I'd like to thank Kyla, AproposOfNothing, Barbarossa Rotbart, SVU Chicky, Mia 66, and Piper-Jacko06-Butterflygirl for their wonderful support. I originally wasn't sure this one was going to work, but after a friend had read it for me and liked it--and now after reading all of your encouraging reviews--I've taken the plunge into writing this sucker to the end.

Sam Carter has been a favorite character of mine longer for ten years now, and it's a lot of fun to team her up with my other great muse, Olivia Benson.

Stargate SVU

Chapter Two

Olivia sat gazing at the massive pyramid ship with a mixture of despair and terror. Whatever prior hope she'd had of getting back home to earth had been crushed when this monstrosity landed. Olivia was still amazed at the size of the thing; it was so tall, there were even clouds forming around the top of the pyramid.

"O'Neill," Teal'c said, abruptly gesturing with his staff weapon at something behind them.

When she glanced at the ridge directly above her, Olivia saw a youth peering back at them. It appeared to be a girl, dressed in primitive animal skins, with long black hair that was pulled back into a pony tail. She held a knife in one hand, as if ready to attack.

"Don't shoot, it's just a kid," Olivia urgently said, getting to her feet.

"Uh, yeah, we can see that," O'Neill replied, annoyed. He holstered his weapon. "We've done this sort of thing before, you know."

Olivia carefully approached the young woman--who didn't look any older than thirteen, yet she had a battle-hardened appearance to her that was scary. This was a girl who grew up in a war zone. Apparently, all battlefields--even ones in the far depths of outer space--had the same soul-crushing effect on children.

"Easy," Olivia told the girl, as she held her hands up. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Are you from the ship of dragons?" the girl angrily asked, still ready to pounce with her knife.

"The ship of dragons?" Olivia repeated, puzzled.

"Obviously, she means the Goa'uld mothership," Daniel said to Olivia, gesturing at the pyramid ship behind them. "You know, that big thing that just landed back there? We've had some dealings with ships like that before…unfortunately. Not fun, let me tell you." He glanced at the girl and said, "No, we're not from the ship of dragons."

The girl stabbed her knife in the direction of Olivia and said, "I will speak only to her!"

Daniel held up his hands. "Pardon me!" He glanced at Olivia and added, "All yours…."

"Where are you from?" the girl asked Olivia.

"New York City," she replied.

The girl frowned at her. "Is New York City a place where dragons dwell?"

'Yeah, some people would call it that,' Olivia thought. But she figured it would be best to leave that little bon mot unspoken. "No, there are no dragons in New York City."

"Luanda!" a man's voice called out from the forest.

Both Olivia and the Stargate team instinctively raised their weapons once the man came into view. Like the girl, the man also wore animal skins, but instead of a knife, he had a bow and arrow aimed at them. "What are you doing with my daughter?" he demanded.

"Nothing," O'Neill calmly replied. "We're just talking, that's all. We mean you no harm."

"The ship of dragons has returned, father!" Luanda said triumphantly. "I'm ready to go and avenge mother!"

"I already forbade you to do anything of the kind," her father said sternly. "Now, get away from those strangers. Come to me."

"They are not from the ship of dragons," Luanda told him. "They come from a far away land called New York City."

"Come to me, child, now!" the man said.

"Luanda, listen to your father," Olivia said. "Do what he says, now."

"But the ship of dragons took my mother away from me!" Luanda cried. "Now that it has returned, I must take my revenge and destroy them!"

"Your heart is brave, and your courage is that of a warrior," Teal'c told her. "But you would not succeed. Those who reside on the ship of dragons would most assuredly take you prisoner, if not kill you outright."

Luanda's father lowered the bow and arrow. "Listen to the stranger, daughter--if you would not heed the words from me, your own father."

The girl lowered her knife and began to cry in frustration. "If I could not have my mother back, then all I wanted was the ship of dragons to be destroyed--and now I am denied even that!"

Olivia felt for Luanda. It was not hard to feel sympathy for a girl whose biggest problem in her young life should have been what was she going to wear at the mall, instead of swearing vengeance on the people who took her mother.

Luanda's father came towards his daughter and embraced her tightly. He glared at Teal'c. "You say you're not from the ship of dragons, and yet you bear the mark of a Jaffa scum!"

