RILEY:
It didn't take long for my eyes to adjust to the darkness once I stepped out the gate. I stayed low to the ground and crept over to where the Colonel was kneeling beside Jacob, carefully concealed behind some bushes.
Strangely there was no Jaffa guard at the gate like I had expected. I crouched down beside Jacob and breathed in his ear. "Where are the Jaffa?"
"There is a Tok'ra spy amongst the minor Goa'uld here. He made sure there was no guard." Jacob answered.
I nodded. Daniel and Mia crouched down beside me, and I saw movement where the other Tok'ra crouched behind us. We were all alert, watching for danger, and hands on our weapons. Jack looked at me and gave a series of complex hand movements that I could read just as well as if he had said the words in English. Time to move out.
As he moved, I fanned out to the left, my senses on alert for anything that could mean the enemy. So far all was quiet. Daniel, Jacob, Bren and Mia fanned out across the other side of the gate and disappeared into the woods on the other side. Jack soon lead the rest of us into the woods on this side of the gate.
We crept through the woods for about ten minutes, until they ended and we came into view of a large stone wall surrounding an elaborate temple, although it still looked half finished. Jack motioned for us to fall back, and we slipped into the shadows to wait.
A tense five minutes past as I waited, crouched amongst the alien vegetation. I began to feel the anger grow in my head as I got closer to the Goa'uld, and I ruthlessly suppressed it. Rage helped me fight, but I couldn't afford to let it take over - because then I really would end up dead. And I wanted to take a lot more Goa'uld with me before that happened.
At a signal from Jacob, Jack gave us a series of hand movements, and darted off to the right. I kept my cover as one of the Tok'ra came up beside me. Just as he did, I turned to see Daniel and Mia break out of hiding too. "I'll take the north side with the Colonel. You take the east. Jacob will meet up with you there."
Chen nodded, and I broke cover and headed to where Jack was crouched by the wall. Jack signalled to me and then to Daniel and Mia, who were crouched against the wall on the other side of a pair of large doors. I nodded curtly and stood, gun held at the ready.
I looked about and saw the shadows of large buildings in the distance, but after that I ignored them. Destroying the temple was our mission - the other teams had their own. Jack took a position beside me, just as a cargo ship flew over head. Sounds of chaos filled the air from inside the compound and the doors opened. We opened fire and the Jaffa who came running out dropped like flies.
Behind us, I could hear the sound of the Tok'ra helping us, but from now on it was up to us. The Tok'ra would keep our retreat open for us if they could, but our main goal was to destroy the temple - along with all those inside it.
I followed Jack as he ran into the compound, vaguely aware of the pounding footsteps of Daniel and Mia. I fired my gun as we ran up the stairs to the main doors of the temple. I veered left once we were inside, dodging staff blasts as best as I could. I slammed my body suddenly against a wall, barely dodging a staff blast.
I ran down a corridor, my footsteps echoing around me. I knew from the briefing that Daniel, Mia and Jack all had different targets to lay their explosives. I sprinted down the corridor, slipping into a spare room to avoid another lot of Jaffa. I didn't fight them, because I knew I would probably have to fight them on the way out, and I didn't want them to know I was here - yet.
I managed to get past the Goa'uld patrols quite easily, and soon ended up at my target. Laying the C4 didn't take long, and just before I set the timer, I checked my watch. 30 seconds until the others were supposed to be in position. "Riley?" a voice said softly in my ear.
We were using headsets for communication, similar to those worn by the Special Forces. "Sir." I replied. "I'm in position."
"Daniel?" Jack asked.
"I'm ready." I heard Daniel reply.
"Mia?"
"In position."
"In ten seconds." Jack ordered.
I looked at my watch as the numbers counted down . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . I pushed the arming button on the detonator as Jack whispered "Now!" in my ear. The red numbers on the small clock began counting downwards. I had two minutes to get out of here before the building would explode.
