A/N: I'm going to have to recruit some of you WONDERFUL reviewers to be my full-time cheersquad! Such an amazing response – thank you all so much!
Once again Bekki, you made my day! Glad you liked the line – I was quite proud!
Leanne, glad you got a chance to read… from the news coverage we've got here, it honestly seemed like Rita was the slowest moving storm in history… it dominated the news for almost a week before anything that happened. Horrible hurricane season though – I've never seen anything like it. My heart goes out to all affected…
Dietcokechic, when you get up to this, thanks for your belated reviews!
Of course thanks to everyone else, BookWorm, Trtlsoup, kittn, silver, stargatefan (for being consistent!)… ooh and I'm sorry but my internet's playing up and I can't check to see who else reviewed! I thank you all anyway!
Important note: sdf, yeah I know you're right about the pheromone thing. I'm going to be taking some poetic licence, but I do kinda address it below.
Now as you read this title, you have to do the synthesiser riff from the song by 'Europe'…
Chapter XIX – The Final Countdown
"Ok, now that's just the STUPIDEST thing I've ever heard in my life!" Jack's voice was squeaky high in his shocked amazement. He turned to Baal accusingly. "You actually expect us to believe that the secret not even the Asgard could figure out is sex-appeal!" he almost laughed as he considered how ridiculous this was sounding. "I mean, for crying out loud – it's bigfoot! Wouldn't it be more likely to follow Mrs. Bigfoot, and not Carter!"
Baal looked down his nose at O'Neill, condescending as ever. "In fact originally the Ancients did use a female of Turramulli's species to lure him into his enclosure. Unfortunately none now exist." He snorted in Sam's direction, looking at her with distaste. "Major Carter may be an acceptable specimen for a human, but she is still only a human – the beast will have to settle for second best."
At this comment Jack thought he was going to leap six feet in the air he was so outraged. He saw Sam trying to tell him to leave it alone, but that wasn't going to happen. "An acceptable specimen!" he was wide-eyed in disbelief. "Are you NUTS?! Carter's one of the best-looking women in the galaxy!" he paused for a moment as Sam pointed wildly towards the ceiling. Damn, he thought. Half the Air Force is going to hear about that comment. "Besides," a second issue with Baal's suggestion had occurred to him, "this means you don't even know if you hair-brained scheme is going to work! For all we know he's not going to buy it!"
"That is, of course, a risk." Baal smiled enigmatically. "But I have no qualms about sending you dear Major Carter to her death."
At these words, Jack finally lost it and lashed out, ignoring the fact that Baal wasn't actually there. He swung his arms wildly through the holographic image, only becoming more enraged as the sound of Baal's deep laughter taunted his ears.
"Sir!" Sam shouted for what seemed like the twentieth time. Finally, Jack stopped trying to inflict injury on the hologram, and turned to look at her, the exhaustion and indignation combining in his facial expression. "Sir," she began again, more quietly this time. "We have to give it a try if we want to safely get out of here."
Jack ignored the sound of Baal's continuing chuckles and took a step closer to Sam so they were standing face to face. "NO WAY!" Jack was convinced that it wasn't going to happen. "I am not putting you in that position – there's got to be another way." He'd turned his head and was almost pleading with Baal as he said those last words.
"Sir, if the Ancients and the Asgard couldn't find another way, I'd be pretty sure this is our best bet." Sam had reached her arm out to turn Jack's face back to look at hers, trying to assuage his fears. "Besides, you'll have control of the orb – you can beam me out of harm's way anytime you want."
Jack had forgotten about the orb. It was true he'd have control, and he'd sure as hell have control what with Carter in danger – his emotions could probably power the whole Eastern seaboard of the States at the moment. He leaned in to Sam, quickly looking furtively around at Baal who was now looking at them smugly. "But d'you really trust 'His Royal Camp-ness'? I mean, he might just be trying to separate us so that Turramulli can kill us easier…"
Sam grasped Jack's hand urgently, looking directly into his eyes, her face just as full of concern as his was. "I know. But if Fodor and Thor really have no idea, then we either stay here and die, or try Baal's idea to get out."
