Part Nine:
Jack sighed with boredom. He hated this. His mind was churning with worry, making the whole experience of being stuck in a cage even more unpleasant. He was bored because he had seen no one since he had arrived here – and that was over three hours ago. And he was worried because Lara and his team were out there – along with about a million Jaffa and a Goa'uld System Lord.
Jack sighed again, but this time it was of frustration. He had to find a way out of here so he could help! And so that maybe they could add another name or two to their list of dead enemies. Which was growing longer all the time – not a bad thought really.
Angry now at his inability to do anything, Jack got up and began pacing with a snarl. Back and forth, even thought it was only a few steps from the one side of his cell to the other. Back and forth. Finally, annoyed with him, Jacob snapped, "Jack! Stop it!"
"What?"
"Pacing! It's going to drive me insane!"
"Fine." Jack said sullenly and sat down with a thump. "Now what am I going to do?"
"Sit still?" Jacob asked hopefully.
"Sit still?!" Jack snapped. "While Lara and my team are out there getting hurt and maybe even killed? You really are crazy if you think I'd do that!"
"No, not crazy." Jacob said. "Just hopeful. Pacing isn't going to help any of our problems."
"No, but it makes me feel better." Jack said.
There was a minute of silence between the two men, as they both tried to figure out what to do. But neither could think of anything that would really work. They had no weapons and no way of getting out of the cells. "Man, I hate this." Jack said after a while.
"Me too." Jacob agreed.
"Guess we just have to wait until they rescue us, huh?"
"Seems like it." Jacob answered. Then he frowned. "Just what I need. To be rescued by my daughter...again! She still hasn't stopped teasing me about last time."
Jack smiled at that. "Hey we could be lucky enough to be rescued by Lara." He said. Then he winced. "Although, I'm not actually certain that would be any better than being rescued by Sam."
"Oh?"
"Lara's rather proud, and the first time we met...well, I wasn't too flattering about her skills. She delights in proving just how capable she is."
"She sounds just like Sam."
"Oh, she is. They get on very well. And Lara can understand what she gabbles about most of the time." Jack said. "Did I mention she's an archaeologist?"
"No, you didn't."
"Yep. Although most people call her a Tomb Raider...or rather the Tomb Raider. No one can beat her."
"Tomb Raider?" Jacob echoed. "Oh, damn, You mean that Lara Croft?"
"Yeah." Jack grinned. "I take it from the look of shock you've heard of her then."
"Oh, I've heard of her, alright. I was in Russia when she killed one of the sons of a rather large mafia family – Sergei Mikhailov. And destroyed a Russian nuclear submarine under the command of Admiral Yarofev. She certainly knows how to make an impact, doesn't she?"
"Definitely." Jack agreed.
Sam, Teal'c, Daniel and Janet crept down the corridor towards the large golden door, tense and intent on their goal. Carefully they each lined up on each side of the door – Teal'c and Janet on the right, Sam and Daniel on the left. Silently, Sam slowly counted down.
5. 4. 3. 2. 1. In a swift movement, Daniel slammed the button that opened the door and the four rushed in, zat's and staff weapons at the ready. The seven Jaffa in the room looked on in shock, and they managed to take down three before the other four grabbed weapons. Ducking for cover behind one of the consols, Sam managed to shoot another with her zat as Teal'c got another from behind.
Now there were only two left. Unfortunately, it was at that moment that the door on the other side of the room opened and another four Jaffa came through. These were just as surprised as the first lot had been, but reacted quicker. Janet shot one of the Jaffa twice, before ducking behind a pillar as several staff blasts streaked through the space she had just occupied.
Nodding to Teal'c, Sam crept around the edge of the room as Daniel and Janet kept the Jaffa busy, hoping to get behind them. Teal'c did the same on the other side of the room. Suddenly Janet cursed loudly behind them, and Sam turned enough to see Daniel pulling her behind a pillar. Sam hoped she was okay.
Quietly, Teal'c and Sam kept moving, while Daniel valiantly tried to keep them occupied. He managed to wound one of the Jaffa, just as Teal'c got behind two of the others. He rose up and fired, not bothering to shout a warning. They both went down before they could turn.
The other two Jaffa whirled around at the sound of staff fire, but Sam was already there. She managed to shoot one of them, but the other knocked the zat out of her hand with a well placed blow to her wrist. She gasped in pain at the impact and staggered back. But before the Jaffa could strike again, he was shot but another zat blast.
The Jaffa crumpled forward, revealing a tired and pained looking Janet. She winced slightly as she lowered her weapon. "Are you alright Sam?" she asked.
"I think so." I nodded.
Daniel and Teal'c had just finished checking the room for other Jaffa, but it seemed it was empty. Daniel carefully locked both doors leading into the room, and Janet sank to the floor. Blood was already running down her arm form her shoulder. "Janet." Sam said. "Where were you hit?"
"My shoulder, I think." She replied, stifling a wince.
Sam rushed over and looked at it. "Just a glancing blow I think." She said. "Nothing serious, but it'll hurt like hell for a while."
Janet smiled wryly. "Oh, yeah."
Sam cleaned and wrapped the wound as best as she could with strips torn from the hem of her robe, When she was finished, she looked up to see that Teal'c and Daniel had finished hiding the bodies. Sam smiled as she got up. "Seems the bridge is ours." She said.
"It is." Teal'c agreed. "Dr. Jackson, are you ready?"
Daniel strode forward, wearing the clothes of one of Svarog's Jaffa. Thankfully, this included a leather headband embossed with Svarog's mark, which would effectively hide the mark of Bastet that had been drawn on his forehead. "Ready." Daniel said. "I think."
"You can do it, Daniel." Sam said.
Daniel smiled gratefully at her for a second, before walking to the main controls of the bridge. "Time to make yourself scarce." He said.
Janet, Sam and Teal'c all walked over to the back corner of the room and hide behind a pillar. This way no one would now they were in the room. Daniel pressed a few buttons, before a screen popped up. It showed the slightly annoyed face of one of Kali's Jaffa.
"Greetings, warrior of Honoured Kali." Daniel said in Goa'uld.
"Greetings, warrior of Honoured Svarog." The Jaffa replied.
"My Lord Svarog wishes to come aboard. He says there is something of great importance he must discuss with the Honoured Kali. May we have permission to board?"
"You wish to use the rings?" Kali's Jaffa asked.
"Yes."
He spoke briefly with someone off screen. "Very well. You have five minutes."
Daniel nodded, bowed his head slightly and signed off. "Let's go guys." He said.
Sam, Janet and Teal'c slipped out of the hiding spot and walked quickly over to him. "So it worked?" Sam asked.
"Yes. Kali thinks it's Svarog trying to come aboard." Daniel said. "But we've only got a few minutes."
"Right." Sam said.
"Told you it was a good plan." Janet said.
Daniel grinned. "You did." He said. "Now let's go."