A/N: This is amazing. I have just had the most productive day EVER – and it's all thanks to you guys! Amazing response to my last chap – thank you all SOOOO much! There really is something to be said for the saying: 'if you want something done, give it to a busy person'. Because I'm so busy, and because I wanted to write this chap so much, I have had the most wonderfully effective day working on my thesis! And as a wonderful reward to me (and you), I managed to write this, less than 24 hours after I posted the last chap! You all see what reviewing can lead to? Don't worry, BookWorm, I'm not working myself to death (although I am quite manic right now… the excitement!)
Ok. Thanks again to Bekki for your inspirational review. Interesting fact about the word 'yobbo'… they do that kind of reversal of letters all the time in French, it's actually a dialect (called 'verlan', phonetically backwards for 'l'envers', which means 'backwards')…
Thanks also to Arrant Schemata, I'd been wondering about my injection of Sam/Jack bits. I can't just ignore what's happened so I hope I'm doing enough but not too much to keep it real. I'm a bit afraid of scaring off some of the non-shippers reading – Flatkatsi where are you!
Thanks to everyone else… new, old, lurkers… I'm really glad you're enjoying the story! Oh, and Trtlsoup, I appreciate the sheer abundance of words in your latest review – every impressive!
Ok. Enough. I think I really am manic. This author's note is like its own chapter! I enjoyed writing this part, so I hope you guys like reading it. I'm going back to the colour titles:
Chapter XVI – Crazy purple
Even from their distant vantage point, the bright flash of light was starkly visible against the pale afternoon blue sky. Sandra Sully had been taking a break from her constant 'update' reports back to the Channel Ten newsroom when this sudden spurt of strange activity had incited a veritable frenzy among the numerous media outlets around her. Scrambling to re-attach the mike to her blazer, she unconsciously repositioned some stray locks of her shiny, blonde, shoulder-length hair, and looked into the camera.
(A/N: Sandra Sully is a main newsreader for Channel Ten, one of the free-to-air – or 'terrestrial' tv stations here in Australia... she's the 'sexy' one who usually does the late news. For any Brits reading, think Fiona Bruce…)
"Yes Steve, I know you're in the middle of showing 'Neighbours' in the Eastern states, but I promise you all the other networks are breaking their programming for this as well." He clicked her tongue impatiently. "Hey, Gavin," she looked to behind the camera where the technician's eyes were glued to four separate consoles. "You've got that footage ready to go yeah? You were taping?" Satisfied with his answer, she squared her shoulders and prepared for the live feed to go ahead.
(A/N: For those not British or Australian, 'Neighbours' is a popular soap-opera)
"Channel Ten apologises for the interruption to your programming." Her voice was calm, even, and professional – belaying the complete amazement that she felt. "There has been a development at Uluru in the last five minutes, when what appeared to be a concentrated bolt of lightening shot out of the sky towards the very top of the natural wonder." She paused for a breath, moving to the side slightly and motioning behind her with her hand. "This bolt of lightening, inexplicable as it was, given the clear skies here today, was accompanied by a severe shaking of the earth. We are yet to receive any seismic data from the earthquake, but the fact that there was a tremor at all at what is almost the very centre of Australia's continental plate is unprecedented."
Having relayed the newest information, Sandra returned to the standard line of the report. "For those who may not have tuned in earlier, the community around Uluru and Alice Springs awoke this morning to discover a daunting military presence on the very site that was handed back to the indigenous population over ten years ago." She nodded to Gavin, who rolled some file footage from earlier that day. "As can be seen in this exclusive footage, captured by Channel Ten News, there is a worrying US military presence in this latest take-over of our nation's most beloved site. Only 15 minutes ago, a helicopter thought to contain the Commanding Officer of the Joint Defence base at Pine Gap, General Marty, hovered near the summit of Uluru, allowing its occupants to climb down onto the rock."
She saw the footage flick back to the confused scenes of the morning when tourists had been turned away from the road leading in to the area. "Tourists and locals approaching Uluru today were shocked to learn of an apparent accident reported to have taken place late yesterday afternoon. We are told some people may have been injured. The closure of the popular destination, however, seems to most to be an overreaction should such a situation be true."
Gavin indicated to her that she was back on, and Sandra looked straight into the lens. "There are various theories as to the true nature of the closure, mostly advocated by fringe conspiracy groups concerned with the true purpose of joint US-Australian operations taking place at Pine Gap." She adopted a knowing smile before making her closing remarks. "Ridiculous as it may sound, the most persistent of these theories is that there are in fact aliens located in a secret chamber within Uluru." She should have signed off there, but a sudden thought struck her, and Sandra added one more, serious statement. "The bright flash of light – and the earthquake – however, have made many see these conspiracy theorists in a new light." She ignored the protesting director's voice in hear earpiece. "That's all for now. Stay tuned to Channel Ten for more news as it happens. I'm Sandra Sully."
