The pole broke under the strain of the woman's weight.
"Get those doors open!" Hammond's voice rang out sharply, his mind unable to fully believe the situation before him. He knew that his people were doing everything they could to break into the gate room, but at the moment there were no results for all that effort. Clearly, in spite of the severe wounds the woman had suffered, whatever energy she had instilled into those doors to keep them closed was serving its purpose well. He couldn't help but wonder if the only way for them to gain access to the embarkation room would be for Vala to die. He had to hope that wasn't the case. Along with everyone else in the control room, for now, all he could do is watch as the Goa'uld approached the still, impaled form of the Ka'rosh.
The red-haired host smiled, the Goa'uld's feeling of triumph causing an evil gleam to rest in her eyes. Standing before her enemy, she spoke, obviously meaning to gloat. "Kree Ka'rosh…"
Abruptly the words were halted as the blue energy, that was slowly rising from Vala's body, became tangible, and a massive white form shot out; barreling straight into the Goa'uld and sending it flying backwards. Red eyes blazing, the wolf snarled and promptly sank its teeth into exposed flesh.
Wrenching the hand device from its owner, the wolf tossed the object away from himself and barely took notice as a shriek sounded from the remaining blue mist; echoing harshly in the contained space.
Lifting itself up on powerful wings, flashing a cold look in the general direction of the parasite, the hawk dived immediately at the discarded weapon. Gripping the cool metal in her talons, feathered limbs beating effortlessly a few times, she glided to a high perch and dropped the item on it; out of reach to all incapable of flight.
Meanwhile the wolf backed up, keeping his crimson gaze locked on his target. Briefly toying with the idea of ripping into the throat of the host; going for the vital artery located there. Instinct told him to do it; experience told him to stay where he was. He listened to experience.
Rising, the Goa'uld retreated a step as the implications of the situation set in. In all of the universe, in all of the legends of the Goa'uld, there was only one race capable of the things being seen. "Vanir," the cruel tone held a trace of disbelief and.. fear? Whatever emotion was present on the host's face vanished as the doors suddenly opened and she found herself the target of more than the wolf's animosity.
Understanding that the enemy was not about to depart with ease, Ca'eles spun around and trotted back toward Vala, concern clearly marked upon the animal's features. Reaching her, the wolf nudged at her face; a whine collecting deep in its throat when the action garnered no response. With every intention of trying again, his body stiffened and his ears pricked up. Turning his head, ears flattening against his skull, he growled and flashed razor-sharp teeth at the strangers attempting to approach. What did they think they were doing? He didn't know them.
Apparently they had the same realization, the armed men stopped with their weapons half raised, uncertain of whether to fire on the creature or not. Without a doubt it was trying to keep the ka'rosh safe, but it was also a threat to them and should it decide they were a threat to it…
Luckily the possible situations never occurred. Daniel arrived and pushed past the guards.
Ca'eles visibly relaxed. He knew Daniel. Daniel would help. He wagged his tail briefly, ears pricked back up in an almost friendly manner.
"You have to let them help her," the archaeologist spoke softly to the large animal, less than a foot in front of him, as he indicated the approaching medical staff with a brief flick of his hand.
The wolf cocked his head slightly to one side, barring his teeth once more in a snarl as one of the med techs got too close for Ca'eles' liking. Again he heard Daniel's low, soothing tones.
The wolf understood the necessity of healing. He just didn't know these people, and, therefore, instinct told him it was dangerous. Red eyes slid over the fallen form of the Ka'rosh, then dropped noticeably to the thick liquid shimmering on the ground; pooling out from under her. There's too much gone, Ca'eles thought. He could feel the weakening of his bond-mate's life force.
Despondently, he allowed the threat to die on his lips and backed away; burning gaze locked on the rather pretty substance whose vast presence meant something utterly bleak. In his mind he heard only silence, but Lasha's solid presence was comforting. Together they watched the humans remove the unresponsive Vala, and together they felt the otherwise imperceptible tremor of energy unleashed in the room. Sadness lingered and knowledge flashed unspoken between the two, passed in a single glance.
If that dark-haired human didn't figure something out soon, together the hawk and wolf would mourn.
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"There's nothing I can do." A frazzled, disheartened Dr. Fraiser responded grimly. "Her body make-up is different than anything I've ever seen. Externally, she very much appears human in most respects, but internally…"
"How can she be that different?"
Bypassing the more obvious responses, Janet continued, "She has most of the same organs we do, but they predominantly seem unnecessary. Vestigial remnants of when they were more like the current evolution of humans."
"So she evolved from a former incarnation of the human species? Like the Ancients?" Daniel wondered why that possibility hadn't occurred to him before.
"Probably. Now she's more energy based then anything and I can't figure out a way to replenish what she's lost."
"Pizza?" Jack offered helpfully.
Janet smiled wearily. "Earlier Vala told me that her species has not required food to sustain them for centuries. I could try a few electrical shocks, but I'm not sure what kind of effect that would have on the way energy transfers in her body. In a normal human, we know the added boost can restart the heart. In her, it could well shut down her entire system and I wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to restart it."
"So, what? We just wait for her to die?" Eyes widened, the archaeologist gave Fraiser the most disbelieving look she could recall receiving in a long time.
"Easy Danny, Doc isn't suggesting that. Right?" Jack's outward calm tried to ease the tension in the room.
"No, I'm not. We're running tests on the blood collected from both the floor in the embarkation room as well as from Vala, herself. So far we've learned that the 'energy', for lack of a better word, in her blood continues to exist even when it's left her body. It appears to enter a dormant phase, however."
"Then how do you know it's still there?" O'Neill ignored the ill-tempered look Hammond shot him with practiced ease.
"Her blood emits a low, yet detectable, charge. It shows up just like any electrical output."
"Do you have any ideas at all, Doctor?" Hammond, too, was tired. It had, after all, been a very long day for them all.
Hesitating only a moment, Janet responded slowly. "The only possible solution I've been able to come up with so far is the off chance of reintroducing the energy she expelled, in the form of her blood, back into her. Now, obviously with a human this wouldn't work and I'd never suggest it. But humans don't have that extra substance in their blood."
"The energy."
"Yes, whatever that is."
"Do you think it could work?"
"I'm not sure, sir. In all likelihood it will fail, but it's all I've got right now and she doesn't have long."
General Hammond took a moment to consider the implications, then with a sigh he gave Fraiser the permission to get started. He watched the doctor leave, then turned to Thor. "You're sure you can't do anything?"
"I regret that I am unable to offer assistance. The ability to heal one of her species with our technology is severely limited. In the Ka'rosh's current state it would be futile."
"Has anyone thought to wonder how those Goa'uld knew they could get through our iris? I mean, how did they know the precise moment she would take over the system?" O'Neill's tone was mild, as though asking a simple, run-of-the-mill question but the alarm in it was unmistakable to those who knew what to listen for.
Silence was the only response he received for several moments.
"What are you suggesting Colonel?"
"Just find it very good timing on their part, is all."
"Extremely good timing, Sir." Sam nodded. "Or ridiculously good luck."
"Or a spy."