Chapter 4

Selmack stirred, he was deeply agitated and worried. Jacob had lost consciousness several hours earlier, and even though Selmack had completed his repairs of Jacobs's body, Jacob still remained unconscious. With great effort Selmack took complete control of Jacob. His eyes flashed brightly and for a moment he paused to take in his surroundings. He was on his back, staring up into a forest so thick he could barely make out the daylight streaming through the thick leaves. He could feel the movement of his body upon a carriage, and he could hear the swift sound of foot steps beside him.

Selmack attempted to sit upright only to realize he had no control over Jacob's limbs. Selmack felt completely helpless, he couldn't move, he couldn't talk to Jacob, and then a curious thought occurred to him. The mission he was on before arriving at the SGC required him to impersonate a minor Goaúld in the ranks of one of the System Lords. Because of this he had arrived at the SGC and subsequently aboard the Achilles still wearing a Goaúld ribbon device.

Selmack concentrated on the device, hoping that his captors had not removed the device. Though he could feel nothing, he could hear the sound of the device charging an energy field. Moments later the energy discharged into the field that immobilized Jacob's body, and in the shimmer of bluish green light the field collapsed. Instantly Jacob's consciousness awoke, and his body freed.

Selmack sat up abruptly scanning the scene around him. He could make out 4 figures dressed in dark green armor. They were blonde creatures that he could only describe as Elves, and they looked at him with shock in their eyes. Next to him lay Sam, she was unconscious and he could tell she was hurt badly.

Ignoring the Elves for the moment Jacob reached over and checked her pulse. It was erratic, and he could tell she was dieing. He scanned the cart looking for the satchel he had brought with him, hoping that the Goaúld healing device within it would be enough to save her.

The satchel caught his eye at the very head of the cart, and as he reached for it he noticed that the Elves had overcome their initial shock and were now heading straight for him. Jacob could not take the time to deal with them just yet, he activated the ribbon device and generated a shield around the cart that repelled the Elves attempted to enter. His free hand plunged into the satchel and he breathed a sigh of relief as it brushed against the healing device. He flung it on as quick as possible and moved over to Sam.

The healing device began to glow orange with powerful healing energy. He could sense the extent of the damage, realizing how close she was to death. It took several long minutes before the glow of the device subsided and Sam stirred awake.

'Dad? What happened?' Sam whispered.

'You almost died Sam'

'Where is Elrond?'

'Elrond?' Jacob questioned.

'The Elf who helped me shut down the core?' Same replied while sitting upright. It was then that she noticed the Goaúld energy shield surrounding the pair, and the shocked Elves who were watching from outside. 'Okay, who are they?'

'I don't know, but one thing I do know is that they had us both paralyzed and you would have died if I hadn't broken free'

'Well, I think we better get out of here and find the ship Dad'

'I agree'

Jacob expanded the shield slightly, enough for both Sam and himself to jump down off the cart.

'Can you move while keeping the shield up?' Sam asked.

'No, I'm going to have to lower it and we are going to have to make a run for it' Jacob replied. As if sensing what he was saying the Elves drew their weapons and moved in to surround the pair. They began speaking frantically in an unintelligible language.

'I don't think they're going to let us go Dad'

'Me neither, I didn't want to have to do this but I guess I'll have too!' Jacob stated as he raised his gauntlet and hit two of the Elves with a powerful energy burst that sent the hurtling into a nearby tree. Before the other two Elves could react he sent another blast knocking them out.

'They're going to have one hell of a hangover!' Sam stated, 'Now which way do we go?'

'I'd assume they were taking us from the ship, so we should head that way' Jacob replied pointing back down the path they were traveling.

'Well lets get out of here then'

'Achilles!' Jack shouted as the Android entered his room followed by an elderly man. The Elvin woman had left just a few minutes earlier.

'Good morning Jack!' Achilles replied. 'You appear to be hurt!'

'Oh, it's nothing a few days rest wont get rid of' Jack replied.

Achilles bounded across the room with lightning speed and placed his hand upon Jacks chest.

'Woe there, what are you doing?' Jack shouted.

'Repairing your injuries' Achilles stated.

Achilles hands glowed orange and sure enough all of Jacks injuries seemed to melt away.

'Okay, now how did you do that?' Jack asked.

'This Avatar is based upon Alterian physiology…' Achilles began.

'Alterian?' Jack interrupted.

'They are they race which you call Ancients' Achilles explained before proceeding. 'Even though my body is technological, it mimics the biological structure of the Alterians, including their ability to heal'

'um humph' Gandalf cleared his throat, in an obvious bid to get attention.

'And who is your friend here?' Jack asked.

'I am Gandalf the Grey' Gandalf replied.

'Wait a minute, you can speak English?'

'I am in fact speaking common tongue' Gandalf stated.

'And it just happens to be exactly the same as English?' Jack stated sarcastically.

'It is not!' Achilles interjected 'My translation matrix is engaged, that is how you two are communicating'

'Achilles, you wouldn't happen to have been made by the Swiss would you?' Jack stated with a smile.

'I was created by the Ancients Jack'

'Right!' Jack smiled again 'So Mr. Gandalf, where are my friends?'

Gandalf looked at the man gravely. He now realized the error in what Elrond had done. The humans that had been sent to Lothlorien could have easily been healed by the one called Achilles. 'Two of your people were injured beyond our ability to heal them. They were sent to Lothlorien, we hoped the lady of the woods would be able to save their lives. The female and the older male were sent to Lothlorien, the younger male is being treated in the room next door.' Gandalf informed.

'Where exactly is this Lothlorien?' Jack asked.

'It is many leagues from here, 8 days by horseback'

'Achilles, you're an android right?'

'Yes jack'

'Well, do you have, say like, sensors?'

'I have access to the shuttles sensors array, but it is currently operating at only .8 percent of functional capabilites'

'and what does that mean?'

'I can only scan within a radius of 23 kilometers'

'Very well, scan for Jacob and Carter'

'Understood, one moment' Achilles replied. His head dropped for a moment then sprang back up. 'I am not detecting them within current operational scanning range. It will be at least a week before the shuttles sensors array becomes fully operational'

'Wait a minute, you can fix the shuttles sensors?'

'The shuttles automated repairs systems have already engaged. The damage is severe however it should be fully operational within six weeks'

'So what you're saying is that in six weeks we can fly on out of here?'

'Yes'

'And go home?'

'As I stated when we entered orbit, these are the stellar coordinates for Earth. It is most likely that a quantum displacement occurred when the quantum induction drive was activated. If that is the case, we would require a quantum induction drive to return home, in which case you will have to wait as long as two years for the Achilles to repair itself.'

'Okay just hold on a second… I thought the Achilles blew up!'

'The core of the Achilles would have survived the blast. From the core the ship can completely regenerate itself.'

Notes: Sorry its taking so long, been rather busy lately, but will get another 4 or five chapters up by the end of the week.