"He's on our side," O'Neill said curtly. "If you trust us, you can trust Teal'c as well."

"Who says we trust you?" another voice called out from the forest.

Before Olivia realized it, several dozen men, all clad in animal skins, emerged from their hiding places from behind trees, from foxholes beneath the grassy soil, and from under the foliage. All of them were armed with either a bow and arrow, or a spear, and they each had the hard look to them of seasoned warriors. Although these warriors' weapons were primitive compared to what Olivia and the Stargate team carried, they were still completely outnumbered. Olivia exchanged an anxious glance with Sam.

"Ok, now that's impressive," O'Neill admitted, staring at the warriors all around them.

"I trust them, father," Luanda said.

"We should leave that for the elders to decide. But I see your point, daughter. They are not like the others from the ship of dragons," he told her gently. He glanced up at the Stargate team and added, "I am Sartor, of the Kelori tribe. You've already met my daughter, Luanda."

After O'Neill made the introductions, Sartor asked, "What are you doing in these parts?"

"Trying to get home," Daniel answered. He gestured at the Stargate in the valley below. "We've come through the Chaapa'ai. But the Jaffa now guard it in force, and we can't get back to where we belong."

Sartor stared at Daniel as if he had grown a new head. "I do not know what you mean. Perhaps it would be best if you'd come with us and let your case be heard by our Elders. They are extremely wise, and may be able to help you."

"Very well," O'Neill said. "But, if you don't mind, we're keeping our weapons."

Sartor thought about that for a moment before he said, "You are not our prisoners, but guests. Should the elders decide that you can not be trusted, then you shall simply be banished from our tribe. You will be asked to leave, nothing more. Now, we should all leave--lest our presence this close to the dragon lord's lair attracts the attention of the she-wolf herself, damn her abominable soul!"

Olivia and the others began a long trek through the woods, following a dirt trail that ran under the canopy of leaves above them. Olivia had the zat gun closed up and tucked into her back pocket. O'Neill and Daniel walked in front of her, while Teal'c took up the rear. Sam strode by Olivia's side. Their tribal escorts surrounded them in a tight circle.

'Well, at least it's a nice day for a walk,' Olivia thought, admiring the warm temperature and sunlight--although, every so often, the sight of the trio of moons through the leaves continued to unnerve her. Their constant presence reminded Olivia that she was not on earth.

Olivia noted somebody was walking close to her right, and saw it was Luanda. The young woman had sheathed her knife, as well as her anger, and now strode alongside Olivia while staring at the ground before her in deep contemplation. Olivia wished she could say something to comfort the kid, but found herself at a loss for words. Luanda had seen so much hardship in her life; to simply assure her that everything would be all right seemed downright superficial.

"Sorry."

Olivia glanced at Sam, who had said that. "What for?"

"For all this," Sam replied, looking glum. "For the way things turned out. It's not much of a rescue, I guess, huh?"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Olivia told her. "Because none of this is your fault. And, for what it's worth, Sam, I'm really glad you guys found me." She glanced back at Teal'c and added, "Believe me, I'm very happy to be with you, all of you."

"Thanks," Sam said, her face brightening with a smile. "It's good to have you with us, too."

Teal'c also gave Olivia a smile as he bowed his head. "Your presence is most appreciated, Olivia Benson."

Daniel glanced back at Olivia and said, "And I'm also glad you're with us, too, Olivia."

"Thanks, Daniel," Olivia said.

"If this keeps up," O'Neill muttered to Daniel, "we're all gonna be singing kumbaya. You realize that, don't you?"

Olivia gestured at O'Neill and asked, "Is he always this grumpy?"

"No," Daniel cheerfully replied. "Usually, he's even worse than this!"

"Oh, c'mon, Daniel," Sam said, smiling. "He's not that bad."

"Thanks, Carter," O'Neill called back. "Nice to have somebody on my side for once."

"I'm always on your side, sir," Sam eagerly told him.

"Oh, you suck-up!" Daniel jokingly said to her.

Olivia laughed along with the Stargate team at the exchange--yet something occurred to her. 'She likes him,' Olivia thought, noticing the look that Sam gave O'Neill just now. 'She really likes him…a lot! I wonder if Colonel O'Grumpy knows it?'