I got up and began running as silently as I could down the stone corridor of the temple. I passed the half finished, but excessively decorated rooms and couldn't keep a cold smile off my face. This 'temple' would soon be just a big pile of dust.
When I began to hear clanking footsteps coming in my direction, I hesitated and looked around, but there were no hiding places. I glanced quickly around the corner, from where I was hiding and saw a patrol of Jaffa, helmets down, coming steadily towards me. I looked back down the corridor, but I knew I would not get around the corner in time.
I breathed deeply, and heard the stucco of gunfire coming from another part of the temple. It seems I was not the only one running into Jaffa patrols. I gripped the grip of my P-90 tighter, and swung out into the corridor. Five Jaffa faced me, and I pulled the trigger, causing two of them to fall as I ducked back around the corner. Staff blasts hit the stone where I had just been, and bounced of the floor.
I waited for a pause before swinging around again and shooting two more of the Jaffa. The remaining one turned and began running up the corridor, firing blasts behind him, but I just stood their calmly and pulled the trigger. He fell.
I checked around me to make sure the Jaffa were all dead and there were none left. I was totally calm. It's like I have this little bubble around me, and no fear or anger or excitement can get to me. I'm completely calm and I don't feel anything. The whole building could blow up around me, and I wouldn't feel anything.
I began running down the corridor again and carefully checked around each corner. I took a second to look at my watch. 50 seconds. Damn. I had to hurry. I finally made it to the entrance without meeting anymore patrols and I wondered why. I soon got my answer.
When I ran out through the doors, one of the shadowy buildings on my left exploded and I could hear gunfire and staff blasts all around me. The Jaffa seemed to be few and far between because of the combined attack of all the SG teams. I slipped into the shadows and looked around. I could see no one.
"Sir?" I said into my headset. "I'm out."
"Find Jacob and meet us at the rendezvous." Jack ordered.
"Yes sir."
I crouched low and began to move slowly through the sparse bushes that offered cover. I made it to the edge of the forest in which we had been hiding before. I looked around again, but saw no one. I moved further into the darkness and waited a second before my eyes adjusted to the darkness. When they did, I saw a dark shape moving towards me. "Jacob?" I asked.
Jacob nodded when he was close enough for me to see him. "Chen and Bran are waiting for Jack and Mia on the other side." He said.
It was at that moment that the temple blew up. The sound of the explosion deafened me for a minute, and I had to shut my eyes against the bright light. The C4 blew a large fire ball up into the sky, and flattened the surrounding wall. When my eyes cleared of the white dots and I could see again, all that was left of the temple was a pile of rumble and a few dead bodies.
"Let's go." Jacob said.
I nodded and the two of us started back to the gate. We moved quite quickly through the forest, but I kept an extra eye out for Jaffa. We were just getting in sight of the other end of the forest, and a waiting Lilka and Daniel, when a large blast hit the ground not far from my feet.
I threw myself into a roll, and came up in a crouch, my gun already pointed in front of me. Another blast hit about a meter away, and I looked up to find a pair of gliders above me. I shook my head to clear my ears. They were obviously still a little deafened because I should have been able to hear those gliders before they were on us.
The gliders turned, bringing themselves around for another attack and I ran over to Jacob and Daniel. "What are we going to do?" Daniel asked me.
I was saved from an answer by the Colonel. "Hold position." He said over the headsets. "I don't think they know we're here. They're just trying to flush out the woods to see if anyone is here."
"Yes sir." I said.
So the four of us crouched behind the bushes and watched the gliders swing back around. They passed over the woods again, shooting at the dense parts of the forest and missing us where we were crouched at the edge. The Colonel seemed to be right, but then he usually was.
I peered down at the stargate and saw it was guarded by about ten Jaffa. They were all in battle armour and stood in a semi circle around the gate, their staff weapons held in front of them. It wouldn't be easy getting through them to the gate, particularly with the gliders flying over us all the time.
