Destiny's Child
Chapter Eleven
Main Shuttle Bay
The two Jaffa pilots were frog-marched into the Resolutions main shuttle bay by Lt Commander Beech and a security team all armed with both hand phasers and the larger more powerful pulsed-compression phaser rifles. Neither Jaffa was very pleased by the rough treatment they were receiving as they were marched to the shuttle bay - but since they were both bound and were outnumbered three to one by their immediate escort they had no way of expressing that displeasure without getting shot, and neither fancied waking up from phaser stuns again.
Upon entering the shuttle bay they were immediately escorted through the ranks of docked shuttles, runabouts and the Resolution's single squadron of attack fighters to their Alkesh – which looked bizarrely out of place among the ranks of Federation vessels.
"All of your ships power systems have been reactivated," Beech told them as they were led aboard the Alkesh. "Except for your weapons systems and cloaking device. Not that you would do us any damage if you were to try an attack and we could destroy you with a single phaser blast. Your sensor logs since the battle with Tanneth have been deleted so that you're so called god gains no information about any aspects of our technology."
"Anubis is a god he already knows," one of the Jaffa said.
"On the contrary," Beech replied. "Your gods are nothing more than quiet pathetic alien parasites who have become drunk with power."
"Lies," both Jaffa snapped.
"Oh really tell that to Osiris."
"Where is Osiris we are not leaving without her."
"Right there." Beech gestured to a stasis capsule in the centre of the Alkesh's rear compartment. Both Jaffa followed his hand and saw the container in which Osiris hung in stasis.
"You dare to remove Osiris from her host," one Jaffa snarled. "Anubis will make you pay for that."
"If Anubis threatens us then he will be destroyed just as Tanneth was destroyed," Beech snapped back. "I have no qualms about blasting your warships out of space. Your 'gods' choice is a simple one, he can leave us alone and live, or he can attack us and die."
"Gods cannot be killed," both Jaffa chorused. Beech laughed.
"Tell that to Tanneth. Your gods are flesh and blood they can be killed and killed easily." Neither Jaffa responded - from their point of view it was all a pack of lies. These Humans were trying to get them to question their faith in the Goa'uld - as some disloyal Jaffa led by the sho'vah Teal'c had done. But it wasn't going to work. Their faith in the Goa'uld was absolute - as any good Jaffa's faith should be.
Beech removed their bindings at that moment before he and the security team left the Alkesh.
The two Jaffa looked at each other for a moment then the senior of the two went and sat in the pilots chair and powered up the Alkesh's systems. It was true what the Human had said all systems bar weapons and the cloaking device were operating again and that their most recent sensor logs had been wiped not that they had contained much information anyway.
After a moment the Jaffa powered up the Alkesh's engines and guided the bomber out of the open shuttle bay doors into open space. As the Alkesh moved out into open space leaving Tollana and the fearsomely powerful Federation ship behind the Jaffa lay in a course. After a moment he engaged the hyperdrive and the Alkesh left Tollan space quickly - before Captain Parker could change his mind about letting them go and decide to blast them out of the sky as he had Tanneth's fleet.
*****
Sickbay
A Few Hours Later
Dr Simon Tarses stood over the sleeping form of Sarah Gardner. It had been nearly twelve hours since he'd removed the Goa'uld Osiris from her body - a simple enough thing it had been to do with their advanced medical technology - and had cured her biochemical addiction to a chemical element that was completely unknown to them. He couldn't do anything about the new protein markers left in her blood by Osiris but they seemed to be harmless so it was nothing to worry about.
Sarah had slept the whole time since Osiris was removed and Simon couldn't help but wonder how traumatic the whole possession by Osiris had been for her. If it were anything like Borg assimilation then it would be very traumatic. So he'd let her sleep for awhile - but now it was time to wake her up, guest quarters had been prepared for her on deck seven and it was time for her to go to them.
Simon sighed and picked up a hypospray from a nearby medical trolley and selected the proper medication from the rack of cartridges. After placing the cartridge in the hypospray he pressed the slender device against the side of Sarah's neck and injected the medication straight into her blood stream, then stood back to wait for the few seconds it would take for the medication to bring her back to consciousness.
Sarah regained consciousness a few moments later. Immediately she knew that Osiris was gone - she could no longer feel the demon in her mind, dominating her thoughts, for the first time in a hellish year the cool winds of freedom blew through her mind and soul. Her desperate gamble speaking to that alien telepath when he'd touched Osiris' mind had worked, she was free. She was no longer a monster.
Sarah cautiously opened her eyes - to find herself looking up at a metal ceiling with inset light strips that shone with a light that looked like an artificial form of sunlight. She could hear the soft, almost imperceptible background humming of technology. It took her only a second to realise where she was. She was still onboard the Federation ship - what was it's name again - the Resolution.