Soon, they arrived at a cave, which wound up being the entrance to a sprawling, underground network of caverns, the home base for the race of humans who lived here. Olivia was stunned to see a mini-civilization had sprouted up, with as many of the amenities of a home as they could squeeze in. Where there were no shafts of light from holes in the ceiling, torches provided the illumination. Children ceased playing, while their parents stopped doing whatever chores they had been immersed in, just so they could all stare, amazed, at Olivia and the Stargate team.

Olivia noted that there were smaller caves notched out of the walls, which served as private living quarters. But there was something off about the caves. They looked too square, as if they were all neatly sliced out of the rock. She was about to mention it to Sam--until Olivia saw that she noticed it too.

"Sir, this doesn't look like a natural cavern," Sam told O'Neill, sotto voce.

"Looks like the remnants of a basement," Daniel commented, "or some other type of man-made, underground dwelling."

Olivia pointed at a massive beam that appeared to be rusted out. "That looks like a pipe--or at least what was once a pipe of some kind."

"Indeed," Teal'c muttered in agreement. "Yet it has not been in use for quite some time."

"You could say that for this entire installation," O'Neill said, "whatever it once was. Notice the camp fires? The torches? It looks like the Kelori are simply squatters here. They found this place as was and moved in."

"We may be looking at a previously advanced civilization that's fallen back to a Bronze Age level of technology," Daniel said, excited.

"Probably thanks to the Goa'uld," O'Neill said bitterly.

Sartor led them to a vast underground fountain. The water poured out from a hole high up in the concrete wall. The massive pond into which it flowed served as a communal pool where people collected water. Sartor pointed at several smaller caves--which Olivia now knew were rooms--along the side of the pool. "You can rest there, while I go inform the council of your arrival. I'll have food sent for you in the meantime."

"Thank you," O'Neill said. "Say, Sartor, pretty impressive digs you have here. Did your people build this place?"

Sartor smiled. "Oh, you honor us! No, no, this haven was a gift to us from the gods. Our ancestors settled here many moons ago, because it offers us sanctuary from the abominable she-wolf and her hoards of hunters."

Daniel held up a hand. "Uh, when you say 'she-wolf', may I ask to whom are you referring to?"

"Neith," Sartor whispered in a disgusted tone. "You should consider yourselves lucky to have never heard of that vile creature! And now, if you'll excuse me, I shall return momentarily. Come, Luanda."

Luanda looked as if she wanted to remain with Olivia and Sam, yet she reluctantly did as her father asked and left with him.

Daniel's eyes were wide with shock behind his glasses. "Oh boy…."

"I really don't like that look," O'Neill said with a resigned air. "Ok, Daniel. So who the hell's Neith, and how bad is she?"

"Well, if she's anything like the legends, she's real bad," Daniel said. "Neith, also known as Net, or Nit, was one of the earliest goddesses to have been worshipped in ancient Egypt, as far back as the First Dynasty. In short, she was known as the goddess of the hunt, and warfare."

Teal'c nodded. "She is also known to my people. Yet only in legends. It is said that Neith once ruled the heavens as the Goddess Of All. She was finally cast out of the heavens by none other than Ra himself, after an epic battle."

"Now there's a ringing endorsement," O'Neill muttered.

"Well, her symbol was two crossed arrows over a shield," Daniel said. "I mean, when it came to hunting and warfare, Neith was pretty hardcore, Jack."

"Those legends you speak of may very well be based on fact, Teal'c," Sam spoke up. "Ra may have actually vanquished the real Neith in a power play for control of the galaxy many years ago."

"And with Ra now gone," O'Neill somberly added, "Neith, the Warrior Princess, is back and ready to rumble. Wonderful…."

Olivia stood listening to all of this knowing she should be as alarmed as the Stargate team were, yet it all seemed so abstract. It was hard enough for her to just accept the whole concept of space travel, and being on an alien world, but now ancient Egyptian history had just been thrown into the equation for Olivia to try and swallow. It was too much for her to take all at once.

Sam must have seen Olivia's expression, because she said, "Oh, sorry, Olivia! All of this must be very confusing for you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's putting it mildly," Olivia said with a slight laugh.