"The next time the gliders pass over us, I want everyone to attack - Riley and I will provide cover fire." Jack said. After a tiny pause, he yelled. "Go!"
I opened fire on the Jaffa as the others broke cover. Mia and Daniel managed to take out three before they got there, and the Tok'ra took out another two. I covered them as best as I could, while trying not to hit my friends. I could here the gliders coming back around, and saw them blast the area around the gate. As they did, I saw one of the Tok'ra fall.
"Riley." Jack said. "Go!"
I didn't bother to reply as I broke cover and ran down to the gate. I shot one of the Jaffa, while Jack took out another one. The gliders turned and began another pass, shooting as they came. One of the blasts almost struck me, but I rolled forward and swung around, firing at one of the gliders as they flew away, trusting one of the others to get my back.
The gliders turned and I continued firing, and the glider I was firing at suddenly lost control and hit the ground in another explosion. But just before I could turn around, one of the Jaffa hooked his staff around my neck, and dragged my backwards against him, trying to strangle me.
I sucked in as much air as I could and through my hands up to my neck, trying to dislodge the staff. I kicked backwards, but the Jaffa's armour protected him from my blows. Just as I was beginning to desperately need air again, his grip on the staff weapon slackened, and I ducked and spun.
I saw Jack standing over the now slumped body of the Jaffa, a large knife sticking out of his back. I shot him a few times for good measure. Jack nodded at me. "Check the perimeter." He said.
"Yes sir." I said and turned again, but there were no more Jaffa near us. The glider was a short way off still, but it was coming every closer. As I watched, two more gliders joined him. "Sir." I said. "Three gliders coming in at two' o'clock."
As I said the words I heard the gate engage behind me. "Jacob, get your injured men out of here!" Jack ordered.
I heard the soft sound of someone passing through the gate a few seconds later. I began to pull back, getting closer to the gate. I heard another person go through the gate and then another. The gliders were in shooting range now, and I turned, not bothering to watch them anymore.
I saw Jack turn with me. The Tok'ra were already gone. "Move!" Jack yelled as bolts of energy rained down on us from the gliders.
I sprinted towards the gate and ran watched as Daniel and Mia ran into it, a second before me. But just as I went through the event horizon, I saw two of the blasts hit the stargate. But by then I was already through and I felt the familiar cold feeling of being pushed and pulled at the same time.
Then I felt a large jolt that was anything but familiar and the feeling increased, until it was almost excruciating. I grunted as I left the stargate at the other end, and managed to roll forwards and not hit my head on the ground. I came to rest in a heap, in the dirt. I sat up coughing.
I looked around me, and saw Daniel and Mia standing a little way away. They too were covered in dust. Stood up and looked the other way, but I only saw Jack lying in a crumpled heap. "Where's Jacob?" I asked.
"I do not know." Mia replied. "They were not here when we arrived."
I looked over at the Colonel again, and saw he hadn't moved. I ran over to him, and crouched down at his side. His eyes were closed, and there was a wound in his shoulder. "Dial the gate Daniel." I snapped. "The Colonel's been shot."
Daniel came and crouched across from me, as I drew out the small med kit. "I can't." Daniel said.
"Why?" I asked, as I began carefully cleaning the Colonel's wound with some water.
"Because we're not supposed to be here." Daniel said. "Where ever here is."
I looked up at Daniel and saw real worry on his face. "Daniel." I said. "What is it?"
He looked me straight in the eyes. "Because I dialled Earth last time."
I looked at him and felt the surprise hit me. Then I closed my eyes. "The gate was hit on the other side." I said. "There was a jolt as I travelled through."
"We, too, experienced the jolt." Mia said.
I looked up from where I was binding Jack's wound. "Then where's Jacob and the other Tok'ra?"
"My only guess would be that they had exited the gate before it was hit." Mia said.
I sighed, and closed my eyes briefly. When I opened them again, I looked around at the barren world we were now on. "We're in trouble then." I said.
Daniel looked at me. "You could say that."
