TITLE:CRIMSON MADNESS Part Two
AUTHOR:KD3 aka KRISS DREMAK STATUS:Part Two series SUMMARY:Sequel to Dark Embrace ARCHIVED :The Vampire Goa'uld Camazotz is back and she wants Jack As her mate and will settle for nothing else. SG1 and new allies must save him.
Stargate, SG-I, the Goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE. The characters mentioned in this story are the property of and Gekko Film Corp. The SG-1 together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp., Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This Fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment.
All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
© 2004 KD³ Tales from the Gate Kristine "Kriss" Dremak 2004 October 13, 2004
The cavern was immense and glimmered with the stalactites, stalagmites and huge crystal formations some taller than ten feet. It had taken them generations but without losing the natural beauty of the mineral and gemstone formations the Obyri had formed dwellings and homes in the labyrinths of caves under the mountain ranges of this planet they had been transplanted to. Yurik stood in front of the gathering of all the elders and respected members of his people. In his role as one of the eldest and direct descendant of the Masters, Yurik prepared to address the representatives of his people.
"The strangers who come from the first world, who walked through the Circle of standing water, have returned. They need our help." He laid it out with out any preamble.
"Why should we help them?" The question came from a distant uncle from his mating with, Perita, his deceased mate and the mother of his only child and heir, Umbra. The question was not raised with any more emotion than simple inquisitiveness.
"The one who caused the Usurper demonness to flee has become her captive. These people offer us their hand in friendship and ask nothing more of us." Yurik was supposing this though he knew this is what the people he had heard called Tau'ri had agreed to with Ivanyn and the Rusno. He hoped that the same would be offered to him.
There was a soft murmur among the group. There was a debt to be paid here and the Obyri knew it. The Goa'uld had come destroying several generations back. She immediately began to ravage the Rusno feeding her hunger, as they had once millennium before, before they had come to a mutually beneficial relationship. The Rusno in turn began to fear the Obyri and hunted them and kept them from the herds of fat cattle and other animals that Obyri needed to feed from. They had been forced to move further, deeper into the caves and into the darkness of night, away from one-time friends.
The number of the Wampry had dwindled due to the lack of food and the perdition by both Camazotz and the Rusno. From what had been tens of thousands, they had been reduced to, and maintained, a population of no more then several thousand scattered over the entire surface of the habitable portions of the planet. There were those of his kind who had resorted to the wild ways and had fled to untamed parts of the planet. His own clan numbered 1313, the holy number.
Yurik felt a gentle touch on his arm; he turned to find his beautiful daughter, Umbra. Only a head shorter her figure was perfect , each line and curve could have been carved by an artist, Her skin just as pale as the purest of marble and her burgundy eyes as deep as an aged wine and liquid with emotion Her hair, the color of copper, was tied at her right ear and hung in a braid down to her waist. She was the vision of his dead love, her mother.
"How can we help them, these Tauri?" She asked, her voice as soft as a leaf falling on a slow running stream.
"They mean to free their silver- haired warrior. He is important to them. He is a great leader. I have seen how they speak of him. I reached into their hearts. There is much love and respect for this one named O'Neill. They fear and hate the vile one as much if not more than we." Yurik continued, taking his daughters hand in his.
"I would go to them, father. I know their ways better more than any other of our kind." Umbra stated and her remark caused a gasp from the assembled. They knew that she was speaking truth for she had taken it upon herself, as had her mother, to keep close surveillance on the demon and her warriors. This duty had caused her mother's death and nearly her own.
Umbra bore the scars of a staff weapon blast on one well-shaped leg. The magic of the Obyri had barely been enough to sustain her, only her determination had kept her from dying. Umbra had been present, hidden in the shadows invisible to Camazotz and her minion, during O'Neill's captivity. She had seen the valiant struggle to not succumb, the torture of his body and the horror in his eyes and the agony of his soul when he had been tricked into killing innocents. His was a soul worth saving and, as the Shamaness of her clan, she was bound to be healer and the helper.
"Daughter, do you know what you offer?" Yurik looked into his daughter's eyes as he cupped her face in his hands.
"Yes, father, it is my place. If all agree, we shall return to these people and show them they may have a friend in the Obyri." Umbra leaned up and kissed her father on the cheek.
Yurik and Umbra waited only moments for the collective to give them their agreement. The soft wave of thoughts and words washed over them. Though they lived off blood, they were not the killers of the ancient days and only wished harmony and peace to be.