"Ok. Long story short," Daniel said, as he came over to Olivia and Sam. "The Goa'uld were once on earth, and were worshipped by ancient humans as gods. Which is why the Goa'uld mothership looks so much like the pyramids that the ancient Egyptians built."

Olivia's eyes grew wide when the realization struck her. "You're saying that's where the Egyptians got the pyramid design from, the Goa'uld!"

Daniel nodded. "Exactly. And not just the Egyptians, but all of ancient earth mythology has been influenced by the Goa'uld occupation, which was once led by our old friend Ra."

"Until Ra was overthrown on earth, many thousands of years ago," Sam interjected. "After he fled, the victors buried the stargate. But this is also why there are so many humans scattered throughout the galaxy, Olivia. Ra and the other Goa'uld took humans from earth for use as hosts, as well as for slaves."

Olivia glanced at the Kelori all around them. "So these people are actually humans, all originally from earth."

"You got it," Daniel said. "They--"

The brief history lesson was interrupted when Teal'c leaned in and whispered, "Sartor has returned."

"That was quick," O'Neill commented. He turned to face Sartor and asked, "So what's the word? When will we meet with your council?"

"You won't," Sartor replied, looking shaken. "You have been granted a private audience with our chief councilmember, the great Revlon himself!"

Olivia broke into a broad grin at the mention of the council elder's name. "Revlon?" she whispered to Sam. "What, is he the head make up guy here?"

Sam burst into giggles at that. When O'Neill gave her a quizzical look, Sam slapped her hand to her mouth in an attempt to hide her laughter--which only made her and Olivia laugh even harder.

"I don't understand, this is a high honor, especially for a group of strangers like yourselves," Sartor said, looking confused. "I hope you realize how rarely the great Revlon meets with people in private."

Both Olivia and Sam, abruptly having been humbled, quickly stopped their laughing.

"My apologies," Sam said sheepishly.

"Yeah, me too!" Olivia added. "Sorry, sorry…."

"We do indeed realize what a great honor this is," O'Neill quickly said. "Thank you very much, Sartor. Do you know when the meeting will take place?"

"At dusk," Sartor replied. "Until then, food has been brought into your quarters. We hope you enjoy it."

"I'm sure we will," O'Neill told him. "Thank you again, Sartor."

Once Sartor left them, O'Neill spun around and faced Olivia and Sam. "What the hell was so funny, ladies?"

"Uh, well, Jack," Daniel muttered. "I mean, think about it: the guy's name is Revlon. You know, like the cosmetics company?"

"Yeah, right," O'Neill said, breaking into a slight smile. "That is funny! But remember, we're diplomats, as well as explorers. So when we meet the guy, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to be laughing at him, right?"

"Yes, sir," Sam replied, her face completely deadpan. "Of course."

"Yes, you're right," Olivia said. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean anything by that."

"That's ok," O'Neill said. "No harm done. Look, we've got some time before the meeting, so why don't we partake in some R&R in the meanwhile?"

They retired to one of the rooms that had been set out for them. It was just a bare, empty space with several bowls of food and water set on the stone floor. Olivia wished she did eat the Chinese food in her apartment after getting a look at the sludge in the bowls. Fortunately, Sam gave Olivia an MRE--a Meal Ready to Eat--package from her backpack. Olivia was surprised to see that the meal was even heated, once she pulled the bag open. It was even halfway decent; yet Olivia wasn't sure if that was because she was so ravenous.

Sam, Daniel, Jack and Teal'c continued to fill Olivia in on the overall situation. She was further fascinated--and a little grossed out--to learn that the Goa'uld were actually parasitic creatures who resided within humans, taking them over like some sort of demonic possession. Olivia was creeped out to learn that Teal'c had one in his stomach. She also learned that the zat gun that Teal'c had given her only knocked out its target with one shot. It took two shots to kill them.

After the meal, Jack, Teal'c and Daniel decided to stretch their legs, leaving Olivia alone with Sam. The more she got to know Samantha Carter, who held the rank of a Major in the United States Air Force, the more Olivia liked her. She was a resourceful, intelligent woman who lacked any of the ego that one might expect from someone who was so extraordinarily gifted. There was an inherit shyness in Sam that she found charming. And Olivia's initial feeling was right, Sam was sweet on O'Neill. During a lull in their conversation, as they sat side by side, Olivia noticed Sam's longing look at O'Neill, who stood chatting with Daniel and Teal'c just outside the doorway of the room.