"Ok." Jack's voice was shaky, but he tried to steel himself for the task at hand. "Let's just hope good ole Mr. Hairy-Pillock isn't gay…"
Thor beamed down to stand next to Teal'c at the precise moment that everyone within earshot of the Tok'ra communication device had stopped in their tracks, stunned and silent. Thinking it was his sudden appearance that had caused such a reaction, Thor began to make apologies. Upon hearing Jack's irate voice squawking out of the communicator, however, he realised that Baal's 'help' had in fact been the cause.
With the others, he stood silently and listened for a second before returning to his ship and properly scanning the surrounding area in orbit. Quickly enough, he found Baal's ship and hailed it.
"This is Supreme High Commander Thor of the Asgard." His voice was calm but chilling at the same time. "Your presence here is in violation of the agreed protection treaty between the Goa'uld and the Asgard. If you do not leave immediately I will be forced to take action."
"This is Kee'tel, loyal servant of Lord Baal." The combative voice came back over the system. "My Lord's jurisdiction knows no bounds. He will do as he wishes."
"I warn you again," Thor persisted. "Unless you surrender or leave this solar system, I will be forced to take action."
There was no response. Mindful of Sam's words warning him not to compromise Baal while he still may of use to them, he fired warning shots at the cargo vessel before firing one directly at the vessel, targeting non-essential systems. He was satisfied to finally get a response from the ship.
"This is Lord Baal." The flustered voice came through. "I wish to know the reason for this unprovoked attack."
"As I have explained already," Thor replied patiently. "Your presence here is in violation of the treaty signed between the Asgard and the System Lords of the goa'uld."
"You are mistaken," Baal's snide voice replied promptly. "I have no intention of causing harm to the Tau'ri. I am here to reclaim some valuable ore that was stolen many years ago."
"And yet you have threatened Colonel O'Neill with the destruction of his world unless he provides you with the naquada you seek." Thor's logic was infallible.
"You would take the word of that human ball of sarcasm over mine?" Baal sounded incredulous. "I never said any such thing."
"I regret that I am not inclined to believe you." Thor said. "I must insist that you relinquish your vessel to my control to ensure no violation of the treaty." Before Baal had the chance to say or do anything, Thor manipulated the discs on the panel in front of him and a containment field extended from the underbelly of his ship to fully surround the smaller Goa'uld vessel.
Baal's indignant voice soon came booming over the communication system. "What is the meaning of this unprovoked action!" he roared.
"As I have told you, Baal," Thor wasn't at all fazed by the System Lord's anger, "you are in violation of signed treaty and I will detain you until such time that I am certain your cooperation is no longer required. You will then be compelled to leave this sector."
Thor deactivated the transmission and blocked any further incoming communication from the cargo vessel. He reassured himself that everything was in order, and beamed down to the surface once more.
Jack and Sam had both been shocked by Baal's sudden departure. "What, no farewell? Goodluck? Nothing?" Jack had walked over to where Baal had disappeared from and now shrugged at Sam, puffing his cheeks out. Seeing the look of apprehension on her face, he was heavily brought back to the task at hand. "I still don't like this," he said seriously, looking at her carefully, "we can explore other options… there's no real rush."
"That would not be wise." Fodor's voice made them both jump slightly. He was sitting up in the pod and now got out of it altogether and stood, his head barely as high as Sam's shoulder. "If one goa'uld has rediscovered the Turramulli legend, there could be others. The significant knowledge of the Ancients this Baal possesses is cause for concern – we must leave this place and remove the naquada."
"Did you hear Baal's suggestion though!" Jack appealed to the Asgard. "It's INSANE… tell me you've got another idea!"
"I am sorry to say I do not. I believe, however, that his plan has a better chance of success than you might think." Fodor blinked in a way so reminiscent of Thor that Jack wondered whether they were related.
