"Forgiven"

Ch. 4

(P5J-2525)

There was a short and subdued, silence.

"We're not going to let him take you, AJ," Colonel DeGraw said. "Not this time."

Aurora nodded silently. They heard a slight rumble.

"We've got incoming gliders, Sir," Lt Tate informed them.

"Alright, Lt , you and the Captain start heading for the Stargate. Keep it open for as long as possible," DeGraw ordered.

"Yes, sir,"

With that the two left. Aurora turned to him.

"So, what do we do now, Colonel?" she asked.

"We find a place to hide from the gliders," he told her simply.

"Okay, but where?" she asked. "This forest isn't thick enough to keep us covered."

"We'll have to do our best," he said as they started running.

"You know that we're no match for 5 Death Gliders, right?" Aurora said as she ran beside him.

"I know," DeGraw yelled. "But we've got to keep these guys busy so Tate and O' Connor can get to the 'gate."

(P5J-2525 Forest)

"How long before the Mothership comes?" Colonel DeGraw asked as they continued running through the thin forest.

"3 and a half hours," Aurora informed him, looking down at her watch quickly.

The Gliders began shooting at them again. Steve yanked Aurora closer to him. The shot missed her by an inch. They then managed to hide behind two trees that were big enough to cover them for a short time.

"Colonel, I have an idea," she said. "But, you're not gong to like it."

"What?"

"It's me he wants," AJ said.

"Yeah," he said slowly. "I can see that."

"I can get to him," she told him. "And I have to go alone,"

"You're right, I don't like it," he said.

"Steve, please," Aurora begged.

"No. We'll find another way to get out of this mess," he told her

"There isn't any other way out of this and you know it," she said.

"You're not going alone," DeGraw said stubbornly.

"I have too," AJ told him sternly.

"No!"

Aurora was getting frustrated. Time was running out for them and the other half of their team. Suddenly the Colonel's radio perked up.

"Colonel, we've got the Stargate open," Kate said.

"Good," he said. "Keep it open for as long as you can."

A small blue 'orb' appeared floating in the front of Aurora's forehead.

"What the hell . . . ."

The 'orb' flew across and hit Steve in the forehead. He fell back a little but remained standing. He seemed to be dazed for a moment. Steve then returned to his radio.

"Keep it open until I get there. We'll go back to earth to get reinforcements," he said.

"Sir, what about AJ?" Matt asked.

"She's gonna stay here and try to get to Him," he informed them.

"Colonel?" there was a concern in Kate's voice.

"Just hold the 'gate," DeGraw said. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Colonel DeGraw out."

He glanced at Aurora.

"Good luck," he said as he began to leave. "Try not to get yourself killed."

AJ grinned behind his back.

"Always the sentimentalist, Steve," she mumbled.

(P5J-2525 Stargate)

Lt. Tate saw a moving figure heading towards them. He placed a hand on Captain O' Connors shoulder.

"We've got company," he told her.

The two pointed their P-90's at the mysterious moving figure. Colonel DeGraw appeared through the trees.

"Colonel!" the two pointed their weapons down.

"Let's go!" he shouted.

The three went through the Stargate.

(P5J-2525 clearing)

Aurora was running toward the Mothership. She saw it moving faster toward her. AJ unhooked her Zat holster from her belt. Next she took off her vest jacket. The only weapon she kept was her knife.

"Luckily, I've been working on my aim," she said to herself.

Aurora hide her things behind a tree at the edge of the forest. She continued running for only a short time, when the Mothership hovered over her and ringed her up using the Transporter Rings.

(Mothership, above P5J-2525)

Immediately two Jaffa Guards took her by the arms. Next, she heard footsteps clanking toward her.

"How lovely it is to see you again, Aurora," a familiar voice said.

Baal came into view.

"I wish I could say the same thing," she spat.

"Oh, how I missed your spirit," he said with a twisted smile.

Aurora struggled against the Jaffa's hold.

"Take her to the cell," Baal instructed. "And have two extra guards outside of the cell. She's not getting away from me this time."

To be continued . . .