It didn't take long for my eyes to adjust to the darkness once I stepped out the gate. I stayed low to the ground and crept over to where the Colonel was kneeling beside Jacob, carefully concealed behind some bushes.
Strangely there was no Jaffa guard at the gate like I had expected. I crouched down beside Jacob and breathed in his ear. "Where are the Jaffa?"
"There is a Tok'ra spy amongst the minor Goa'uld here. He made sure there was no guard." Jacob answered.
I nodded. Daniel and Mia crouched down beside me, and I saw movement where the other Tok'ra crouched behind us. We were all alert, watching for danger, and hands on our weapons. Jack looked at me and gave a series of complex hand movements that I could read just as well as if he had said the words in English. Time to move out.
As he moved, I fanned out to the left, my senses on alert for anything that could mean the enemy. So far all was quiet. Daniel, Jacob, Bren and Mia fanned out across the other side of the gate and disappeared into the woods on the other side. Jack soon lead the rest of us into the woods on this side of the gate.
We crept through the woods for about ten minutes, until they ended and we came into view of a large stone wall surrounding an elaborate temple, although it still looked half finished. Jack motioned for us to fall back, and we slipped into the shadows to wait.
A tense five minutes past as I waited, crouched amongst the alien vegetation. I began to feel the anger grow in my head as I got closer to the Goa'uld, and I ruthlessly suppressed it. Rage helped me fight, but I couldn't afford to let it take over - because then I really would end up dead. And I wanted to take a lot more Goa'uld with me before that happened.
At a signal from Jacob, Jack gave us a series of hand movements, and darted off to the right. I kept my cover as one of the Tok'ra came up beside me. Just as he did, I turned to see Daniel and Mia break out of hiding too. "I'll take the north side with the Colonel. You take the east. Jacob will meet up with you there."
Chen nodded, and I broke cover and headed to where Jack was crouched by the wall. Jack signalled to me and then to Daniel and Mia, who were crouched against the wall on the other side of a pair of large doors. I nodded curtly and stood, gun held at the ready.
I looked about and saw the shadows of large buildings in the distance, but after that I ignored them. Destroying the temple was our mission - the other teams had their own. Jack took a position beside me, just as a cargo ship flew over head. Sounds of chaos filled the air from inside the compound and the doors opened. We opened fire and the Jaffa who came running out dropped like flies.
Behind us, I could hear the sound of the Tok'ra helping us, but from now on it was up to us. The Tok'ra would keep our retreat open for us if they could, but our main goal was to destroy the temple - along with all those inside it.
I followed Jack as he ran into the compound, vaguely aware of the pounding footsteps of Daniel and Mia. I fired my gun as we ran up the stairs to the main doors of the temple. I veered left once we were inside, dodging staff blasts as best as I could. I slammed my body suddenly against a wall, barely dodging a staff blast.
I ran down a corridor, my footsteps echoing around me. I knew from the briefing that Daniel, Mia and Jack all had different targets to lay their explosives. I sprinted down the corridor, slipping into a spare room to avoid another lot of Jaffa. I didn't fight them, because I knew I would probably have to fight them on the way out, and I didn't want them to know I was here - yet.
I managed to get past the Goa'uld patrols quite easily, and soon ended up at my target. Laying the C4 didn't take long, and just before I set the timer, I checked my watch. 30 seconds until the others were supposed to be in position. "Riley?" a voice said softly in my ear.
We were using headsets for communication, similar to those worn by the Special Forces. "Sir." I replied. "I'm in position."
"Daniel?" Jack asked.
"I'm ready." I heard Daniel reply.
"Mia?"
"In position."
"In ten seconds." Jack ordered.
I looked at my watch as the numbers counted down . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . I pushed the arming button on the detonator as Jack whispered "Now!" in my ear. The red numbers on the small clock began counting downwards. I had two minutes to get out of here before the building would explode.