At the next moon rises, father and daughter presented themselves in the home of the Provider and to the expectant faces of the strangers.
"Vampires? Are you serious? Do you really think I can believe that? I am, you are, we are scientists!" Sam yelled back into Daniel's face as she paced back and forth in the bedroom they had been shown to. Teal'c sat on the floor in the first stages of Kel'no'reem. One eyebrow raised in both annoyance and awareness of the heated conversation.
"Sam, you saw Jack the last time,. Janet told us he had been nearly bled to death, drained of his blood, and the marks on his neck. If Camazotz is not a real vampire, then she is mimicking all of what we know as actions of one. The blood drinking; only coming out at night..." Daniel was trying to appease Sam but he knew it was her deep unspoken concern for Jack that was driving her.
"Vampires?" Sam down heavily and grabbed one of the pillows and hugged it tightly.
"The Obyri are Wampry, I mean vampires, Sam, but apparently not in the image that has been portrayed on late night moves and in a Bram Stoker novel." Again he was using the same voice he used when he tried to placate Jack.
"I want to test them." The voice was Janet's as she and CJ entered the room the only door was a soft fabric curtain to the central hallway.
"Look ,I'm not Buffy or Wes Craven here, but I have seen a lot of weird crap brought through the gate and all the stuff you guys have witnessed. Why is there a problem with the fact these Obies are real vampires?" CJ barked, wishing she had a cigarette and a shot of tequila. About now she was missing the quiet of the psycho wards.
"Obyri," Daniel corrected.
"Whatever, Oprahs, Opies, whomever, okay, I mean if they have some kind of symbiotic relationship with the Rusnos and they don't suck people dry of all their blood, turn them into creatures of the night Nosferatu style, or fly around like bats, live and let live. Our main concern should is to get the Colonel back before that damn Goa'uld accomplishes what she tried last time."
CJ's rather heated statement made the members of SG1 looked at her a little differently. She had been Jack's nurse after the last incident, almost his private keeper, and it had been CJ that managed to subdue a dangerous and traumatized Colonel without concern for her personal welfare. She still had the scars. It was also because of her background and her time with O'Neill that her remarks bore more weight. Up until now, she had remained a silent observer.
"Oh, hell!. Look my grandmother on my mother's side was from the old country. I'm part Romanian. These people, the Rusno, could be distant cousins. Daniel, you know the legends of night flying demons are common among many cultures. My grandmother spoke of things she heard, things the Red Army couldn't beat and were even scared of." CJ didn't know what else to say but knew she was clouding her real concern for the Colonel. He had barely made it out the last time, if he was subjected to the same torture again even the Iron Colonel may not make it out because there was a darker aspect to it. Too many atrocities had been committed on his body and psyche. There was going to come a day when he would succumb. He would be lost to himself and everyone else. She wanted to prevent that from happening, at least on her watch.
Teal'c absorbed the nurse's words and saw into her soul. There was more than just the concern of legends in her mind. He remembered how difficult it had been to reach O'Neill again after his first encounter with Camazotz. He had seen a change in relationship with General Hammond and O'Neill as if they shared a secret that only they were privy to, one that went beyond their shared working experience. He was, in fact, saddened that he had no part in this new intimacy ,but understood his friend O'Neill had to hold his desolation within fearing it freed,
it would conquer him, fearing it freed , it would devastate those the warrior loved and cared for.
"Yurik has returned." Ivanyn announced as he pushed the curtain back.
The five rushed after their host and followed him into the night air. Under the light of the twin moons Yurik stood for a brief moment , his eyes glowed in the reflected silver light, making it appear as if they were glowing garnets. Next to him dressed in the same gray black material clinging to her shape was a young woman. Her beauty was unsurpassed and Daniel even heard Teal'c sharply inhaled in appreciation. Again in the presence of the Obyri, the SGC personnel felt the overwhelming sense of attractions, arousal and yet calm. There was no threat or evil with these people.
"My daughter will travel with you.," Yurik stated softly, both pride and concern in his voice as he took the young woman's hand and led her to Daniel. "She is special to me and special to my people."
"Yurik this is such a ..." Daniel stumbled for the words ,unable to take his eyes of the young woman's face. Her skin was pale as milk but her burgundy colored eyes seemed to glow with a fire of emotions, and yet her full lips smiled with a promise of humor. The touch of her skin was like silk. Her scent was floral like the first inhalation of a meadow full of wild flowers after a late spring rain.