The second Gavin indicated she was off the air she wrenched the earpiece out of her ear, refusing to listen to whatever Steve had to say. "Gav," she came around the other side of the camera to look at the image of the strange lightening bolt again. "I want you to round up one of those nutters talking about aliens."
Gavin looked at the handsome woman now leaning over his shoulder with surprise. "You sure? I mean, it wouldn't be just egging 'em on or something?"
"Just do it, ok? I've got a feeling about this – there's more to it somehow." The discarded earpiece now hanging around her neck was squawking discontentedly. With a sigh, Sandra picked it up and brought it to her ear. "And focus your camera right at the top of Uluru – maximum zoom, ok? We need to figure out what's going on." Turning her attention to the noise bombarding one of her ears, she finally acknowledged Steve. "Huh? CNN? Yeah sure…" She grinned at Gavin as he looked at her questioningly. "The news has just broken in the States – CNN wants a first hand account from us."
Back at Cheyenne Mountain, General Hammond flicked through the news stations, a feeling of foreboding settling in his stomach. News of the events at Uluru had reached the US media. Every station barring Fox News was now talking directly to Australian correspondents at the scene. Sighing, he reached for the red phone.
Sam stood next to Jack, once again pointing her P-90 in the direction of Turramulli, who was standing menacingly just on the other side of the forceshield, waiting for something to happen. She prayed to someone that nothing would happen – that Jack would be able to concentrate and focus enough to complete the set task. She glanced at him quickly and saw him scrunch his eyes shut in concentration. She wanted to encourage him, but daren't speak for fear of breaking his concentration.
Jack could feel his stomach doing backflips with nerves as once again he let himself be engulfed by the power within the floating orb in the cavern. He thought of everything at stake. Keep Baal out. Keep Turramulli from getting to them – from getting to Carter.
Upon thinking of Sam, he felt the orb energise finally with a power comparable to that which had resulted in pushing Turramuli back beforehand. Harnessing the strength and channelling his mind towards beaming the pod through the shield without breaching its integrity, he felt his mind fuse with the power of the Ancient technology. His eyes shot open, his mouth let out a strangled scream with the concentration as the shield flashed a striking purple.
As suddenly as it had all began, he felt a light shock on the palms of his hands and gasped, pulling them away. He looked at his palms, which were red and stinging, but seemed undamaged. Quickly looking around, before the shcok engulfed his senses he saw that the shield was still in place, and Turramulli was still on the other side. He felt Sam drop her P-90 to the ground and move quickly behind her towards Fodor.
"You did it sir!" Sam's voice was breathless in amazement. He had seemed possessed, imbued with power. She'd seen her CO engulfed by the power of the orb which had extended from its singular location. The culmination had been a spectacular show of colours and the miraculous appearance of the Asgard stasis pod on the ground next to where Fodor lay unconscious.
She moved quickly to lift Fodor's small frame into the stasis pod and marvelled as the technology bleeped into life, spitting out reams of information on the screen above Fodor's head. She didn't even try to understand what it was doing, as the pod seemed to be taking care of his injuries on its own. Within minutes, Fodor was stirring.
Sam looked around to where Jack was, still standing next to the orb, and an expression of sheer joy dancing across her features. Her celebration was short-lived, however, as she saw the state Jack was in. He still hadn't moved, but his breathing had become laboured and he looked like he might collapse to the ground at any second. Without a second glance at Fodor, she raced across to the centre of the cavern, getting there just in time to guide Jack slowly to the ground as his knees finally buckled. With quick thinking, she grabbed her pack on the floor next to her and slid it around to support his back as he sat there, his eyes vacant.
"Sir!" she grasped his shoulders, looking straight into his un-seeing eyes, trying to get through to him. She felt the panic rise up in her, her heart pounding in her chest. "C'mon, you're alright… please be alright." She whispered in a squeaky voice.
"Then it is true." The sound of Fodor's voice startled Sam. She looked passed Jack's vacant expression to the Asgard, who was peering out of the pod. "Neither of you are Ancient."
"No." Sam's voice was strangled as she fought the ever-growing sense of despair. "I don't know why he can use their technology, but it doesn't seem to be doing him any good!" Her eyes pleaded with the alien. "Help us…"
"But if you are not Ancient," Fodor's voice was infuriatingly calm, and Sam felt as if she could strangle him for being so objective at a time like this, "then how can I be sure you are not in the service of the goa'uld?"