"Please relax," a male voice said in a soft reassuring tone. "You're safe." Sarah carefully raised her head to look at the man speaking to her. She found herself looking at a handsome man in his late twenties or very early forties. He wore the same jumpsuit as everyone else onboard this ship did but the coloured top underneath the black and grey jumpsuit top was a different colour to what she'd seen before - his was blue. The coloured bands around the uniform wrists were also blue. She studied him for a moment. He seemed to be a Human but then she saw his ears. They were in the same place as Human ears but were pointed.
"Who are you," she asked softly. The man smiled reassuringly.
"My name is Dr Simon Tarses I'm the Resolutions chief medical officer. You're currently in my sickbay."
"A Human name. But you're not…"
"Actually I am largely Human," Simon responded idly fingering one his pointed ears the only give-away that he wasn't a full Human. "My mother is Human and my father is half-Human/half-Romulan consequently I am three quarters Human one quarter Romulan."
"What are Romulans?" Sarah asked in honest scientific curiosity.
"A powerful alien race native to our own universe. You need not concern yourself with them Ms Gardner."
"It's actually Dr Gardner," Sarah supplied carefully sitting up. "I am - or was before Osiris took me - an archaeologist." Then she caught something that Dr Tarses had just said. "Your own universe! I don't understand." Simon smiled slightly.
"This ship and her crew do not come from this quantum universe, but from one that is very different to this one. Oh it has the same rules but many things are different in our home universe. For one in our universe the Goa'uld do not exist - or at least don't exist anymore."
"So how did you get here," Sarah asked thinking how wonderful a universe without the Goa'uld would be. "If you don't mind satisfying my curiosity."
"Not at all. Starfleet Command dispatched us to a remote area to investigate strange distortions in subspace and investigate reports of ships appearing and disappearing. Upon our arrival our sensors detected numerous quantum fissures in the space-time continuum. One formed right in front of us and enveloped us before we could escape. We ended up not far from here. We were lucky to survive as it was five of our crew didn't and Resolution herself was damaged - not to badly our shields and armour did the job they were designed for - we soon got everything operational again."
"Why didn't you just fly back through the fissure?"
"We couldn't. The fissure closed behind us leaving absolutely no trace. And even if it had still been there we would not have withstood another passage through the fissure. Our shields were down and the armour generators severely damaged. If we'd gone back in we would have been destroyed."
"So you're stuck here."
"For now at least. We are still confident that we'll find away back home eventually."
"Well I am grateful that you were here. I couldn't withstand having Osiris controlling me anymore." As she spoke Sarah felt tears come to her eyes. She took a deep breath hoping to get a handle on the emotions welling up inside her but instead the opposite happened and she began to cry.
After a moment she felt an arm go across her shoulders and give her a reassuring squeeze.
"It's okay," Simon said softly as instinctively Sarah buried her head in his shoulder. "Don't fight it. Let it out. You'll feel a little better after." Something in Simons voice told her that he spoke the truth but not from personal experience.
For a few moments she just sat their her head buried in the doctor's shoulder crying like a baby. After a few minutes Sarah brought herself under control at least for now. There would be many more tears before she recovered from the trauma she had gone through.
"Feeling better," Simon Tarses asked her softly with the kind of gentle tone that only a doctor would use.
"A little. Not much."
"Give it time. Guest quarters have been arranged for you on deck seven. I'll take you there in minute if you want."
"I would like that," Sarah admitted. "No offence but I really don't like hospital wards." Simon laughed.
"In my experience no one does," Simon replied still chuckling. "Is there anyone that you would like us to get in contact with?"
Sarah thought about that for a moment. Her parents had died when she was a child, one of the reasons why she'd always gotten along with Daniel - similar history. Daniel, she thought, he's been there when I've needed him before. And he has experience with the Goa'uld through the SGC and through his wife and brother in law. If anyone can help me get through this then he can.
"There is one," she said after a moment. "Daniel Jackson he was here earlier."
"Yes I know I saw him when Captain Parker brought him, the rest of SG-1 and the Tollan delegation through here earlier as part of their tour. I believe he has returned to Earth now through that transport ring thing - I can't remember what it's called."
"You mean the Stargate."
"So that's what it's called. We can send someone to go get him."
"I would like that."
"Then I'll ask Captain Parker to arrange it. Come I believe it's time that you were taken to your quarters. You will find the accommodation on this ship quiet luxurious."
*****
Stargate Command
A Couple of Hours Later
Daniel Jackson looked up startled from translating the stone tablet that SG-7 had brought back when alarms sounded throughout the base signalling an incoming wormhole. Daniel frowned wondering who it was - all SG teams were currently Earthside. Had the Tok'ra found where Anubis was based already.
