Authors Notes
- I have noticed the reviews are thinning, are people still reading and just not reviewing or am I getting boring?
- I am putting up 2 chapters this time around because they are related – the same thing happening from 2 POVs
-You know I have hardly been out this summer? I haven't done much homework either coz I am enjoying just writing this and making fanart so much. I have a swimming pool and its gone green now coz no1 has been in it (ergh for me, I have to clean it out!) have to blame damn English weather for that though aswell, while we were at skool the weather was the gorgeous "I wanna go in the pool" kinda weather, most of the way through summer its been groggy and cold (grrr!)
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Chapter 14: Just a Chance
'You said you had something,' Jack stepped out of the event horizon to meet Jacob, not bothering to turn and see the other two follow him
'Yes, the ploy worked, Nirrti did believe you had given up hopes of Sam's survival,' Jacob looked happier than he had in weeks. They had gained one lead since Sam's capture – Teal'c had been summoned to the rebel camp where he had been told of a free Jaffa who was pretending to be in Nirrti's service so they could keep tabs on her, this had allowed a smile on Jack and Jacob's part for a total of about three seconds before they were told the Jaffa Jai'ac had not been heard from for weeks and they feared he may be lost to them…still, it had been a shot. They had been trying to make some kind of contact with this Jaffa but there had been no response, another dead end. Fortunately Daniel had thought of something and although it pained Jack to leave without Sam he had been convinced this was their only option and had reluctantly returned to earth.
The party ringed into the base and were lead along many corridors before they came to what Jack assumed to be the Tok'ra brig – basically empty chambers which used forcefeilds to confine their prisoners, Jack personally liked good old bars, they didn't need a power generator to keep them going, there was always the risk of attack at any military complex and with that came the risk of all of their captives being released into the base.
'O'Neill,' familiar eyes lay their scrutiny on him as the group came to stand in front of a cell enforced by two Tok'ra guards
'What have you done with Sam?' Jack's eyes did not falter as he returned a look of stone to the Goa'ould that sat bound to a chair before him, if it had not been for the force field he would be using a much more physical approach to questioning
'Samantha Carter and the spawn she carries are precious to you O'Neill. Did you believe I was simply going to tell you her location?' Nirrti's voice grated against an already throbbing headache, he did not need this…he needed Sam.
'Jack,' Jacob's voice came as a warning behind him
'Bring down the forcefield,' Jack barked over Jacob's caution, his voice raising when the guards did not make a response to even hearing him let alone doing what he had ordered 'Do it! Now!'
There was a long pause in which each person stood frozen, deep seated hate deriving from the two figures that stood either side of the forcefield, total opposites in every way. After many moments had passed Jacob inclined his head and the barrier was terminated.
Jack did not restrain himself as he rushed at Nirrti knocking the chair and her with it to the ground; he pulled his pistol from its holster and aimed it directly at the false God's head
'Tell me or you won't live to see another minute,' to his great dismay Nirrti's reply seemed unthreatened, even arrogant
'It seems to be a habit for the Ta'ri to point weapons at my head, was there something you actually wish to achieve by this?'
'Jack!' Daniel came up behind Jack and attempted to pull him away, Nirrti might not think Jack was serious but everyone else knew he was, there were a few whispers behind them as another Tok'ra approached Jacob
'Jack, you don't need to do that we have another lead, or a lead rekindled atleast – it seems Jai'ac is alive. We sent out a message on several frequencies that we had captured Nirrti in the hopes he might pick it up, he did and responded,'
Daniel who had been trying to pull Jack away from Nirrti fell on his ass as Jack stood suddenly, fortunately everyone was too concerned with the new information to laugh at him and he was able to stand and take a place next to Jack with minimal embarrassment, Nirrti was in the worse position, she was still bound to the chair which was still back on the floor and legs in the air – not a particularly graceful position for a so-called God
'What did he say? How are Sam and the baby?' Jack pressed for the message, he needed to know where she was, and she needed to know he had not abandoned her. Jacob's face turned from half smile to a serious glare as he relayed the message
'Jai'ac said that they are alive but Sam is in pretty bad shape, Nirrti has been torturing her for information everyday since she was captured and having been in the sarcophagus twice her body is still quite weak and her emotional state even weaker, Nirrti told her that you had left her behind and now the only thing that has her hanging on is the hopes that Jai'ac can find some way for the two of them to get past Nirrti and her other Jaffa Ni'tac. Us eliminating Nirrti from that list makes things simpler but he still has to get past the other Jaffa,'
Jack wrung his hands wishing Daniel would give him his gun back – he had a score to settle with Nirrti – two months of solid pain that maybe a few bullets could resolve…trying to lay his focus elsewhere until he had repossessed his weapon he continued questioning Jacob
'Where are they?'
'Jai'ac says he does not know, apparently he was up on the surface mapping weather conditions when one of the instruments picked up the signal and he was able to reply but Nirrti has many fail-safes which prevent anyone but her from being able to map the location precisely. We have been able to predict a 100 mile radius but we aren't looking for a lab here – the lab is underground – we are looking for a single entrance with a lot of ground to cover. Jai'ac says he is going to attempt an escape with Sam tonight. He said he will try and sense the Naquada in the gate to try and get as close to our position as possible but we will need a team out there to find them – their supplies will be limited they will only be able to walk so far.'
It wasn't long before SG-1, Jacob and a couple other Tok'ra were geared up and ringed back up to the surface, the heat was intense as it was still early in the afternoon but they needed to cover as much ground as possible so Sam and Jai'ac wouldn't have to. It was still several hours until the escape attempt was going to be launched. Jack tried hard not to be relieved and to still hold the possibility that Sam might not get away; he did not want to feel such disappointment as he had the first time their lead had been extinguished despite this he had a gut feeling that this was going to work, the risk was much lower than many of the escapes SG1 had pulled and Sam wasn't alone, she had her own version of Teal'c to back her up.
The hours rolled over slowly and the group did not stop even as the sun was setting, they were deep into the 100 mile radius and Jacob had suggested they aim for the middle of it so they could perhaps split up in several directions. This was unnecessary though as staff weapon fire marked their destination, there was shouting and weapons fire being exchanged that soon dulled into the sound of hand on hand combat, the resonance of a familiar yell set Jack running and not even Teal'c could match his speed. The noise had been distant but it seemed both Sam and Jai'ac were in trouble from this other Jaffa and where in dire need of assistance.
When they arrived on the scene however the noise had dulled and a peculiar and slightly horrible sight lay before them – Ni'tac lay dead, a knife embedded deep into his chest, a few meters from the Jaffa's body Jai'ac tended to Sam who lay unconscious in the sand, Emerald eyes locked onto Jack's brown ones even through the darkness
'Hurry O'Neill,' Jai'ac lifted Sam into his arms, to most he would appear strong but Sam's form was injuriously light 'She is weak, if she does not receive attention soon she and the life she carries may not survive,'
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Okay, I know that was rushed but I needed to highlight events that were hours apart, the next chapter shouldn't be so rushed.
Next Chapter: Same events but from Sam's POV, how did Ni'tac respond to his God not really being a God? How did the escape pan out? Why did Sam fall unconscious? Read on and you shall see!