Sam nearly collapsed through frustration, before she suddenly realised who was currently standing on Uluru with Jonas and Teal'c. "Because Thor's here!" She exclaimed, fishing frantically in the pockets of Jack's vest for the Tok'ra communication device. Finally laying her hands on it, she clasped it urgently and brought it to her lips. "Thor!" she waited a couple of seconds, praying to anyone who would listen that he'd answer. "Thor! It worked, Fodor's awake again, but Ja- I mean Colonel O'Neill…"
"Major Carter, I am pleased to hear it." Thor's calming intonation carried through the space of the cavern. Sam saw Fodor's eyes widen as he realised that his friend actually was there. "I am afraid I must return to your ship, as there is a possibility I will be discovered if I stay here. I will monitor the events, and Teal'c has the capability to contact me should need be."
"Hang on a second!" Sam shrieked into the device, the panic still not gone from her voice. She looked over to Fodor, who had cocked his head to the side while listening to their exchange. "Do you believe us now?" She held her breath as she waited for an answer.
"I am undeniably content to hear the sound of Thor's voice." Fodor nodded slightly before again resting his head against the back of the stasis pod. "You may not be Ancient, but you are a friend of the Asgard, and as such I will do everything in my power to assist."
Sam thought she would melt into the ground, she was so relieved. "It's ok Thor, we should be able to take it from here. Thanks for you help." Without waiting for an answer, she tossed the communicator to the ground and concentrated on the man in front of her again. His pupils were still dilated, and his breathing not nearly as easy as she would have liked. Running her fingers down his cheek, she silently implored him to come back to her, before lifting her head to question Fodor.
"It should not be serious." Fodor spoke before she could demand to know what was going on. "When the Ancients accessed great power through the orb, there was commonly a period of time after which their mind was elsewhere." He tried not to sound concerned, although already Jack had bee 'elsewhere' for longer than any Ancient had ever been. "It is possible that in not being entirely ancient, the effects will last a bit longer on your companion."
Jack was fighting through a thick fog in his mind to harness the action that he could feel going on around him. Light was penetrating through his eyes, but the imaged were fuzzy, ill-formed. He heard Sam's anguished voice as if through a couple of metres of thick padding; he struggled to capture the words and understand them. His hands were still stinging, but the pain was dulled to an ache that extended right up his arms to his shoulders, meeting at the base of his neck.
He noticed gradually that the pain in his neck was distinct from the general aching emanating from his hands upwards. There was something sticking into the back of it. He focussed on the jabbing pain caused by whatever he was leaning on, and slowly, his eyesight came back into focus. Sam wasn't talking anymore, but her eyes were fixed on his, her hands clasping his shoulders. He could see the anxiety forming slight wrinkles on her brow; he could feel the short, sharp breaths she was taking as she waited for him to return to her. Finally, his hearing became sharper as the layers of insulation blocking his ears seemed to disappear. He could now hear Sam's breathing as well as feel the warm air flutter over his jawline.
Sam saw the change in Jack's expression immediately. His pupils were no longer dilated and his breathing relaxed. Dipping her head in relief she fought back the tears that were threatening to fall before quickly looking up at his now expectant face. "Oh thank god." She whispered, moving one her hand to touch his cheek, just to check that all really was ok again. "Thought I'd lost you for a minute there sir."
"Nah… just thinking." Jack smiled at her lazily, still fighting to fully engage with the world around him. "Wow. What a trip." Shaking his head, he pulled himself up slowly and looked behind him to see what had been jabbing into his back. Spying the culprit, he swiped at the pack, knocking it to the side. "Those things are so not comfortable…" He looked at Sam, "My neck is killing me!"
Sam sat back on her heels, her face illuminated with a broad smile. "Well sir, you've been a pain in everyone else's neck for so long, it's about time…"
"A-ah!" Jack was now fully alert. "You will not finish that sentence Major!" His eyes were sparkling with amusement, so Sam knew he wasn't serious. "Besides," he added cheekily, "I'd say I was more of a pain in the ass…"
Luckily – for the situation could have degenerated exponentially into unfettered cheekiness from that point – Jonas chose that moment to butt in. "Colonel? Major? Do you read? Is everything ok?"
Sam and Jack both lunged at the communicator on the ground, but Sam's reflexes were vastly superior to Jack, who was still regaining control of his limbs. "Yes Jonas. We're fine, and we're about to talk to Fodor – we should be able to tell you more soon."
At the mention of Fodor's name, Jack suddenly realised that Sam had single-handedly revived him in the stasis pod. He lifted himself off the ground carefully and moved over towards the small alien.
"That's good. You might wanna hurry up though…" there was a hint of concern in Jonas' voice that rang alarm bells in both Sam and Jack's head.
"How come?" Sam asked, now also standing.
"Well, Thor's arrival didn't exactly go unnoticed to the 500 hundred or so people now on the ground surrounding Uluru-"
"Five HUNDRED!" Sam exclaimed, unable to stop herself from interrupting. "What on Earth has been going on up there?"
"Well," Jonas took a deep breath, wondering where to start. "Look, I'll put you on to General Marty, he's the CO of Pine Gap. He knows more."
