Sorry again for the unreasonable delay between chapters. Coursework can be nasty, and the Internet has been down for the past few days. Only just got it back today. Anyway, here's a longer than usual chapter to make up for it. Thanks to feb04 for the review of that last chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Hunters and Hunted

After making it through the gate clearing, both teams had split up. SG-11 would circle around to the front of the lab and watch the main entrance from the nearby foothills, taking out any hostiles that appeared. SG-1 would infiltrate the lab through one of the side entrances and eliminate any and all Innarim they found.

As Colonel O'Neill led the rest of the team through the difficult terrain lying between the gate and the lab, he heard a familiar humming noise. Signalling hastily to the others, he immediately flung himself down. The others obeyed silently, following his example.

A Goa'uld cargo ship flew overhead, whipping up a nasty back-draft that kept them all flat.

After waiting for a tense few seconds, certain that they hadn't been detected by the vessel, Jack pulled himself back up.

"Major," he barked into his radio to the leader of SG-11. "Did you see where that cargo ship came from?"

"Affirmative, sir," came the crackling radio reply. "It looks like it dropped off the targets near to the lab from their cargo bay and then took off."

"It is likely they consider it too dangerous to remain grounded with the Innarim loose," Teal'c suggested. "I believe they will return with some method of recapturing them when sufficient time has passed."

"Then we'd better hurry," Jack said, leading the way once more.

Getting into the complex had been easy, facilitated by the Innarim gaining entrance first. The guards in the corridors lay unmoving in the artificial blue light, scratched and torn. It was clear from the ugly burns on some of the bodies that the Innarim were using their traditional weapons – the Vapenvulv.

Some vague memory that he couldn't place reminded him that the Vapenvulv bracers had something to do with the shield technology as well as the energy blades. Yet, it was like a Goa'uld capturing him, and then trying to force him to do its bidding after giving him back his P-90. If it were him, he would have avoided letting such volatile, traumatised creatures keep weapons they'd spent centuries in which to become proficient.

Shrugging off that thought, Jack silently waved for Sam and Teal'c to split off and search, aware that if reinforcements were planning to arrive, time was of the essence. They had to sweep the place as quickly as possible, and they would do that much better in pairs than having the entire team stick together.

With Jonas guarding the rear (despite his still shaky faith in the Kelownan's combat abilities), Jack worked his way through the corridors on the east side of the complex. There was an obvious trail of Jaffa bodies to follow, but the Colonel made sure to check every room they came across. He had given Sam and Teal'c prior orders to do the same on the west side of the complex. If their minds hadn't shattered completely, the Innarim might have set up some kind of ambush by lurking along the clear trail of destruction that any fool could follow. Not to mention, there was an undercover Tok'ra somewhere in the lab.

Distant staff blasts, roars of fury, and cries of pain echoed down the hallways.

If he's still even alive…

Teal'c was reminded that that not all ambushes were planned.

He and Major Carter had found a sealed door. Hypothesising that the Tok'ra may have locked himself in to protect himself from the massacre wrought by the twisted Innarim warriors, Teal'c had endeavoured to open the door, relying on his strength. As he pried the entrance open, they found out that it wasn't a Tok'ra that was trapped in the room.

A shadow - tinted blue - threw itself bodily into Teal'c from the gap the Jaffa had opened. There was little mistaking what this assailant was. Sam brought up her P-90, but when the pair crashed into the wall and smashed the light fixture there, she hesitated. In the sudden darkness, she couldn't tell which of the grappling shapes Teal'c was.

All she could see was the dim glow of the kurstallis crystals built into the Innarim's armour. Even with that, it was hard to figure out where the creature's body was compared to Teal'c amid all the struggling, and she was unwilling to hit her companion in error.

In a flash, one shape was thrown against the wall of the corridor. The other cast a limb wide, and a spire of blue energy illuminated that part of the corridor.

In a burst of rapid gunfire, the crazed wolf howled in pain. It collapsed bodily, leaving an echoing silence.

Sam kept her weapon aimed at the fallen Innarim as she joined Teal'c.

"You OK?"

"I am fine," he assured, picking up his weapon.

She believed him. Luckily, he was just a bit battered and scratched, and to Teal'c that was nothing. Despite the noble Jaffa's strength and endurance, she'd already seen first hand what damage the Vapen blades could do – thinking back to Einar and Jack's sneak attack on Wotan a year ago - and was loathe to see it happen to Teal'c.

