Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay. Last week was the college version of spring break, so I had no access to a computer. I am also working on rewriting my story "Transformation" so I can post it on Lexicon. Since I cannot type a fic the same way twice, even if I started out copying it word for word, I'm making changes to it. Since I'm typing it in one massive lump instead of breaking it up by chapter, it's debatable whether or not it'll show up here.

Disclaimer: You get the idea.

Cyber Stargate

Chapter 14: Aftermath

After the spectacular destruction of Apophis' ha'tak, the surviving Jaffa had decided to make themselves scarce, and had left in a hurry. SG-1 combed the forests to make curtain that there were no more surprises laying in wait for them. Once the area had been secured, they returned to the site of the ruins and began helping Daniel poke through the fallen city.

An hour or two later, Sam sensed something and looked up. Ultra Rodimus, back in his human form, was walking toward them. He walked so silently that not even Teal'c had noticed him approaching. Noticing Sam watching him, he shot her a startled look, wondering how she'd noticed him.

Jack noticed Sam's stillness and turned to see what she was looking at. "Finally got your temper back under control?"

Ultra Rodimus nodded. "Yes, I got it back under control. It wasn't easy, but I did it." He looked at Sam. "How did you do that? I can creep up on a mouse without the mouse ever becoming aware of me; there's no way you could have heard me coming!"

"I didn't hear you. I sensed the naquadah in your blood."

"The what?"

"Naquadah. It's a mineral that a Goa'uld symbiote introduces into the bloodstream of its host. We don't know why. Mined naquadah is used by the Goa'uld as a power source. The naquadah in the host's blood allows the Goa'uld to use pieces of technology that non-hosts can't. It also allows hosts and former hosts to sense each other. That Goa'uld was in your body long enough to let naquadah get into your blood."

"You mentioned that those with this mineral in their blood can use things others can't," Ultra Rodimus pointed out. "Like what?"

Sam reached for her pack and began to dig through it. She fished out an item that she carried but only rarely used: a Goa'uld ribbon device. Grabbing his left arm, she slid it onto his hand. It didn't fit quite right, but she adjusted it until it fit well. He flexed his fingers, watching the metal move, then began inspecting the beetle-shaped blue stone on the back, the orange stone on the wrist, and the red stone on the palm.

The major pointed to the blue stone. "This one activates Goa'uld ring transporters; you won't have any use for it. The orange stone activates an energy shield. The shield will deflect anything moving faster than a specific velocity, but anything slower, like a knife, will go right through it."

"And this one?" Ultra Rodimus touched the palm stone.

"Come over here." Sam led him away from the others, then lined up several rocks along a fallen tree trunk. "Point the stone at them and concentrate."

Ultra Rodimus eyed her for a moment, then raised his hand. Emerald eyes narrowed as he concentrated. The red stone glowed, then released a blast of energy. One of the rocks was blown aside.

"A weapon."

"Yes." Daniel joined them. "And that's not all it can do. Apophis used it to stun captives. Ra used one to torture and kill."

Ultra Rodimus looked at the ribbon device for a long moment. "A formidable device."

"It is. But it's better off in the hands of a skilled warrior than in the hands of a tyrant."

"What makes you think I'd keep something like this?"

"Ultra Magnus told us that you are a collector of weapons," Teal'c explained. "He did say that you have a large collection of alien weapons, and that you add to it whenever possible."

Magnus chuckled in Ultra Rodimus's mind. Ultra Rodimus growled under his breath.

"Fine," he grumbled, then turned his attention to his lifebond. (I'll get you for that,) he warned.

((Oh?)) Magnus laughed. ((And how do you plan on doing that?))

(I'll think of something!)

His mate only laughed again. Ultra Rodimus gave him the mental equivalent of a kick in the rear, then ignored him. Subspacing the ribbon device, he looked at SG-1. "Are you guys almost done?"

Daniel snorted and stalked back to the ruins.

"Guess not." Jack shrugged and followed. Sam grinned. Teal'c only raised an eyebrow.

While they continued exploring the ruins, Ultra Rodimus chose to nap under a tree. He was still there, out like a light, when SG-1 finally finished up.

Daniel grabbed Sam's arm, keeping her from touching the sleeping Autobot. "He's a warrior, remember. He might react... unpleasantly."

Sam nodded and stepped back, glancing down at the Autobot leaning against the tree trunk, arms folded over his chest, head bowed, asleep.

Jack hunted around in the underbrush until he found a long branch. Holding one end, he poked Ultra Rodimus in the chest with the other end.

A gold-skinned hand shot out, clamping shut on the branch with so much force it broke. Then Ultra Rodimus opened his eyes and looked up at them. He regarded the branch for a moment, then let go. Jack tossed it aside, watching Ultra Rodimus get to his feet.

"We're ready to go."

The young Prime nodded, following them back to the Stargate. Sam dialled Earth's address. When the Gate opened, she send the team's identification code. Then they walked through the event horizon.

To be continued...

I know, I know, this chapter was short. I'm running a little low on ideas, and most of the ideas running rampant through my brain have to do with a book I just finished reading, The War God's Own, by David Weber. A very good book. Anyway, sorry about how long it took to get this chapter up, and about how short it is. It's reaching the end. Thanks for putting up with my irregular updating. And now, the reviewer responses:

Toby7: Thank you for the compliments. I hope you enjoy the rest of this story. I sent you an email with a couple of possible sites in it. They should get you started on your Transformer brush-up.

Fenestrae: Thank you for understanding. And somehow I doubt sending Ultra Roddy after them would help; profs tend to be really thick-skulled sometimes. A bot his size has to have a relatively harmless way of cooling off, or someone might get hurt.

Shawn Provoncha: Thank you. Please mind the way you spell 'really', you're missing a letter.

Worker72: I have yet to find any official rules for writing fanfics. As far as I can tell, every author who writes AU fics makes up their own rules to write by. So if you don't like it, don't read it. Any further complaints can be directed to my middle finger.

Gromia: Yeah, Worker72 is clearly not reading carefully. My guess is that she/he is using the one-two-skip-a-few style of reading. That would explain why he/she doesn't have a single clue what is going on. I hope you finally get your new CPU.

Until the next chapter!