Sam, Jacob?" he said, putting his notes file on the desk as he got up. Jacob looked up and nodded gratefully. Sam didn't answer, and Daniel was about to repeat the question when he heard the door opening. Sam looked up quickly at the voice, and then down again.
"Sir."
Jack held the door with a sarcastic sweep of his arm as the two Vanir-ta came in cautiously behind him. General Hammond nodded.
"Colonel. And welcome, our guests. I'm General Hammond, running this outfit here."
"And not a priest," added Kaylyna, dipping her head in respect and smiling. The General looked a little non-plussed.
"This is Kaylyna, and Robskere, Njossvik. They dropped by this morning," said O'Neill, going to lean against the back wall. The two aliens stepped towards the table and were greeted by the Tok'ra working there.
Robskere picked up a piece hesistantly, then looked around.
"This is an intriguing device," he said, moving over to the component recently discarded by Jacob and Daniel. "It reminds me of that sub-space inverter remote we saw..."
Daniel permitted himself a grin. In the background, Sam, who had been busy with the tiny crystal drive, slotted the final one in. A pale green light infused it, and it started emitting a low gentle hum. A ghost of a smile flitted across her sombre face. General Hammond turned round at the sound, and curiosity overcoming his state the Colonel wandered over to the table to look. One of the Tok'ra scientists, Sargitlin, carefully leant over to fit another piece on, and the hum soared up an octave.
"Looks like you might have something there, Sam," said Jacob excitedly. Kaylyna looked up from where she was peering over Daniel's shoulder at his notes.
"Robske, I don't think that this - " she began.
Her words subsided into silence. As Sam twisted one of the dials cautiously, the hum cut off, and silently a bubble of purple twisted strands of light sprang up to encircle her.
"Hey, you got it to work!" said Daniel, removing his notes irritably from the inquisitive alien woman's gaze. He was pleased to see a proper smile on Sam's face, the first of that day, albeit tinged with violet light-play.
"Can you turn it off?" asked Selmak, looking curiously at the gyrating ribbons of the shield. Sam nodded, and obligingly turned the dial back again.
Nothing happened.
Robskere narrowed his eyes, sudden unwelcome memories clamouring for attention. The purple light... the sub-space inverter.... He started forward with a warning forming on his mind...
Sam put her hand up to tap the light. And screamed.
Her fingers were transfixed, burning purple light rippling up her arm in waves of pain. She started to turn, tear-filled eyes unconsciously seeking out the one she knew would help.
"CARTER!" yelled Jack, springing forward and grabbing for her arm through the wildly twisting shield. In that instant, the shield emitted a silent implosion of blinding white light.
When the occupants of the room had desperately cleared their sight, both of them had disappeared.
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A/N: I'm off for two weeks on a sailing holiday, no internet on the boat!!( So no updates... but lots when I come back! PLEASE click that little review button, I really would appreciate the help... =n.n= Thanks all. ~Kitty
Carter barely looked up as the phone rang. General Hammond, who was conversing with the head of the Tok'ra scientists, excused himself politely and then went over to the phone. After speaking for a few minutes, he said his thanks and then returned to the table, where Jacob and another were pulling the side off the artefact and showing it to Daniel, who ran his finger down the page of notes before him, searching for the piece of translation.
"I think that says 'For the use of - "
"Gentlemen?" cut in the General. "Colonel O'Neill believes that one of our alien visitors of this morning could possibly help us with this machine. He's escorting them up now."
"How will they be able to help?" queried Selmak, looking up from the machine part he held out to Daniel.
"Apparently the man knows something of technology. I don't see any harm in showing them."
"I know the pair have no military designs on any technology they discover," put in the archaeologist seriously.
"That's a point. When you're done here, Doctor Jackson, could you and Colonel O'Neill get some useful information from those two? They've kind of been put on hold, as it were... "said Hammond thoughtfully.
"No problem, General Hammond," nodded Daniel, picking up the paper he was holding and showing it to Jacob. Sam was still absorbed in the part that Daniel had surmised was the sub-space inverter. She seemed withdrawn somehow; Daniel was worried about her. He had expected a seething Carter after what Jack had said, but here was just a pensive silent Carter.
"Can I get you some coffee, Sam, Jacob?" he said, putting his notes file on the desk as he got up. Jacob looked up and nodded gratefully. Sam didn't answer, and Daniel was about to repeat the question when he heard the door opening. Sam looked up quickly at the voice, and then down again.
"Sir."
Jack held the door with a sarcastic sweep of his arm as the two Vanir-ta came in cautiously behind him. General Hammond nodded.
"Colonel. And welcome, our guests. I'm General Hammond, running this outfit here."
"And not a priest," added Kaylyna, dipping her head in respect and smiling. The General looked a little non-plussed.
"This is Kaylyna, and Robskere, Njossvik. They dropped by this morning," said O'Neill, going to lean against the back wall. The two aliens stepped towards the table and were greeted by the Tok'ra working there.
Robskere picked up a piece hesistantly, then looked around.
"This is an intriguing device," he said, moving over to the component recently discarded by Jacob and Daniel. "It reminds me of that sub-space inverter remote we saw..."
Daniel permitted himself a grin. In the background, Sam, who had been busy with the tiny crystal drive, slotted the final one in. A pale green light infused it, and it started emitting a low gentle hum. A ghost of a smile flitted across her sombre face. General Hammond turned round at the sound, and curiosity overcoming his state the Colonel wandered over to the table to look. One of the Tok'ra scientists, Sargitlin, carefully leant over to fit another piece on, and the hum soared up an octave.
"Looks like you might have something there, Sam," said Jacob excitedly. Kaylyna looked up from where she was peering over Daniel's shoulder at his notes.
"Robske, I don't think that this - " she began.
Her words subsided into silence. As Sam twisted one of the dials cautiously, the hum cut off, and silently a bubble of purple twisted strands of light sprang up to encircle her.
"Hey, you got it to work!" said Daniel, removing his notes irritably from the inquisitive alien woman's gaze. He was pleased to see a proper smile on Sam's face, the first of that day, albeit tinged with violet light-play.
"Can you turn it off?" asked Selmak, looking curiously at the gyrating ribbons of the shield. Sam nodded, and obligingly turned the dial back again.
Nothing happened.
Robskere narrowed his eyes, sudden unwelcome memories clamouring for attention. The purple light... the sub-space inverter.... He started forward with a warning forming on his mind...
Sam put her hand up to tap the light. And screamed.
Her fingers were transfixed, burning purple light rippling up her arm in waves of pain. She started to turn, tear-filled eyes unconsciously seeking out the one she knew would help.
"CARTER!" yelled Jack, springing forward and grabbing for her arm through the wildly twisting shield. In that instant, the shield emitted a silent implosion of blinding white light.
When the occupants of the room had desperately cleared their sight, both of them had disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I'm off for two weeks on a sailing holiday, no internet on the boat!!( So no updates... but lots when I come back! PLEASE click that little review button, I really would appreciate the help... =n.n= Thanks all. ~Kitty