I got up and began running as silently as I could down the stone corridor of the temple. I passed the half finished, but excessively decorated rooms and couldn't keep a cold smile off my face. This 'temple' would soon be just a big pile of dust.
When I began to hear clanking footsteps coming in my direction, I hesitated and looked around, but there were no hiding places. I glanced quickly around the corner, from where I was hiding and saw a patrol of Jaffa, helmets down, coming steadily towards me. I looked back down the corridor, but I knew I would not get around the corner in time.
I breathed deeply, and heard the stucco of gunfire coming from another part of the temple. It seems I was not the only one running into Jaffa patrols. I gripped the grip of my P-90 tighter, and swung out into the corridor. Five Jaffa faced me, and I pulled the trigger, causing two of them to fall as I ducked back around the corner. Staff blasts hit the stone where I had just been, and bounced of the floor.
I waited for a pause before swinging around again and shooting two more of the Jaffa. The remaining one turned and began running up the corridor, firing blasts behind him, but I just stood their calmly and pulled the trigger. He fell.
I checked around me to make sure the Jaffa were all dead and there were none left. I was totally calm. It's like I have this little bubble around me, and no fear or anger or excitement can get to me. I'm completely calm and I don't feel anything. The whole building could blow up around me, and I wouldn't feel anything.
I began running down the corridor again and carefully checked around each corner. I took a second to look at my watch. 50 seconds. Damn. I had to hurry. I finally made it to the entrance without meeting anymore patrols and I wondered why. I soon got my answer.
When I ran out through the doors, one of the shadowy buildings on my left exploded and I could hear gunfire and staff blasts all around me. The Jaffa seemed to be few and far between because of the combined attack of all the SG teams. I slipped into the shadows and looked around. I could see no one.
"Sir?" I said into my headset. "I'm out."
"Find Jacob and meet us at the rendezvous." Jack ordered.
"Yes sir."
I crouched low and began to move slowly through the sparse bushes that offered cover. I made it to the edge of the forest in which we had been hiding before. I looked around again, but saw no one. I moved further into the darkness and waited a second before my eyes adjusted to the darkness. When they did, I saw a dark shape moving towards me. "Jacob?" I asked.
Jacob nodded when he was close enough for me to see him. "Chen and Bran are waiting for Jack and Mia on the other side." He said.
It was at that moment that the temple blew up. The sound of the explosion deafened me for a minute, and I had to shut my eyes against the bright light. The C4 blew a large fire ball up into the sky, and flattened the surrounding wall. When my eyes cleared of the white dots and I could see again, all that was left of the temple was a pile of rumble and a few dead bodies.
"Let's go." Jacob said.
I nodded and the two of us started back to the gate. We moved quite quickly through the forest, but I kept an extra eye out for Jaffa. We were just getting in sight of the other end of the forest, and a waiting Lilka and Daniel, when a large blast hit the ground not far from my feet.
I threw myself into a roll, and came up in a crouch, my gun already pointed in front of me. Another blast hit about a meter away, and I looked up to find a pair of gliders above me. I shook my head to clear my ears. They were obviously still a little deafened because I should have been able to hear those gliders before they were on us.
The gliders turned, bringing themselves around for another attack and I ran over to Jacob and Daniel. "What are we going to do?" Daniel asked me.
I was saved from an answer by the Colonel. "Hold position." He said over the headsets. "I don't think they know we're here. They're just trying to flush out the woods to see if anyone is here."
"Yes sir." I said.
So the four of us crouched behind the bushes and watched the gliders swing back around. They passed over the woods again, shooting at the dense parts of the forest and missing us where we were crouched at the edge. The Colonel seemed to be right, but then he usually was.
I peered down at the stargate and saw it was guarded by about ten Jaffa. They were all in battle armour and stood in a semi circle around the gate, their staff weapons held in front of them. It wouldn't be easy getting through them to the gate, particularly with the gliders flying over us all the time.
