A/N: The character's, except for Emma and a Kianna don't belong to me. I just borrowed them fora bit. Please, let me know what you think. This is the first in a series and if you have a better title, let me know. Feedback is greatly appreciated!
She worked hard at her table, the plasma reactor in her hands was almost finished. She had delayed finishing it for as long as possible; she feared the project she would be given next. As she had designed it, the plasma reactor wouldn't be near as dangerous as the Governor anticipated. She brushed a piece of wavy blonde hair out of her eyes and glanced up. The guards were making their rounds around the large room where children her age worked. She caught one of the guards looking her way and bent her head down, pretending to work hard.
Suddenly, she felt the attention of those around her waver and she too glanced up and saw four strangers walking outside of the room. Kianna, the girl next to her, whispered excitedly to the sitting to her right. "Who are they," Kianna asked excitedly. "They look like strangers."
"I don't know," Emma said, her green blue eyes watched them as they walked. The strangers looked similar to them, except without the pointed ears that marked Kianna and Emma as members of the Baccaian race.
"Get back to work," the guard nearest to them ordered. Kianna and Emma bent their heads, but Emma kept looking up, studying the small group. It was lead by a man, older than the elders she had met during her life. Another man, wearing glasses and a taller man with dark skin followed. Last, a woman with blonde hair followed, her eyes scanning over the rows of children that were hard at work.
"Sir, what do you think they're building," Colonel Samantha Carter asked.
"I don't know. Why don't you ask," Colonel Jack O'Neil said, looking back at her.
"They look like weapons," Daniel Jackson said, looking at the younger children.
"They are members of the Baccai," their guide, Kieran explained, "They are an…enlightened race."
"It looks like their enslaved," Carter stated.
"Carter," O'Neil said, and edge of warning in his voice. She followed his warning, but couldn't keep her eyes off the children in the room.
"Enlightened in what way," Daniel asked Kieran.
"Myth holds that many years ago, the Baccai and the Halens were of the same race," Kieran explained, "But then, through some form of genetic mutation, the Baccai became more knowledgeable. They began to excel in the maths and sciences, as where the Halens remained the same. At that point, the two races split."
"So, these Baccai…they're smarter," O'Neil asked.
"Yes," Kieran said. "Their children to help us make technological advances."
"Do they do it voluntarily," Carter asked.
"It is…an understanding," Kieran said, "I can show you our laboratory, if you'd like." Carter nodded, her mind still on the children that had been working hard.
The building they were in was large and modern looking, with over fifty stories surrounded by thick glass. As they walked, O'Neil couldn't help but notice the slight tremors that ran through the building. "Um, Kieran, I don't mean to sound out of place, but why does the building shake," Daniel asked as they proceeded towards the laboratory.
"Our planet has had much unrest," he said, "A more violent race, the Brachians, have tried to destroy the Halens."
"They attack," Carter asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, but have no fear. This building was built to withstand such explosions," Kieran said. O'Neil and Jackson exchanged glances before continuing on.
Emma looked up, trying to gauge how much longer was left. She had felt the explosions much more today than before. She wondered exactly how close the Brachians were to the large building.
Suddenly, the building shook and several of the other workers looked up, startled. "Back to work," the guard shouted. Another explosion hit and pieces of the ceiling began to fall in.
Before the guard could react, the back part of the room exploded in flames. Emma stood up like the rest of the children and began to run for the doors. The guards tried to contain the children, hitting them and yelling, but none of the children listened. Thick, black smoke began to fill the room. More ceiling fell in, crushing several of the children behind her. The children screamed and began to break through the windows, desperate to get out. She felt glass tearing at her skin as she was pushed through a window with the hoards of other children.
She cried out as smoke from the hallway filled her lungs, coughing as she tried to see through the tears streaming down her face. Emma fell to her knees as ceiling caved in. She ducked, but the ceiling knocked her down. She suddenly felt a strong pair of arms lift her up and carry her through the halls.
O'Neil had felt the tremors start to get worse. He had opened his mouth to suggest leaving when an explosion rocked the building and the ceiling began to cave in. He gave the order to return to the gate just as flames began to burst into the laboratory from another explosion.
The hallway was filled with the Baccai as they ran. Carter was terrified to see so many children running for their lives. She could see several had already been injured as they ran down the hall, scurrying for their lives. "Sir," she shouted as a young girl was buried beneath the rubble of the ceiling.
O'Neil grabbed the young girl and carried her as the ceiling continued to fall. They ran out of the building as it began to collapse around them. Several members of the Baccai ran for the forest, knowing it would be safe for them.
The team ran straight for the gate, dialing up Earth. The girl was still passed out in O'Neil's arms. As the event horizon exploded through the naquadah circle, explosions threw dirt and debris over the team. They ran through the gate, coming out safe on the other side.