"You like him, don't you?" Olivia asked. "I mean O'Neill."

Sam nodded. "Of course. Other than my superior officer, he's also a good friend."

"No, I mean, you really like him," Olivia whispered. "I see it in the way you look at him sometimes…like just now. Have you two ever gotten together?"

When Sam hesitated with her answer, staring uneasily at the floor, Olivia abruptly regretted ever having said a word. "Hey, Sam, I'm sorry--I'm just babbling here; don't mind me."

"No, it's all right," Sam replied, as a slight smile crept across her face. "You know, the guys are great; they've always treated me with nothing but the greatest of respect. But it's hard being the only female in a team sometimes. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to just talk like this with another woman!" She shook her head slightly. "Am I making any sense at all?"

"Oh God, yes," Olivia said, laughing. "There are a couple other female detectives in my squad, but they're few and far in-between. I'm still the only woman in my team as well. So I know exactly where you're coming from. It's like hanging out with a bunch of rambunctious boys all the time. Depending on their mood, Elliot, Munch and Fin treat me either like I'm their frigging den mother, or their little sister!"

Sam burst into laughter at that as she nodded her head. "Yes, yes! Oh my God, you so hit the nail right on the head!"

O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c at stared in puzzlement at the laughing women.

"You're not talking about us, are you?" O'Neill called.

"No sir--uh, well, actually, yeah, we are!" Sam replied with a broad grin. This only produced further rancorous laughter from both her and Olivia.

Daniel was grinning; Teal'c was smiling--yet O'Neill looked miffed. "Nice, real nice," he said. He glanced at Teal'c. "You believe this? They're having a pajama party in there!"

Teal'c merely shrugged his massive shoulders in an extremely casual manner--as if to say that, in the grand scheme of things, this was no big deal.

The men went back to their conversation as Olivia and Sam's laughter finally died down.

"It's that obvious?" Sam abruptly asked.

"What do you mean?"

Sam looked as if she were about to blush. "You know, when I…look at him. Am I that obvious about it?"

Olivia nodded, smiling. "Oh yeah, sweetie."

"Ooooh God…." Sam moaned, as she propped her knees up to her chest and buried her head in her hands. "I didn't think I was so brazen. I feel so stupid! Still, he doesn't seem to have noticed so far. Maybe it's for the best, it wouldn't have worked out, anyway."

"How do you know that?" Olivia asked.

"The Air Force frowns upon officers having romantic encounters."

"So does the NYPD," Olivia said. "But that hasn't stopped me."

"You've slept with another cop?"

Olivia nodded. "His name was Brian Cassidy, a fellow member of the SVU. Biggest mistake of my life!"

"Well, there, see!" Sam said. "You've just admitted that it's a bad idea to fall in love on the job."

"With Brian, it was," Olivia said, growing solemn. "I never really loved him, anyway. We were both drunk; it was just a one night fling. But I fell in love with my partner, Elliot. I'm still in love with him."

"Did you and Elliot ever get together?"

"No," Olivia said with regret. "And now it's too late. He's back with his wife again, and…I would never disrupt his home life. But I did the same thing you're doing, Sam. I told myself that it was just as well, that it wouldn't have worked out, anyway. And like you, I even used the NYPD rule against romances between officers as an excuse not to pursue Elliot when he was available. And I think I may have lost the one true love of my life."

Olivia leaned over until she was face to face with Sam. "So don't make the same mistake I did, hon. To hell with the Air Force rules--if you want to be with Jack, just be with him."

Sam grew thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe, when we get back to the SGC, I'll take Jack up on his standing offer to go up to his cabin with him."

Olivia stared at Sam in shock. "He's asked you up to his cabin?"

"Yes."

"Just you, by yourself?"

"Yeah, he's asked me several times, now," Sam replied, looking puzzled. "But I've never took him up on it, because I was always too..." She abruptly stopped when a realization occurred to her. "Oh my God, Olivia, you don't think that he--"

Olivia nodded at her. "Maybe he has noticed the way you've looked at him after all, and inviting you to his cabin is his response."