"I am Umbra, daughter of Yurik. I will go with you." She looked directly at Daniel and searched deep the clear calm blue waters of his eyes. Her gaze pierced his soul gently but Daniel felt himself weak(,) and sat down heavily unable to find the strength to continue standing so draining was her gaze. But then he let her in, opened to her, let all guards down and he was no longer weak. There was a sweetness even a contentment that suddenly washed over him as if some of the scars had been removed from his battered heart.
Umbra felt it all - sensed pain and honesty in Daniel that was so pure it soothed any anxiety. She took one of Daniel's hands and brought his wrist up to her lips. For a second she felt the pulse on her damask rose lips and drank in his scent. A quick bite and she could mark him but now was not the time. "We are honored by you offer to accompany us on this mission,. " Teal'c the only one who seemed to be unaffected by the two Obyri, bowed to the young woman. "Will you require or have any special needs?"
"Few will be my needs; I am ready to depart with you. We must away for it cannot be allowed for the demoness to destroy the silver haired warrior. This would be too grievous." Umbra's concern was added to the soft rustle of her voice. She released Daniel's hand and looked into her father's eyes. While the Obyri were not true telepaths, they were empaths. Her touching of Daniel had shown her father that he was the one she had chosen. Yurik agreed Daniel was the most likely to be sympathetic and ready to provide what his daughter would need to undertake this mission.
Umbra acknowledged Teal'c, but could not bring herself near him. The symbiote within him was of the same vileness that been devastating her world for generations. The imposing warrior was an enigma for he possessed a heart that struggled to redeem itself. The darkness was there, created from falsehoods and the ignorance of cultural imprinting. Now, with his concern for his comrade she could see the love he had and the pain he suffered. These gate walkers, as she had come to think of them, were to be trusted.
Breaking the silent spell that had drifted over the room was the sudden crackle of Major Lawrence's radio. Captain Nave, who had taken up watch at the gate, was relaying information from the SGC.
"Major, your father has sent the gate address for the rendezvous. We have util 2315 to go through the gate."
The announcement brought the SG personnel back to the ugly and urgent realities. Umbra turned to her father and they hugged with Yurik kissing her gently on the forehead in a normal representation of family life.
"Major, there was a stipulation. Your father said he can only handle eight people, and that is counting the Colonel, on the way back." Lawrence hesitated to provide the information though he had already prepared his cut list.
"This one will stay. We can learn much of your people as you can of us." Yurik announce taking a surprised CJ's hand.
" 'kay." CJ managed to mutter feeling almost palpable power coming from the satin touch of the Vampire.
"Captain Nave and Lieutenant Blaney are going to stay and guard the gate and ..." Lawrence decided and received a nod from Sam. While he was the senior officer , it was Sam who was in command. "You, Captain O'Connor do what ever medical things.. are needed." He eyed Yurik warily for the first time.
"Your people will be under my protection." Yurik smiled broadly knowing that Lawrence's remark had the hidden message of protecting the blonde nurse from him. His smile was friendly but revealed two large canines which did nothing to ease Lawrence's concern.
The team headed towards the gate accompanied by Yurik and Ivanyn. Daniel took Umbra's hand as he led he to the event horizon.
"There is alot of science behind this and Sam, Major Carter, can explain that but, well, there is just so much to explain." Daniel was entranced and finding it hard to keep his thoughts from anything but Umbra. Her skin, so alabaster, seems to emit warmth like heat through velvet. "You don't have to be frightened."
"I trust you, Daniel." Umbra said simply and took a step through the gate her hand still in Daniel's.
As the gate shut down, Captain Nave and Lieutenant Blaney turned to eye Ivanyn and Yurik who now had his arms around CJ's waist. To their surprise, two more beautiful women seemed to apport from the under the shadows of the twin full moons.
The three SG personnel found themselves wrapped in the loving embrace each of an Obyri. At first the kisses were light but became more passionate and they could not help but respond in kind. Ivanyn smiled knowingly as he watched the eyes of the Obyri glow red as their fangs sank into the exposed jugulars of the gate walkers.
His lips were caked closed with clotted blood. His entire body screamed in pain, his arms were stretched beyond endurance and his legs collapsed. And in all of it, the maelstrom of crippling agony there was hunger. Jack was hungry. It would have been funny if were not for the fact he was dying, again, correction being murdered. A bowl of Fruit Loops, no better yet, a big thick steak from O'Malley's like the four he, Sam and Daniel had devoured that one night, hot meat, tender and bloody.