After a moment he sighed and headed to the control room. He entered the room just as the seventh chevron locked and the wormhole flared into existence behind the iris. He wasn't surprised to see the rest of SG-1 already there along with General Hammond.
"No GDO signal sir," the technician on duty reported to Hammond. Through the Plexiglas windows they abruptly saw the iris seem to wobble slightly like it did when being subjected to a Tollan phase distortion field. Sure enough a moment later a solitary figure walked through the normally impregnable iris as if it wasn't there.
Only it wasn't a Tollan who came through but a man wearing a Starfleet uniform. SG-1 immediately recognised the Resolutions tactical officer/security chief Lieutenant Commander Christopher Beech. Clipped onto slots on the mans belt was on the right one of their personal weapons - phasers Daniel thought they were called, on the left was a small device they didn't recognise. A Tollan phase shift device was wrapped around his left wrist. Defence teams took aim at him even as he disengaged the phase distortion field that had enabled him to walk through the iris.
"Hold fire," Colonel Jack O'Neill barked into the intercom. Hammond and SG-1 left the room to go see what Commander Beech wanted.
When they entered the embarkation room they saw the defence units maintaining a lose ready position - guns up but able to be brought to bear in an instant. On the ramp leading up to the Stargate - which was once more inactive - Commander Beech was tense his sidearm in his hand but currently not aimed at anyone.
"Stand down," Hammond ordered the troops. Obedience was instant. When the troops lowered their weapons Beech placed his phaser back in its belt holster. Hammond turned his attention to their visitor - he didn't recognise him but it was obvious that SG-1 did. "I'm General George Hammond commander of the SGC."
"Lieutenant Commander Christopher Beech of the Federation Starship Resolution," Beech responded formally though he didn't salute since Hammond was not a member of Starfleet.
"What can we do for you commander," Hammond asked curiously.
"Nothing. I am actually here to borrow one of SG-1 for awhile."
"Briefing room," Hammond said and started to lead the way to the briefing room.
As they walked the familiar steps to the briefing room SG-1 kept their eyes on Lt Commander Beech wondering which one of them Captain Parker wanted to borrow, and why.
A couple of moments later SG-1 were assuming their customary positions around the briefing room table. Hammond as usual sat at the head of the table. After a moment Beech took one of the empty seats on the side of the table opposite SG-1.
"Commander will you please explain why you wish to borrow one of SG-1."
"As you are no doubt aware after the battle with Tanneth an Alkesh crewed by two Jaffa and the Goa'uld Osiris was captured by us and brought onboard," Beech said. Hammond nodded wondering where Beech was going with this. "You will also have been told that during Osiris' interrogation our Betazoid councillor probed Osiris' mind to determine truthfulness. What you do not know is that during that contact the host spoke to Councillor Dalara. Dr Gardner asked that we free her of the Goa'uld. Which we did."
"How?" Jack asked.
"Simple. A standard bioscan revealed that Goa'uld are very vulnerable to one of the many sedatives that we carry in storage on board. We introduced it into Osiris' evening meal. She was unconscious barely seconds after the meal ended. We transported the unconscious host and symbiote to sickbay where we used a medical transporter beam to remove the Goa'uld. The Goa'uld was then placed in a stasis capsule and transported back aboard the Alkesh. The two Jaffa were also escorted back and they left the ship nearly fifteen hours ago."
"What about Sarah," Daniel asked.
"She remained unconscious for nearly twelve hours after Osiris was removed. She woke up a few hours ago and has been given guest quarters on board. She is asking for you Doctor Jackson."
For a few seconds there was silence as Hammond considered. The timing was a little awkward what with the trials for the new recruits only a week away now but he couldn't really refuse if Daniel wanted to go with Commander Beech. They would have to manage without Daniel's help during the trials - he would have to get someone else to take over Daniel's role - maybe Dr Fraiser or Major Ferretti.
"It's up to you Doctor Jackson," he said to Daniel after a moment. "We can manage without you in the personnel trials." The rest of SG-1 nodded in agreement and Daniel pretended to consider for a moment though he had already made his decision.
"Do I have time to pack," he asked Beech after a moment.
"That will not be necessary," Beech replied with a smile. "All personnel and guest quarters on board all Federation vessels are equipped with personal food replicators that can manufacture food or clothing with ease. When you want clean clothes or shoes just tell the computer your size and it will make them for you. Dirty clothes you just put in the replicator and it will clean them for you."
