The Explanation: Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Anything recognizable belongs to Showtime/Viacom, Double Secret Productions, et al. I'm not getting anything for this except (hopefully) reviews.
Daniel
It had been ten days since half of SG1 had been left behind on a planet full of Jaffa and Daniel was going nuts. He couldn't even focus on the images of text covered temple walls that SG4 had brought back from their latest mission. Ten days without Sam or Jack or missions. Seven days since the last UAV had been shattered in an explosion and the wormhole had collapsed and failed to reconnect to the planet. With both the resident technology expert and the resident base commander missing everyone on base seemed at a loss for things to do.
I guess we've never really lost both of them together before. Usually it is either one or the other of them or all four of us together and at least that way we have a fighting chance at escape. At least Hammond used to be here to hold down the fort.
"Daniel Jackson, we are wanted in the briefing room."
Daniel jumped as Teal'c's voice intruded on his thoughts.
Damn, I really ought to be able to sense him by now. How does he keep sneaking up on me? Must be the Jaffa training.
"What's going on?"
"I believe General Hammond has arrived."
"I didn't realize he was being brought in."
"General Hammond is the logical choice to replace O'Neill until his return."
Daniel nodded his agreement and the two headed to the briefing room in silence.
oOo
Aweird sense of displacement shivered over Daniel's skin upon seeing General Hammond occupying the chair at the head of the conference table once more.
I'd just gotten used to Jack being in charge.
"Dr. Jackson, Teal'c, it is nice to see you again, despite the circumstances. I understand that there has been no progress in the attempts to establish a dialing lock. I have been in contact with the Asgard and they are unfamiliar with the planet, but can have a ship there in another month or so. The Tok'ra are…"
"Unscheduled off world activation!"
The familiar announcement came over the loud speaker cutting through Hammond's briefing mid-sentence. Hammond rose quickly and headed for the control room with Daniel and Teal'c close on his heels.
"No GDO signal sir. We are, however, getting a visual signal from the MALP, sir."
"On screen."
Walter turned on the small screen next to him on the control panel. Hammond and Dnaiel hovered over his shoulder for a better view. The MALP showed a well kept man dressed in dark robes standing calmly over a bound and gagged Jaffa holding a SGC patch in clear view.
"What the…"
Daniel caught himself before swearing in front of General Hammond.
I never worried about swearing in front of Jack…
Teal'c leaned over to study the image.
"I believe the message is that this man is an enemy of the Jaffa and he has been in contact with either O'Neill or Colonel Carter."
"But where are Jack and Sam?"
"Perhaps they are injured and unable to travel?" suggested Teal'c.
"Walter, please scan the surrounding area with the MALP camera."
The camera began to pan the surrounding area. The ground was scorched and there was a crater just to the side of the Stargate platform. There were burn marks from stray staff weapon fire all through out the clearing, but there was no sign of other people or more Jaffa.
"Shutdown the 'gate. Teal'c, Dr. Jackson, you leave in ten minutes with SG3."
"Are you sure such a show of force is necessary, General Hammond?"
"Daniel, that planet was recently over run with Jaffa. General O'Neill and Colonel Carter are missing. I am not willing to send the rest of SG1, or any of my other teams, into this situation without backup. Once there you may leave SG3 to hold the 'gate if you feel their presence is unnecessary. Teal'c, you are in charge."
oOo
"Chevron seven engaged. Wormhole established."
"SG1, SG3 you have a go."
Teal'c acknowledged Hammonds command with a solemn nod and proceeded up the ramp.
"Daniel Jackson, you should go first. We do not want these people to think there are more Jaffa coming."
Daniel smiled at Teal'c and stepped through the even horizon. He was met on the other side by the man they had seen via the MALP transmission. He stepped forward and waited for Teal'c and SG3 before addressing the man.
"I am…"
"Daniel Jackson and he is Teal'c. Do I have the pleasure of meeting SG3 or SG9?"
What in the…
"SG3, but who are you and how do you…"
"Not here. We are too exposed and the ones bearing the 'Mark of the Beast' may soon return now that the Great Door has reopened."
The man stepped away from the bound Jaffa and began to move towards the ridgeline SG1 had previously traversed.
"What of him?" Teal'c asked, pointing to the wide-eyed Jaffa.
"The servant of the Pretender is not our concern. Either his people shall return for him or the True one will claim him. Please, we have little time. Your help is needed for the retrieval."
Again the man began walking without waiting for a response. The group from the SGC scrambled to catch up.
"Teal'c, did you recognize the Jaffa's tattoo?"
"No Daniel Jackson I did not." Teal'c turned from Daniel to their mysterious guide. "What is this retrieval you mentioned?"
"Jack and Samantha are almost fully recovered but we are unsure how to retrieve them as we were not able to brief them properly before they were added to the Collective."
Collective? Retreival?
"Excuse me…"
"No more questions please. We must move quickly."
Daniel continued, "I was just wondering what we should call you."
"I am the Messenger, Gabriel. Now please be very careful, the path is small and hard to see. Follow in my footsteps and you should be fine."
With that Gabriel turned sharply off the established path and down into the ravine, picking his way diagonally down the slope. Daniel followed shortly behind him, then Teal'c and SG3 single file. Soon the group was spread out along the canyon wall following a nearly invisible path which wound to the bottom of the ravine. Flowing through the bottom of the canyon was a small rivulet.
"See the rockslide? This is where they fell," commented Gabriel as he stepped around a pile of loose gravel.
Fell? Who fell?
Then he gestured upstream.
"That is where we found them, collapsed on our doorstep, and just out of sight of anyone passing above."
Doorstep…I don't see anything. Wait, is that an overhang…maybe a shallow cut in the wall…who is this 'we' that Gabriel keeps talking about? How did we not detect any of this?
Lost in thought, Daniel stumbled over a small metallic obstacle in his path. Dusting himself off Daniel moved to push the offending object out of his way.
"Please do not disturb the Sentinel. We no longer have the skills necessary to realign or repair them."
Sentinel? I'm getting so confused here. I really wish Gabriel would stop and actually explain something to us.
"How much farther is it to your place of dwelling?" Teal'c spoke from behind Daniel.
"Not much…there is one of the paths to Judea. The city is not far below the surface."
oOo
They watched as Gabriel pushed in one spot on the wall and twisted in another. A seemingly solid portion of the wall slid asideand he gestured for everyone to step inside. Colonel Reynolds, who had returned to command of SG3, halted outside of the cave.
"SG3, you should accompany us as well. It is safer down here with the Sentinels to warn us of the Pretender's return. Also there is plenty of food and shelter for you all."
Reynolds looked to Teal'c who nodded his agreement and they all crowded through the small entryway. The door slid back into position as Gabriel tapped the side of the tunnel, plunging the group into darkness. The surprising moment of pitchblack was brief. As the group's eye quickly adjusted to the dark the cavern walls seemed to glow and ghostly lights began to flicker on overhead.
"Welcome to Refuge, where we await the return of the True God and welcome all who ally themselves against the Beast and his many forms."
The ground before them fell away into a steep staircase as the tunnel opened up to reveal a sprawling underground metropolis.
A/N: Well, I like this chapter a little better than the last one, but I'm still having some difficulty with this fic. There are other stories my brain wants to tell and they're all getting jumbled up in here. Please review so I know that someone's actually reading this and interested in the outcome.