Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters or anything connected to them.

Again, thanks to my reviewers. I know you guys are worried about Sam, but she's tough and I like happy endings (although it might be a bit surprising). I had to do this chapter, it's another kind of filler but there is so much description, I just had to. Lot's of action coming up in the next chapter. Also, I tried a new style of formatting here. Tell me if you like this extra space method better, please. Enjoy!

Our strengths are what divide us from the masses and make us unique. When a member of SG-1 loses their greatest asset, will they still be as valuable as they once were? And can that person come to grips with the loss?

What are we, without our Strengths?: The Armour

Carter stood in the control room above the embarkation room with her arms folded across her chest. She had been there for about half an hour. When she'd arrived she'd sat down in her usual chair and began preparing for the upcoming activation of the gate. Within only three and a half minutes she had almost crashed the entire system. The techs managed to get everything back online very quickly, but General Hammond, in his most polite and consoling voice had asked the major not to touch anything else. So now, Carter stood, arms folded to keep from touching anything.

Below in the embarkation room, the three members of SG-1 began walking up the ramp. Before they stepped through the event horizon, O'Neill and Daniel turned and gave Carter a smile and a big wave. Out of sheer depression, Carter ignored them. SG-1 turned and went through the gate.

When Colonel O'Neill stepped out of the Stargate, the first thing he noticed was the warrior sitting with this back to the gate. The warrior's silver armour was slightly different than it had been before. It was still chain and plate mail, only now flowing down his back was a blood red cape and atop his helm was a black feather with a red tip. The feather was long enough to just touch the top of the cape. The gate closed behind them and still, the warrior sat, never once stirring.

"Excuse me." The colonel greeted. The warrior stood up and turned to the new arrivals. "Krixis." O'Neill recognized the emerald eyes in the helm.

"Welcome back. Does your friend still live?" Krixis asked as a cold gust of wind caught his cape and blew it in the direction of the forest.

"Her name is Carter, and yes, she's still alive." Daniel answered.

"Good. Behind the Stargate you will find a chest. Within it, you will find what you need." Krixis then turned away and sat back down, with his back facing the Stargate, and his emerald eyes staring toward the forest.

O'Neill shrugged and led his team behind the Stargate where they found a gold-plated, coffin sized chest. The colonel threw the lid back and found three suits of armour and weapons.

"Ah, jeez!" O'Neill said as he lifted one of the suits. "This thing weighs a ton!"

"On the contrary O'Neill, I believe it weighs less than a hundred pounds." Teal'c said as he chose a suit.

"Leave all your weapons and modern equipment in the chest." Came a voice from the other side of the Stargate.

After some grunting and heaving the team was finally equipped. From behind the Stargate, O'Neill strode out first. He had chosen the shiny light gold coloured armour. His breastplate was solid metal, as were the shoulder pads. His arms and legs were covered in tiny links of chain mail; each link was a soft gold colour. His gloves were solid gauntlets that covered all of his hand but still allowed a startling amount of free movement. He'd even been forced to change his boots. He now wore stiff gold boots. Surprisingly, the entire inside of the armour and boots were lined with soft animal fur, so even though the armour was heavy, it didn't chafe. He had tried the helm on, but it didn't fit, so the colonel decided to abandon it. Around his waist he wore a belt, adorned with the same things Krixis had, a trinium sword, a horn and a sachet. Krixis looked over his shoulder at the colonel and nodded approvingly.

Teal'c stepped out next. The armour he wore bore a strange resemblance to his old First Prime outfit, only crossed with a medieval knight. His armour was entirely composed of bright silver plates. The armour made him look twice as big and four times as scary. He also wore the same belt, only his sword was bigger. When Krixis looked over his shoulder, he saw the large man in the heavy armour and was awestruck. Only the strongest could ware that armour. Krixis gave a curt nod and watched as the third appeared from behind the gate.

Daniel emerged in a shirt of bronze chain mail. Try as he might, he couldn't stand in the heavy breastplate. The shirt came down to just above his elbows and he wore forearm bracers and animal skin gloves below that. He wore a chain mail skirt and animal skin boots. He wore the same belt but his sword was strapped to his back by a strap going over one shoulder. None of SG-1 wore helms. Krixis looked and nodded at the last to emerge.

Krixis kept facing the forest as he spoke. "Leave all your modern things here." SG-1 looked at each other, but no one moved. "All of it, or we do not leave." Very reluctantly, Colonel O'Neill reached behind his breastplate and removed the hidden pistol. He then threw it behind the gate.

"Happy?" O'Neill inquired.

"Yes." Finally Krixis rose to his feet. "We will head to the ruins within the forest. It is there the Hunters gather."

"How many are there?" Daniel asked when the group started walking.

"The forest is vast. We have seen at least fifty different Hunters." Krixis replied.

The group reached the forest quickly. At the forest's edge, Krixis stopped. "If you are bitten, you will die. Do you still wish to proceed?"

"Let's go." The colonel answered without hesitation. Krixis nodded and the group entered the forest.

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