She opened the heavy door of the hall and went out into the cool evening air.
"We must return to the village," she whispered. She walked quietly down the worn down path and watched out of the corner of her eye. Jack was following right behind her facing forward, Sam was facing backwards. They were both nervously swaying their guns from side to side as if waiting for a Jaffa to jump out at them. Daniel and Teal'c were on each side just off the path. Suddenly Teal'c held up his hand and they all crouched. Astrid frowned but crouched with them. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears and shook her head quickly trying to get rid of the sound.
"There is someone ahead," he whispered.
"Kree," yelled a Jaffa almost jumping onto the path, pointing a staff weapon at Astrid's head. Teal'c shot him with his staff weapon, and the jaffa fell. Suddenly another shot fired above Teal'c head.
"Run," shouted Jack. Astrid started off down the path sprinting, she saw Daniel on her left and Teal'c on her right and could hear Jack and Sam's feet thumping on the path behind her. She suddenly leapt into the air, missing a staff weapon that was shoved out in front of her shins and turned round to see Jack grab it, pointing it up so it fired into the sky missing Sam's head by centimeters when she ducked. He yanked it from the guards hands and hit the jaffa on the side of his head and took the staff weapon, hesitated then handed it to Astrid.
Astrid nodded, "this way," she said and ran behind a bush. They exchanged glances but followed her onto a path slightly less worn. She stopped short and hid behind a bush. The other 4 came behind her. "The village is behind this line of trees, we must get to the cabin on the right of the leaders."
"Which one is the leaders?" Jack asked.
"The one you were in this morning." She said he looked blankly at her. "The big one."
Jack snuck out of the bush and into the village. There was no trace of any Jaffa or Goau'ld. He motioned for all of them to come forward. Suddenly a Jaffa came out of no where and grabbed Astrid. He threw the staff away and wrapped his arms round her waist. She elbowed him in the chain mail and gasped holding her elbow, he felt it though and dropped her. She ran a few steps then turned, kicked him in the face, and then dodged a punch.
"Sir," said Carter.
"What?"
"Should we help?" she said.
"Oh right," he said looking for a clear shot. He shot and the jaffa went down. "She looked to be doing alright."
Astrid ran into a cabin, they followed a little uncertain. She bolted the door behind them.
"Listen carefully, we have an old device which will transport you somewhere safe. It has been used for years for defense." She picked up a small peach jewel.
"Then lets go," Jack said.
"I can't go, but you can. Tell Odin who you are and white rose sent you."
"Who's Odin? Are you white rose?" asked Daniel.
"We can't leave you," said Sam. Astrid grabbed the jewel from Jack and threw it at Daniel, Teal'c reached for the jewel, not knowing what it would do. The 2 disappeared and the jewel fell to the floor. "What just happened?"
"Who's next?" Astrid said picking up the jewel.
"No one," said a deep voice. Jack cursed. They turned to see two staff weapons pointed at them. "Put down your weapons." Sam and Jack glanced at each other. Jack nodded and they did. "Hand over the transporter." The Jaffa said loudly.
"What transporter?" Astrid replied innocently.
"Do not play games," he warned indicating to the jewel in her hands, which were in the air.
"Seriously," she said pressing the button on the back. The jewel dissolved into sand and it fell through her fingers. He grunted in annoyance.
"Come," he said. They all filed out of the hut. "Now back to the hall." He said. They trudged back to the hall then went inside and were horrified.
There was a huddle of young girls in one corner, and everyone else in the opposite side. There were some bodies on the floor, Jack almost gasped, one was still smoking.
"She goes over there," said one Jaffa pointing to Astrid, then to the girls. Astrid glanced down at the bodies then walked over. A horn sounded from outside, 4 men came into the room carrying a big golden box on their shoulders. They set down the box and 2 people came out.
"Bow before Lord Klorel." One Jaffa shouted. Jack felt his breath catch in his throat at Skarra under the control of Klorel. He clenched his fists. There was some murmuring and gradually some of the villagers crouched. The girls looked nervously at each other and they crouched, except one.
Astrid coughed and looked round the hall. There was some even louder murmuring. Sam and Jack exchanged glances, they were still standing. A jaffa walked to Astrid.
"You would defy your God?" he accused.
"That sounds right," she replied, not even flinching when he raised the other end of his staff.
"Stop," said Klorel. He walked over to the Jaffa.
"What will be accomplished if you beat one of the girls?" he spat, smacking him over the head, hard.
"Yes my lord," he said.
"Fool," he hissed. The Jaffa backed away, and Klorel turned to Astrid who held his gaze.
"You look into my eyes with out fear," he stated. Astrid stared into his eyes. "You should fear me, I am a God."
"I know your kind, your not," Astrid said. Klorel raised his palm device and it activated and bore into Astrid's forehead.
"Can you say that now, knowing it may kill you?"
"Yes. The Goau'ld are not Gods," she said in one breath, gasping for air and falling to her knees. Klorel laughed and deactivated the device.
"We shall see about that fear," he said. Astrid frowned and rubbed her sore forehead. He walked to look at the other girls and Astrid got off the floor. He was inspecting the girls now in a line. She was last. He got to her and she stared back at him.
"Remove this material from your hair," he said. She sighed and pulled her hair out of its fastening and let it fall.
"I don't know why your looking at my like that," she said. He laughed again.
"You're the only one who will look at me, with out fear. It's refreshing but can get annoying. You're the one I pick."
"Pick for what?"
"You'll see," he said. "Come," he commanded. She raised an eyebrow. "Come or there will be more deaths."
"No," yelled the leader running forward. "I can not let anything happen to her. Please."
"Kill him," said Klorel in disgust.
"No," Astrid yelled trying to run to the first Jaffa pointing his staff weapon at the leader, but was held back by another jaffa. Jack ran to the leader and threw him to the ground, missing a blast from a second staff. The goau'ld was getting back into his gold box, he turned back.
"Kill them all," he said a look of disgust still on his face, he got inside.
"Not again," Jack said to himself as the guards started coming forward staffs activated.
The jaffa guard holding Astrid started walking forward towards the door, half carrying and pushing her along with him, she smacked him.
"Stop resisting my little white rose." He hissed. She paused in shock and he took the opportunity and pushed her inside the box, she was hit over the head everything went black.
Jack pointed his gun and shot a few guards, but more were pouring into the hall. Carter was shooting with him, he looked out of a small window to see a small cargo ship taking off, he turned back to shooting, trying to kill as many as possible. The ground started to shake, the guards looked around and the shooting stopped. There was a bright flash and Jack fell to the floor, he was vaguely aware of Carter who fell next to him.