"For crying out loud, O'Neill!" Jack heard his feeble voice croak out. It was hard to speak. Camazotz had torn a few new holes into his neck and there was hunger's buddy, thirst, to contend with. Well, he had lost track of how long he had been the bitch's quest. She wasn't feeding him because he was the main course, boy toy and entree rolled into one. There was no need to feed him she was going to just kill him and then bring him back again.
Jack tried to stand up to ease the burning in his upper extremities and was delighted when his right leg managed to not buckle. The left one was too weak. Camazotz had started tapping the femoral vein in his thigh after she had; he brushed that episode out of his mind with a shake of his head. That was a mistake, the dark room spun and felt like he was in a F-111 in a flat spin. When the torture stick hit his stomach above the navel. it felt like he had just flown into a mountainside. His scream was a ragged expletive.
Where was plan "B"? Had Hammond and his team forgotten him? As much as he wanted to live, he'd welcome death rather than to put them in harm's way. Jack had always known his life was forfeit if it meant ensuring the safety and security for others, the others he was to protect, defend. The sharp twisted sword that he had impaled himself on when first the team had become a team and the mission of the Stargate his life, oh, and death.
He opened his eyes to see the Jaffa who was torturing him and was surprised to see the snake bitch herself wielding the torture stick. It no longer mattered that he was naked, and a couple of quarts low. Camazotz was touching him again in that way she had, she knew ways to excite him. They worked even now- her mouth licking at the wounds she had made, sucking more of his blood, manipulating him, one slender hand had even slipped between his ass cheeks and tapped at his rear entrance. That wasn't virginal either, the Iraqi's had seen to that and the right pressure on the prostate and the little Colonel was going to be salute, not that he wasn't already. He'd lost control over his body; it was doing what it wanted, what Camazotz wanted it to. Jack was feeling himself withdrawing, as if he was compressed into a fetal position of madness, a crimson madness.
"You are so handsome my love. Soon, but not yet, you will be ready for me." Camazotz kissed Jack on the chin and then stood back as she applied the torture stick to his groin.
The razor of Jack's scream sliced through the last of his control. The ebony of unconsciousness absorbed him even as his body thrashed wildly with spasm of murderous pain. Camazotz removed the torture stick and began to suck what little blood was left from her helpless captive's throat. The adrenalin and endorphins released in Jack's blood flavored it even more deliciously. His heart stopped but the sarcophagus waited.
And so ended Jack's third day of captivity and the fifth time he had died.
The SG personnel numbered seven- Lawrence and Sergeant Gresco the only two marines to come along as backup. Sam had dialed up the coordinates sent by her father and the team found themselves on desert planet and under the shadow of a Tel'tak.
"Looks like our ride is here.," Lawrence commented to Teal'c, who was walking soberly to a spot he somehow instinctively knew would be the location of the ring transporter device. Daniel was rather preoccupied with Umbra who had crumpled against him the sun light sunlight too intense for her.
Sam, Janet, and Sergeant Gresco huddled with Teal'c as Daniel gallantly pulled his jacket over and around Umbra and stepped into a small circle. The rings descended from the hovering cargo ship and a moment later the seven stood in the cargo area of the purloined Goa'uld ship. Jacob Carter hugged his daughter and then addressed the others.
"Sorry folks, not all the comforts of home. You are going to have to make do. It's going to be three days by Tel'tak to Camazotz's little hideaway." Jacob paused as he looked at Umbra for the first time as she unwrapped herself from Daniel's protection.
Umbra clung to Daniel as Jacob took a step closer.
"And who is this?" Selmak, not Jacob was speaking. His eyes flashed white for a moment and the altered timbre of his voice had Umbra backing even further away from him.
"No, it's okay, he isn't like Camazotz, I mean, he is, but not..." Daniel was trying to reassure the beautiful woman. Her body was pressed tight against him and the feel of her curves molding into his was disconcerting. His inability to breath and the sudden rivulets of sweat that trickled down his spine were harbingers of his growing arousal.
"I'll explain it to you later but let me get her settled." It was Janet who stepped up and led Daniel and Umbra to a far recess of the cargo bay. Jacob had thought of their comfort on the multiple day trips and had a selection of To'kra sleeping pallets laid out, like a symbiote slumber part was going on.