"The next time the gliders pass over us, I want everyone to attack - Riley and I will provide cover fire." Jack said. After a tiny pause, he yelled. "Go!"
I opened fire on the Jaffa as the others broke cover. Mia and Daniel managed to take out three before they got there, and the Tok'ra took out another two. I covered them as best as I could, while trying not to hit my friends. I could here the gliders coming back around, and saw them blast the area around the gate. As they did, I saw one of the Tok'ra fall.
"Riley." Jack said. "Go!"
I didn't bother to reply as I broke cover and ran down to the gate. I shot one of the Jaffa, while Jack took out another one. The gliders turned and began another pass, shooting as they came. One of the blasts almost struck me, but I rolled forward and swung around, firing at one of the gliders as they flew away, trusting one of the others to get my back.
The gliders turned and I continued firing, and the glider I was firing at suddenly lost control and hit the ground in another explosion. But just before I could turn around, one of the Jaffa hooked his staff around my neck, and dragged my backwards against him, trying to strangle me.
I sucked in as much air as I could and through my hands up to my neck, trying to dislodge the staff. I kicked backwards, but the Jaffa's armour protected him from my blows. Just as I was beginning to desperately need air again, his grip on the staff weapon slackened, and I ducked and spun.
I saw Jack standing over the now slumped body of the Jaffa, a large knife sticking out of his back. I shot him a few times for good measure. Jack nodded at me. "Check the perimeter." He said.
"Yes sir." I said and turned again, but there were no more Jaffa near us. The glider was a short way off still, but it was coming every closer. As I watched, two more gliders joined him. "Sir." I said. "Three gliders coming in at two' o'clock."
As I said the words I heard the gate engage behind me. "Jacob, get your injured men out of here!" Jack ordered.
I heard the soft sound of someone passing through the gate a few seconds later. I began to pull back, getting closer to the gate. I heard another person go through the gate and then another. The gliders were in shooting range now, and I turned, not bothering to watch them anymore.
I saw Jack turn with me. The Tok'ra were already gone. "Move!" Jack yelled as bolts of energy rained down on us from the gliders.
I sprinted towards the gate and ran watched as Daniel and Mia ran into it, a second before me. But just as I went through the event horizon, I saw two of the blasts hit the stargate. But by then I was already through and I felt the familiar cold feeling of being pushed and pulled at the same time.
Then I felt a large jolt that was anything but familiar and the feeling increased, until it was almost excruciating. I grunted as I left the stargate at the other end, and managed to roll forwards and not hit my head on the ground. I came to rest in a heap, in the dirt. I sat up coughing.
I looked around me, and saw Daniel and Mia standing a little way away. They too were covered in dust. Stood up and looked the other way, but I only saw Jack lying in a crumpled heap. "Where's Jacob?" I asked.
"I do not know." Mia replied. "They were not here when we arrived."
I looked over at the Colonel again, and saw he hadn't moved. I ran over to him, and crouched down at his side. His eyes were closed, and there was a wound in his shoulder. "Dial the gate Daniel." I snapped. "The Colonel's been shot."
Daniel came and crouched across from me, as I drew out the small med kit. "I can't." Daniel said.
"Why?" I asked, as I began carefully cleaning the Colonel's wound with some water.
"Because we're not supposed to be here." Daniel said. "Where ever here is."
I looked up at Daniel and saw real worry on his face. "Daniel." I said. "What is it?"
He looked me straight in the eyes. "Because I dialled Earth last time."
I looked at him and felt the surprise hit me. Then I closed my eyes. "The gate was hit on the other side." I said. "There was a jolt as I travelled through."
"We, too, experienced the jolt." Mia said.
I looked up from where I was binding Jack's wound. "Then where's Jacob and the other Tok'ra?"
"My only guess would be that they had exited the gate before it was hit." Mia said.
I sighed, and closed my eyes briefly. When I opened them again, I looked around at the barren world we were now on. "We're in trouble then." I said.
Daniel looked at me. "You could say that."