A/N: The pepsi sacrifice has been deemed worthy – though someone had the nerve to offer up diet ::shudders::
Thanx to everyone who have reviewed – I never thought this story would become popular since it was just something that popped into my head one day.
Chapter 5 – Sacrifices
The level was an experiment in chaos. Few areas were left unscathed by zat blasts and bullets. Bodies littered the hallways – both the dead and dying. Debris acted as obstacles and shelter – depending on which end of the weapon you were on. Screams echoed through the halls as the battle cries of the Jaffa mingled with death screams of their victims.
And amongst this a child walked.
Liam, protected by the shroud of the pendent, walked unmolested through the battles. He sat with the dying; though they couldn't see him they took comfort in his presence. He walked with the wounded, and watched the soldiers fight with everything they had.
It was utter madness – as all wars were.
The Puranas made his way to a large room where he sensed an alien presence. He watched the alien woman send her First Prime off in search of Jack. The alien appeared to momentarily sense Liam's presence but the Furling technology was too powerful.
Liam watched the glowing eyes and remembered his lessons from so long ago.
The Furlings were a peaceful race, though not pacifists like the Nox. They were willing to strike at those who hurt them, but rarely killed. When the four races came together to fight the Goa'uld, the Furlings supplied the weaponry but didn't anticipate in the battles themselves.
The aliens taught their 'children' to avoid the Goa'uld rather than fight them. One of the functions of Liam's pendent, as well as Sanctuary, was to protect their children from the fake Gods.
Liam was unsure why the Furlings had retreated from this galaxy; they never explained their reasons only that they felt it was necessary. As such, he hadn't interfered when the Goa'uld Ra occupied the Earth. The Puranas trusted his 'parents' greatly, but as he watched the devastation caused by a single Goa'uld…he wondered.
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Jack was covered in bruises and scrapes when he managed to make it to the temporary command centre. Carter and General Hammond were in deep discussion when they noticed the colonel. Both breathed a sigh of relief before Hammond asked, "Where the hell have you been? Jaffas have taken control of the gateroom level and are slowly moving they're way upwards and my second-in-command takes of to God knows where!"
"Sorry, General. I was trying to locate a civilian that was on the base."
"I thought Daniel got his colleague out of the mountain before the shut down?" Carter asked, turning away from the monitors. Jack shook his head.
"Not him, the guy's son. I was entertaining the boy while the geeks talked about their rocks. I left him in my office but he's not there anymore."
Hammond swore under his breath.
"Let's hope the boy has enough sense to hide on the upper levels before this is all over. Unfortunately, our top priority is securing the base. I've spoken with the President; we have one hour to regain control or this entire base is going to be destroyed."
"Sir, I don't think we'll be able to retake the base in that short period of time. With an open gate Kali can refresh her troops for as long as it takes. If we could retake the Stargate we might have a chance – but I don't see how we can even get there," Carter said, gesturing to the monitors.
In black and white the images didn't look real; that it wasn't their friends and comrades lying dead and dying. But it was, and O'Neill had never left a man behind – ever. He wasn't about to start now.
A movement caught his eye on the monitory. In the gateroom, the Goa'uld was sitting down on an imported throne.
Pretty arrogant bitch, isn't she? Just got here and she's already decorating the place.
It was her sudden movement that caught his attention. For a moment, Kali had stared intently at a spot across the room. But there was nothing there, not even a Jaffa. She seemed confused and obviously shaken by whatever had caught her attention. But there was nothing there to catch her attention.
Or was there?
Jack remembered back when he was living with the Shirit'ai – before the Puranas 'died'. As an assassin he prided himself on his ability to blend into the environment, as well as his ability to sense danger coming. But the Puranas was continuingly able to sneak up on the soldier. It became a game between the two – one Jack never won.
Frustrated, O'Neill had asked point blank how the Puranas was doing it.
The man had only smiled and touched his pendant enigmatically.
Maybe the thing isn't only a communication device. If I were leaving my kid on a hostile planet, I would leave some protection behind.
There was no time to test the theory; Jack wasn't even sure if Liam would interfere in the matter. Direct interference was never the Puranas' method – but the Puranas hasn't faced watching his Sruti about to be killed by a mad wanna-be god. Jack thought for a second.
I don't think anyway, but the guy has been around for a couple millennia.
"Carter, have you found the First Prime?" Jack asked.
Carter looked at the colonel curiously, wondering what he was planning.
"Yes, sir. Here," she said, pointing the monitor displaying a corridor near the gateroom, "from what we've been able to gather he's looking for something, or someone."
Jack grunted; it was no secret that the system lords saw him as a trophy to be won. Without a word, the headed off in the direction of the First Prime before anyone could stop him.
He reached the barricade to find that Teal'c was already helping to defend the area.
"Hey, T, buddy, how ya doing?"
"We are under attack, ColonelONeill," Teal'c stated, wondering why the colonel was asking him such a question.
"Yeah, I kind of noticed that. How long do you think you'll be able to hold the line?"
Teal'c considered.
"Not long. The enemy has support troops and we do not. What is you're plan, ColonelONeill?"
"Oh, you know me. Just going to take one for the team."
With that Jack stood up with his hands held up.
"Don't shoot! You wouldn't want to upset her uptightness, now would we?" Jack yelled as he slowly walked towards the enemy, to the dismay of his teammate. The First Prime grabbed him roughly and hauled him off.
Teal'c watched helplessly as his friend was hauled away, unsure why O'Neill had chosen to sacrifice himself in such a manner. The call to retreat came over the radio and the men abandoned their post.
And O'Neill to his fate.
TBC
You know, this is turning out better than I thought. I actually have a plotline in mind – it feels unnatural.
What I really need for chips to sacrificed up – you know, to go with the pepsi. ::sigh:: but if you want you could always just review ::heavier sigh:: I guess.