Daniel and Umbra picked the most shadowed of area. Daniel immediately set out to lie)out the sleeping pallets. Janet began to explain the symbiote good Goa'uld bad Goa'uld thing. Umbra seemed to be absorbing it all but her wine colored eyes started to glaze over. Janet recognized the look from dealing with the Colonel, information overload.
"I suggest you all get settled and get some sleep.," Jacob called over his shoulder as he took the controls. Sam stood behind him one hand on her father's shoulders, reassured by the mere luxury of the touch. Teal'c had slipped into the copilot's seat and was doing a thorough systems checks in a Jaffa busy work way.
"What is with the ... Sammy, who is she? Better yet, what is she? Selmak doesn't recognize her species." Jacob had lowered his voice to a whisper.
"She is a Vampire." Teal'c stated evenly.
If a Tel'tak could screech to a halt, Jacob would have been the one to do it. Instead the vessel just swerved wildly for a moment before he regained his composure and turned his control seat back to face forward.
"Dad, this is going to take some explaining." Sam began scooting in between Teal'c and her Dad and leaning on the arm of Teal'c's chair.
"We got three days Sammy, start explaining." Jacob had locked his gaze on his nervous genius daughter and internally conferred with Selmak on the possibility that all the gate travel Sam had done may have finally caused some brain damage to her beautiful blond head.
"The pain will go away soon. You must eat and drink and regain your strength." Ivanyn said softly sitting next to CJ, applying a soft cool wet cloth to her neck.
CJ chose to react quickly and bolted upright. That was a mistake and she collapsed on the bed feeling like she had drank too much of the secretly wished for Tequila.
"What the hell happened?" She managed to whisper.
"You have been marked by the Master Wampry himself. While the Obyri do not take Rusno victims any longer, it was necessary for him to display the trust he now places with your people." Ivanyn patted the woman on the shoulder.
"Gather yourself and come to the table. There is much food and the day is warm."
Ivanyn left the room and in the doorway , a new figure appeared, Captain Nave. Tall and always a little lanky, the surprisingly soft-spoken member of SG 3 stood with disheveled uniform and a perplexed look on his face. He motioned for permission to enter and CJ room. He came in followed by Lieutenant Blaney in a similar condition.
"Well, I know I didn't cut myself shaving, so how do we explain these to General Hammond?" The Captain asked softly tilting his head to show the two round puncture wounds over his jugular vein. There was an amused twinkle in his dark eyes.
"Hammond? General Hammond?" CJ almost panicked.
"We're due to report in, in three hours." Blaney explained.
"Crap." All three moaned in unison. Captain Nave extended a hand to CJ and pulled her to her feet. The three shuffled wearily down the main corridor to the central room. The smell of meat cooking making all three stomachs growl. They had three hours to eat and prepare their report for Hammond. Best they keep their stories straight.
Twelve hours had elapsed during which Daniel had given Umbra the Readers Digest © version of the history of Earth after the Goa'uld arrived, the gate, and brought Umbra up to date. Umbra was not immediately forth coming with a history of her people. Janet had begun to run tests on the young woman and tried not to show her amusement at the horror Umbra had shown when she took a blood sample. Umbra had seemed horrified that the blood was going to be kept in a small vial. Blood was vital to the Obyri and as much also considered sacred. The medical action was necessary, Janet had reassured in a manner of research.
Sam was sharing co-pilot duties with Teal'c while her father took some needed down time, even Tokra needed to sleep. Lawrence and Gresco were curled up in sleeping bags like preschoolers at nap time, but only after a 10 hour Texas hold'em Poker match which Janet had managed to triumph in. The two marines now owed her their next month salary. Oh, course she would never collect.
Umbra had chosen a corner and between some Goa'uld packing cases and wrapped herself in her soft gray traveling cape. She lay there nearly motionless for hours. Daniel contended himself with writing in his field notebooks and barely noticed when Umbra was suddenly at his side kneeling before him.
"Forgive me, Daniel." Umbra looked at him from between his legs. Even as pale as she was normally her skin now seemed tissue paper thin with dark circles under her eyes.
"What is it?" Daniel took her hands in his. She was cold and there was just the slightest of tremors in her thin hands.
"I need to feed." Umbra looked at him her burgundy eyes glowed softly.
End Part Two... Very much to be continued!