Sam Carter listened quietly to this latest tidbit of information on Federation technology. The more she learned of it and the more of it she saw the amazed she became by it. The Federations scientific and technological might was nothing short of amazing - it made Goa'uld technology pale into insignificance by comparison, even the technology possessed by Anubis. The only technology over the Federation that the Goa'uld had was in methods of FTL and the Resolution's engineers were already adapting their warp engines to allow them to travel in hyperspace. She would just love to get her hands dirty going through the Resolution's innards with Lieutenant Barrett to find out what made her tick even if she couldn't understand the science behind it.
Sam brought herself back to the hear and now - because Daniel was speaking again.
"Okay," Daniel was saying, "when do you want to go?"
"Whenever you want to go," Beech replied. Daniel leaned back a little in his chair.
"Okay," he said softly.
Barely ten minutes later he was standing besides Beech at the foot of the ramp leading up to the Stargate as it spun and locked in the individual chevrons as the symbols for Tollana were dialled.
"Chevrons six encoded," they heard the technician say. Beech was watching the whole process with interest. That slim box-like device in his hand and opened and pointing at the Stargate - it was obviously a sensor device of somekind. "Chevron seven locked."
The wormhole burst into existence with its usual 'kawoosh' of vapour before settling into the normal shimmering event horizon.
With the kind of calmness that only came from long experience Daniel walked up the ramp. Beech followed a little more nervously as it was only his second time through a Stargate - though the mechanics of it were similar to transporter technology in that the body was reduced to a matter stream - the only thing about this that was different was that matter stream was shot down a subspace wormhole to another Stargate for reassimbly there.
Daniel paused at the top of the ramp and turned to look at the control room where General Hammond and the rest of SG-1 could be seen standing on the other side of the Plexiglass windows. He gave a quick wave of goodbuy for now, which his teammates - even Teal'c - returned, then he turned back to the Stargate and walked through. Beech followed.
They emerged on Tollana. It was the middle of the night with stars filling the clear sky overhead. One thing that immediately struck Daniel was that it was cold - like a mid autumn evening. It was so strange - normally the climate on Tollana was warm and comfortable with minimal humity, he realised now that that was due to the Tollan controlling the planets weather patterns. But since they couldn't at the moment - Goa'uld plasma bombs had destroyed their weather control grid - Tollana was returning to its normal seasons - not the perpetual Indian summer the Tollan liked.
A single Tollan was waiting for them on the otherside of the Stargate illuminated by the floodlights that relief parties from Earth had set up around the Stargate. Daniel wasn't surprised to find that it was Narim.
"Welcome back," Narim said in greeting. "Doctor Jackson it is good to see you again."
"And you to Narim," Daniel replied. "How goes the reconstruction?"
"Slowly," Narim replied. "We have finally finished clearing away the debris and in demolishing the damaged structures. All our people are sleeping in shelters and those portacabin things you've been sending us - they have been very useful thank you and the naquada reactors you've sent us will help rebuild the power grid so thanks again. We start rebuilding the apartment complexs and other civil facilities in the morning. But the hardest bit is over. Reconstruction will not take long now thanks to the wonders of nanotechnology."
"I'm glad," Daniel said.
"So is the Currier," Narim replied. "After we've finished reconstruction we're going to have to decide how to respond to the threat of Anubis. My people have been knocked out of our complacency - which is something we have needed for along time, they have awoken to the threat of the Goa'uld."
"We've been telling you that the Goa'uld are a serious threat for years," Daniel pointed out.
"I know," Narim replied. "But we ignored the threat so smug in our complacency that our technological superiority made us immune to Goa'uld attack. Now that complacency is gone. What we do about the Goa'uld now is a discusion for another time."
"Yes it is," Beech agreed as he took off the phase distortion device he'd used earlier and offering it to Narim.
"Thank you," Narim said taking the device - which was his own device - and putting it back on his own wrist. "I must go now. I am completely shattered and I have along day tomorrow. The Currier is considering whether to make me a member."
"Well you do deserve it," Daniel pointed out. "Goodnight Narim."
"Goodnight Daniel. Commander," Narim said with a slight formal bow to Beech then he turned and walked away.
"We should go to the ship ourselves," Beech said. "No doubt you are tired Doctor Jackson."
"I am a little fatiqued," Daniel admitted. "Let's go." Beech nodded and tapped his combadge.
"Beech to Resolution. Two to beam up. Energise." The Resolution's transporter beam immediately enveloped them and they were once more standing in one of the six transporter rooms that there were on board a Sovereign-class starship. "I will take you to your assigned quarters," Beech said to Daniel. "They are right next to Doctor Gardners. Follow me please."
Daniel nodded and followed Beech out of the transporter room. He would see Sarah in the morning and then he would begin the process of helping her to come to terms with and recover from her possession by Osiris.