An update! YAY!
Sorry for the complete lack of updates the last few weeks, but holiday time for me was a bit hectic. But here's a nice long chapter for ya all for sticking with me! Now on to the big showdown: Rand vs. Sam (that kinda rhymes).
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The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass...
What was, what will be, and what is, may still yet fall under the Shadow...
Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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Rand stared in slight shock at the number of Shadowspawn and Darkfriends. "Um…why are there Jaffa siding with the Dark One?" he asked.
"She must've allied the System Lords to herself," Hailey said. "This could be bad Rand. The people who can channel will be focusing on the Forsaken and a good majority of the Shadowspawn. The rest won't know what to do with the Jaffa staff weapons. Their armor can't stop the hits."
"I know," Rand said. "But we have no choice in the matter. We have to make our stand here."
"Most of these wetlanders will die Rand O'Neill, not to mention many Aiel," Sorilea said.
"I'll fight them all alone if I have to," Rand stated. "Besides, once the Dark One is taken out the rest of her forces should be disorganized. Just make sure that everyone is fighting in a group of three minimum. That should help reduce some of the casualties." Rand looked up at the sky and sighed. "As the Klingons say, 'It is a good day to die'."
"Lord Dragon! The enemy forces are advancing!" a soldier yelled.
"Let's get this show on the road," Rand muttered. He pulled his sword free and cleared his mind. With a fierce yell, he charged forward, his army surging after him. Gliders came swooping out of the sky and began firing on them. "Hold the line!" Rand yelled. "Keep going!"
"We're losing too many men! We have to pull back!" Kael yelled.
"Damn it Daniel, where are you?" Rand growled.
As the words left Rand's mouth, the sun immediately blacked out. Rand looked up and both sides halted their charge as they saw a large ship descending from the sky. It began firing countless shots on the few Goa'uld motherships that had descended. Gliders began flying towards the large ship when F-302s began raining out of the sky.
"I take it we're not too late," a voice said. Rand turned and saw Daniel shimmer into view via hologram.
"Now that's timing!" Rand laughed.
"We've got Kira on board up here so you know."
"What about Sylvanas?" Rand asked.
"Kira doesn't know what happened to her after she was freed. Thor will scan for her, but I think you need some help down there. Beam us down Thor."
Holographic Daniel disappeared from view and a moment later a large bright white light blinded them. As their vision cleared they saw countless Rebel Jaffa along with several scores of military men and women from the nations of Earth who knew of the Stargate Program.
Daniel grinned up at Rand. "Shall we continue the battle then?"
"Hell yeah," Rand said. "CHARGE!" he shouted and the massive army surged towards the enemy.
Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising
Sam glared at the battlefield as she saw her troops falling left and right. "Mistress, this is a fight I do not think we can win," one of the Forsaken said. Sam turned and calmly shot a slab of balefire at her.
"Why are you all standing here? Get out there and fight! And I want the remaining Goa'uld ships to keep blasting the Dragon's forces!"
"But many of our own troops will fall," Lanfear said.
"DO IT!" Sam screamed. Everyone surrounding her quickly bowed and fled to the battle where they would no doubt feel safer. Sam glowered at the battlefield. "Damn you Rand," she whispered.
"You called?" a voice asked.
Sam whirled around and smirked at her son. "Foolish to come alone," she said.
"He's not alone," a female voice said. Sylvanas stood near Rand.
"It's over Great One. You've lost," Rand said. Blood covered parts of his face and the armor for his upper body had been lost. A long cut ran across his chest, but he ignored it. Dirt and grime covered large parts of his skin and tattered clothes.
"You don't look like much of a threat boy," Sam laughed.
"At least I was willing to die with my men and women. There use to be a time when you would've done the same," Rand returned. "And don't say that isn't true. We both know it is."
Sam slowly nodded her head in agreement. "So, what's it to be Rand? Live and let live, or…the alternative for you?"
Rand shook his head. "Violence never solves anything."
"You've been around Daniel too much."
Rand shrugged. "Maybe, but valuing life isn't a weakness. It's a strength. Because when the things we care about get threatened, we become stronger than the enemy," he said. "Stand down and I won't kill you."
"You would kill your own mother?"
"My mother disappeared a long time ago. You may look like her, but you're no mother of mine."
Sam's face darkened. "Enough talk." A flame sword suddenly appeared in her hand and she rushed at Rand. Rand formed his own flame sword and blocked her attack. They began to fight, neither backing down. Rand parried a side-ways slash from Sam and brought his knee up into her gut. She doubled over in pain and Rand rested his real sword against her skin.
Sam stiffened when she felt the cold steel against her throat. "Finish it then," she growled at him. She closed her eyes and felt the blade leave her neck. A clang made her open her eyes and she saw that Rand had dropped the sword. She frowned and looked up at him, confused.
"Rand…what are you doing?" Sylvanas asked.
"No matter how much evil she has done, she is still my mother," Rand whispered. "I can't kill her." He squatted down and stared Sam in the eye. "I won't kill you, but if I ever see you or hear that you are harming innocent people, I will come back and kill you. Understand?" he hissed.
"You would spare my life after everything I have done to you?" she asked, somewhat startled by his behavior.
"You're my mother Samantha. Which means I'm giving you a chance to renounce what you've become. Father wouldn't want you to be this…monster. And you're not a god. No matter how much power you have." Rand rose to his feet and began to walk away.
He cares that much about me that he is willing to risk everything just to save me… By the Light what have I become? Sam thought to herself, tears slowly welling up in her eyes. She suddenly felt her hand seize and realized that Anubis had found a way to control her. She cursed herself for trusting Anubis and grabbed the sword that Rand had dropped only moments before and felt herself stagger to her feet. Rand gasped when he heard the sound of steel sliding into flesh.
With wide eyes, he turned and saw that Sam had thrust the sword into her stomach. She slowly fell to her knees and Rand was suddenly by her side. "Why?" he asked, a frown on his face.
"I made…mistakes in my…past…" Sam wheezed. "I made…a deal…with a demon…who promised power…"
"Don't talk," Rand said. "We'll get someone to Heal you and…"
"No," Sam snapped, cutting him off. "I have to die. It's the only way to safe everything you've fought so hard to protect."
Rand held her hand. "I don't want to lose you now that I found you," he whispered, tears sliding down his face.
Sam smiled. "I will…always be with you…my son." She reached up and cupped his face. "I'm so proud of you."
"Don't leave me Mom," he whispered.
"I…love…you…" she whispered softly. Her eyes misted over and closed as her head lolled back.
Rand bowed his head and wept silently. He frowned when he saw silver glinting in the faint sunlight and pulled Sam's dog tags free from her neck. He rose to his feet and turned to Sylvanas. "Let's get out of here."
"But what about…?"
"I've done what destiny wanted me to do. Now I just want to live somewhere quietly," he said. "I don't care where."
"I know someplace," Sylvanas said. "But they will try to find you."
Rand grinned. "I don't think so," he said, opening a gateway. "Not after they see what happened here…"
oooooo...how exciting! Don't worry though, I am doing an epilogue for this. So stay tuned!