With the tip of her boot, weapon still ready, she turned the creature face upwards. Sam took in its appearance with a mix of revulsion and pity. It looked like a miracle the thing had even survived the attack on Stoneheim – a sure testament to how durable the Innarim were meant to be. Bulbous, cancerous growths marred its head and torso, fur had fallen away in clumps and the bare skin beneath was etched and blistered from something corrosive.

Simply being alive must have been torture… no wonder they're so pissed off…

"Carter, come in."

Sam grabbed at her radio in the dark.

"We heard gunfire; what's happening?"

"Ran into an Innarim, sir," she replied briefly. "We took care of it."

"You both OK?"

"Yes, sir."

O'Neill began to say something more, but was drowned out by Jonas' shout of surprise and the blaring echo of gunfire on the Colonel's end of the radio. There were vicious snarls and heavy footsteps, Jonas' call for backup… and then the chatter of more, rapid firing.

"Colonel!"

Silence.

"Sir?"

"Carter," the reply was quick and sharp, and Sam sensed her CO was still on ultra-alertness mode. "Got a couple more. It looks like they were heading your way… probably investigating all the noise. You and Teal'c stay sharp over there."

"Colonel," Jonas whispered as the pair continued down the corridor, "did you hear that?"

"The staff fire has stopped… they must be finished tracking down Malar's Jaffa."

"No – overhead," the Kelownan pointed.

Jack scanned the metal plating and supports above them. He couldn't see anything out of order, but he soon heard what Jonas had meant. The metal creaked. Something was putting weight on it. Stalking them…

Blindly, Jack fired off a few rounds into the ceiling.

Following a painful howl, a lifeless Innarim body crashed through the plates and supports. Both men were forced to jump aside as an avalanche of metal and rubble pounded into the corridor.

The dust began to settle, and each of them recovered. Jonas peered at the Colonel through a few gaps in the mesh of metal and stone now separating the two. Jack wordlessly pushed and pulled on the blockage to test it, before trying to budge it more forcefully with his shoulder, planting his feet firmly. It didn't work.

"Jonas, you OK over there?"

"I'm fine, but I think my P-90 is buried under this rubble."

"You still have your Berretta?"

Jonas nodded.

"OK, that corridor should lead to the west side of this place. See if you can meet up with Carter and Teal'c, or even find SG-11 if you get to an exit first. I'll keep going this way."

Jack watched Jonas nod once more and backtrack, gun ready, and hoped he could handle himself enough in the situation. Jack carried on, checking each room, vigilant of movement or noise in any direction, and making sure to radio a brief warning to the others to do the same. He knew that with Malar's Jaffa out of the way, the Innarim would have no distraction from his team anymore.

As he peered around the door of yet another shadow covered room, he was met with a silhouette of a figure pointing its own weapon at him… a zat…

"O'Neill…" a distorted voice hailed through the gloom.

The zat was lowered.

"I was alerted to your imminent arrival by Anise and Freya."

"You're the Tok'ra operative?"

"Yes, I am Turam, and my host is Benedict. Where is the rest of SG-1?"

"Long story. You know your way around here?"

"Indeed I do, Colonel," Turam nodded. "Have you completed your mission yet?"

"Probably not. There has to be more Innarim around here somewhere," Jack warily pulled out his sidearm, making sure Turam was is clear sight at all time. "Here, that zat won't harm them. You take point."

Turam nodded without hesitation, taking the proffered gun gratefully and leading the way further into the maze of corridors. Knowing that a Goa'uld would willingly masquerade as a Tok'ra to gain the upper hand over them, he made sure Turam was in front of him where he couldn't attack him without Jack being able to react first. Luckily, Turam made no move to try and turn on him.

"The hallways end down here, Colonel," Turam gestured, his voice low. "If they aren't around here, then there must be no others of the creatures in this section."

"Carter and Teal'c should be taking care of any of them in the rest of the complex," Jack stated. "But if you hear anything from the ceiling, just shoot at it – no questions asked."

Turam nodded.

"So anything you can tell me about these insane Innarim that we don't know?"

"I believe so, but it would be better left until we have all escaped safely from this place, would it not?"