Sam held the device out to Jack. "Maybe you should take this sir," she offered. "After all, you are in charge of this operation." He took it, and Sam stood next to him, both of them watching Fodor carefully as they waited for the General to speak.
"Major Carter?" a soft, but strong voice came over the communicator, the accent almost sounding British.
"Actually this is Colonel O'Neill, sir." Jack's voice had adopted the slightly-insolent tone he had perfected for talking to superior officers.
"Ah Colonel," General Marty began, "I realise you and Major Carter have a situation down there. But we've got a full-on circus outside the containment line around the rock here." He paused, looking at the expansive desert around him, now dotted with people from all walks of life. "The media's threatening to take over, giving way to much credit to those damned conspiracy theories… half of the country seems to have driven down just to see what all the fuss is about… the aborigines are glaring at us as if we've stolen their land – again… But worst of all," he cast his eyes over the shiny metal swarm settled on the other side of the distant fence at desert-level, "Worst of all there's a good hundred or so rowdy Harley-Davidson riders camped out."
Jack pulled the Tok'ra communicator away from his mouth and looked at it in disbelief. He glanced up at Sam who looked caught between bewilderment and hysterical silent laughter. Fighting the urge to collapse into a fit of laughter himself, he managed to string a couple of words together. "I'm sorry sir, but bikers?" He couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice, which just sent Sam into an actual fit of giggles. She was struggling to hold herself up, grasping the side of the Asgard stasis pod.
"Yes, yes. Bikers." General Marty sounded like he was losing patience. Not with them – but with the whole situation. "The media saw that Thor-guy's arrival and are in a right old frenzy – all the nut-job conspiracy theorists are talking to them now. General Hammond has contacted us to say it's all over the news stations in America and probably the world now."
"Oooo-kay." Jack said slowly, still trying to figure out if this Aussie General was for real. "Well sir, we're doing our best down here, but you'll just have to let us work. Hopefully we'll be back up there in the next 15 or so."
"See that you are, Colonel." General Marty spoke authoritatively into the device. "We can't afford to let this affair drag on – it's already gone too far."
"With all due respect, sir," Jack had gotten over the amusement he'd felt upon hearing about the crazy collection of onlookers, and was feeling quite annoyed. "No one wants this affair to drag on – but in case you hadn't realised, there's a very dangerous alien down here and an even more dangerous one currently in orbit." He glanced at Sam, who looked like she felt the same way as he did. "Quite frankly, our primary concern is to do with them – whatever's going on up there is your department." Before the General could respond, Jack handed the device to Sam and instructed her to turn it off. "He's just going to keep it up otherwise." He explained when she hesitated.
Fodor had been quietly recovering in the pod while all this action had taken place. He was trying to piece together the events from the strange conversation the humans were having with whoever was on top of Uluru.
"Is your world free from the blight of the goa'uld?" he asked, the curiosity evident in his innocent-sounding voice.
"Yes." Sam directed her full attention to the alien. "We're fighting a tough battle to keep it that way – but so far we've remained free."
"That is good." He said simply, resting his head once more.
"Ok Fodor," Jack straightened his back – ignoring the twinge of pain in his neck – as he spoke. "How do we get out of here?"
"You cannot." Fodor stated.
"WHAT!" Jack hissed, leaning in towards the alien menacingly.
"I apologise," Fodor added quickly, "I should clarify… unless Turramulli is properly secured within his designated containment area, the exit transportation sequence will not function. This aspect of the system is a failsafe designed to prevent his escape."
Sam lay a hand on Jack's twitching forearm to calm him down. Curling her fingers loosely around his wrist, she let them settle there comfortably as she spoke to Fodor. "Is there a way you know of to override the system?"
Fodor shook his head. "It is impossible, and unadvisable in any case – to exit the cave-structure the shield must be deactivated." He glanced towards Turramulli, who was intently watching their every move. "Even the smallest window of time would allow the monster to reach our position and potentially exit the cavern as well."
"So we've either gotta get Mr Hairy-Pillock there back into his cell, or we're stuck here." Jack said, with a strange optimism to his voice. "Piece o' cake, right Carter?"
"How do we get Turramulli properly secured again?" Sam ignored Jack's comment, although she had felt her lips instinctively curl into a smile at his words.
At that moment, a familiar, arrogant voice polluted their ears for the second time in the space of a couple of hours. "I told you my assistance would be required." Baal was grinning with delight as he looked at the pathetic humans trying to solve a problem that was obviously beyond them. "Maybe now you will consider my generous offer?"
A/N: Phew! Hope that all makes sense to you! We've got a doozy of a scene coming up with Baal, Jack, Sam and Fodor, eh? I might not be able to add another chap until Wednesday night/Thursday morning as I'm working 8 hour shifts tomorrow and the next day. But you never know… I didn't think I'd be able to post today… and yet here I am.
Hope you can find the time to review!