"How so?" The nervousness hadn't disappeared from Sam's voice, but she was encouraged by Fodor's words.
"Turramulli has not been in stasis for all these years as I have," Fodor inclined his head in Sam's direction. "He has been in hibernation for some of this time, granted, but has a very real notion of the term of his imprisonment." Fodor looked passed them to the monster, who was dejectedly trying to bore a hole in the wall of the cave. "He may well pursue any being that is physically attainable out of frustration and hunger."
Jack shook his head, grimacing slightly. "That's still not what I want to hear…" he looked at Fodor, almost pleading to be wrong. "I guess Carter still has to be the bait?"
Fodor nodded deliberately. "It is essential that you remain in control via the Orb, O'Neill."
"Ok." Jack nodded, while sinking to the ground to gather his strength – mental as much as physical. He looked up at Carter, who seemed caught between her desire to get the job over and done with, and her wish to just settle on the ground next to him and forget about the mission. Jack saw her indecision, and smiled weakly at her. "We should talk to Teal'c and Jonas." He stated simply, pointing to the Tok'ra device.
"Teal'c? Jonas?" Sam's voice came loudly through the communicator, shocking those surrounding it, as they had been leaning in close to hear the goings on in the cavern. "You get all that?"
"Indeed Major Carter we are aware of the difficult mission you must undertake," Teal'c replied soberly. "Thor has detained Baal's ship in orbit, he wishes to know whether you have of him that which you require."
"Hopefully," Sam replied. "But we should keep him in custody in case there are any problems – we might be able to persuade him to help."
"I agree Major Carter," Thor had stepped passed the panic-stricken General Marty to take hold of the communicator. "I wish to add my best wishes, as does General Hammond."
"Thanks Thor," Jack's raucous tones came through the transmission. "Next time you speak to him, could you make sure he taped The Simpsons for me last night?"
Thor looked to those around him in confusion. Stacey, who had returned to the site with Jonas just as Thor reappeared on the rock, stifled a giggle. Even General Marty cracked a smile, surprising the assorted foreigners and aliens who had come to know him over the past day or so.
"I will… try…" Thor replied evasively, still unsure as to why everyone seemed so amused.
"Colonel O'Neill?" General Marty had swallowed his fear and tentatively reached a hand out to ask Thor for the communication device. His hand was still shaking with the effort, but his voice remained steady.
"General," Jack's voice was guarded, but polite.
"Colonel, I realise I am waay out of my depth here," the General began, "but I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for us. I think we got off on the wrong foot before, and I look forward to meeting you when this is all over."
"Why thank you sir," Jack sounded pleasantly surprised, "Ditto to you guys up there."
Jack finished speaking to the General, who was sounding much more understanding than he had been a couple of hours earlier, and turned the communicator off.
"Sir, don't you think-?"
"Yeah Carter, relax, I'll turn it back on in a sec." He looked quickly to Fodor, who was standing quietly to the side of them. "Would you excuse us a sec Fodor?" He nodded in gratitude as the Asgard turned around, moving to study the wall of the cavern.
Jack moved closer to Sam and reached his hand up to cup her cheek. "I still don't like this," he murmured, his breath brushing over her nose. "We can find another way…"
Sam shook her head slightly, angling her cheek so it nuzzled slightly into his palm. "I'll be safe," she insisted quietly. "You'll be watching my six from here."
Jack sighed, looking down to try and gather strength. "Ok," He whispered, before placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "Tell me when you're ready." With a supreme effort, he moved away from Sam, gave the Tok'ra communicator to Fodor, and took up his position in front of the orb.
TBC
A/N: Ok, I know I was stalling a bit with this chap, but my head needs time to figure out the action sequences in their entirety before I start writing them! Never fear, I know how it all ends, it's just working out the 'getting there' part so that it's done thoroughly…
You all know what I'm going to ask… I hope you can find the time!