"Whatever, just keep your eyes open on the way back."

Jack reached for his radio.

"Carter, what's your situation?"

"All clear, sir. Looks like we've cleared this side of the lab."

"Good. I've found the Tok'ra. Start heading-"

A piercing siren cut off Jack's message. As he grabbed for his ears, he heard a crackly, automated voice speaking over the complex intercom. Instinctively, he recognised the words as Hakonan Norse, but his rebellious brain just wasn't reminding him what they meant this time.

"Colonel," Jonas' urgent voice snapped over the radio. "I think that was something about a self-destruct!"

"Everyone, get out of the lab NOW!" Jonas listened to the Colonel's firm order. "Find the nearest exit and fall back to the higher ground."

After he had replied confirmation of the order, and heard Carter do the same on behalf of Teal'c and herself, he began backtracking. With his excellent memory and attention to detail, he knew he shouldn't have much trouble finding an exit again.

Although, he would have felt better if he was with someone else at that moment.

As he rounded yet another corner at a swift pace, he was forced to skid to a sudden halt. At the other end of this corridor, the unmistakable silhouette of an Innarim blocked the way. It's keen senses had noticed his approach before he had even turned the corner.

He definitely would have felt better if he was with someone…

The Kelownan didn't bother hesitating. He brought up his handgun, firing off shot after shot down the hallway, until the clip ran out.

Some of them hit, causing the crazed creature to yelp in pain. It stopped, crouching briefly. It clearly wasn't expecting to be vulnerable to harm. However, it was far from incapacitated. Regaining it's resolve, it charged full speed at him with teeth bared.

Jonas desperately grabbed at his belt for another clip, but the Innarim was already pouncing at him before he could reload.

Pain shot through his back and limbs as the full weight of the creature pinned him to the ground. Still retaining some logic and reason despite the panic, he had brought his arms up to his head and neck. He knew enough about predators to know that it was likely to go for his throat, and blocking access to it was his best chance.

He tried to reach for his radio, but claws tore through the skin on his arm. Jonas tried to wrench it away, but teeth closed around his forearm like a vice. He could hear the footsteps of another Innarim closing on them and he had the horrifying thought that he was about to be eaten.

The second Innarim careened into the first.

Jonas took a moment to realise he was no longer trapped. Hauling himself into a sitting position, back propped against the corridor wall, he squinted down the narrow space at the two creatures. The Innarim were fighting each other.

Tooth and claw… they weren't using their Vapen blades. Then again, Jack and Sam had already told him that Vapen blades didn't work against other Innarim. They were energy weapons and would just be blocked by the shields of the other. It didn't make sense though – the Innarim they'd come across so far in the complex didn't fight with each other.

That left another option – they were quarrelling over prey…. Him

He didn't want to wait around to find out for sure. Forcing himself to stand through the dizziness of pain, shock and blood loss, he began stumbling away. The radio was still on the ground. He didn't reach for it… there was no time to call for help. He scrabbled at the strap of the GDO, pulling it free. Dropping it, Jonas crashed his boot heel into it, smashing the device. Still eager to prove himself, there was no bother taking the chance that it might fall into enemy hands.

As he lurched away, he could hear a yelp of defeat. One had clearly killed the other. Gritting his teeth, he tried to speed up, only to lean forward too far and collapse to the floor.

Jonas could faintly hear the slow footfalls of the victor, stalking towards him, as he blacked out. A clawed hand reached down and grabbed the back of his collar.

Teal'c and Sam had arrived in the hills first, and Jack led Turam to their position. Breathless, Jack regarded his team-mates with momentary relief. Turam bowed his head in silent salute to the three of them, conveying his gratitude.

"Hey, where's Jonas?" Jack demanded, gesturing to Sam and Teal'c. "He was supposed to join you two."

"Jonas Quinn had not met up with us before the self-destruct warning," Teal'c informed his commander. "He should have been the closest to an exit and therefore the first to escape."

"Well, he isn't here," Jack grabbed his radio urgently, "SG-11, this is O'Neill. Did Jonas rendezvous with your team, Major?"

"Negative, sir," came the reply. "We haven't seen him leave through this door either."

Panic swelled as Jack looked over his shoulder, just in time to see several well placed explosions tear through the lab below the foothills, billowing smoke and dust, and collapsing the entire structure in on itself.