"Oh wow," Sam muttered, looking stunned. "I never thought that he even considered--"

She was cut off when the entire underground complex rumbled just then, as an ear-shattering blast echoed off the vast walls.

O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c ran into the room and grabbed their gear. "Saddle up, kids," O'Neill called. "And lock and load, while you're at it!"

"What just happened, sir?" Sam replied, now all business, as she grabbed her equipment and gun.

"There was an explosion at the mouth of the cave," Teal'c reported.

"Looks like the Goa'uld may have found this secret hiding place," Daniel said. "I hope we weren't the ones who inadvertently led them to it!"

"I just hope the mouth of the cave isn't the only way out of here," O'Neill retorted. "Or else, we're thoroughly f--"

"O'Neill!" Teal'c shouted. He stood outside the room, gesturing at something. "They're coming!"

When Olivia ran out and got a look at what he pointed at, a chill ran up her spine.

Several hundred Jaffa warriors slowly came swarming into the mouth of the cave in a solid line. The glowing red eyes of their serpent heads were a frightening sight to behold in the gloom of the caves. Dozens of panicked people came running past Olivia and the Stargate team.

"They're not shooting at anything!" Daniel said, as he stared, puzzled, at the advancing Jaffa.

"They don't need to," O'Neill grimly replied. "We're all bottled up in here!"

"Colonel!" Sam called, gesturing at the running cave dwellers. "The Kelori are all running to somewhere, maybe there's a back door to this place?"

"Or they're just running into a dead end like a panicked herd," Daniel said.

"Shall we make our stand here?" Teal'c asked O'Neill.

"No, there's too many of them, and we're too exposed out here," O'Neill replied. "C'mon, let's follow the crowd, and hope they know of another way out!"

Olivia paused when she saw a familiar face in the panicked mob. "Luanda!"

The girl smiled as she ran toward Olivia. "Behold, Olivia of New York City," she said, triumphantly holding up her knife, "the time for my revenge is nigh!"

Olivia grabbed Luanda just as she tried to run towards the advancing Jaffa. She quickly disarmed the girl of her knife and said, "Forget this insanity! You're coming with us, now!"

"No!" Luanda cried. "You go with the others out the back way, while I attack--"

"You're coming with us, damn it!" Olivia insisted. She got into a wrestling match as the girl tried to squirm her way out of Olivia's grasp.

Teal'c came over, and with one sweeping motion, grabbed Luanda and effortlessly tossed her over his shoulder. He held the staff weapon at the ready with his other arm. O'Neill, Sam and Daniel also came back and held up their guns at the oncoming Jaffa in a gesture of providing cover.

Yet the line of Jaffa merely continued marching calmly towards them. None of the warriors even made a motion at opening fire.

"They're well within weapons range!" Sam said, looking shocked. "Why won't they shoot?!"

"Let's not wait around to find out," O'Neill said. "LET'S GO, NOW!"

As they ran further down the cavern with the other fleeing people, Olivia shouted, "Luanda said there was a back way out down this direction!"

"Not unless the Jaffa have that exit blocked, too," Sam fretted.

"One problem at a time, Carter, ok?" O'Neill said. "Let's just get there, first, and then we'll see what we'll have to deal with!"

Olivia was relieved when they finally reached the "back way" as Luanda referred to it. It was an opening that led directly into the deep woods. O'Neill gestured for them to halt right at the edge of the cave as he quickly scanned the area.

Olivia watched as several dozen frightened people ran screaming into the woods ahead of them. Night had fallen, and the three moons now hung like baleful lanterns low on the horizon.

"There does not appear to be any Jaffa presence here," Teal'c said. Luanda, who was still helplessly slung over Teal'c's shoulder, was doing her level best to wiggle out of his grasp--yet Teal'c held her firmly in place.

"You're right," O'Neill agreed. "All right, let's get under cover of the trees. Move!"

They ran through the forest, and kept running until it felt like Olivia's legs were going to fall off. Finally, O'Neill gestured for them to stop. He pointed to a ledge on the side of a hill. "Let rest up there and see what we can see."

After making the short climb up the slight incline, Olivia wearily sat down with her back up against the stone wall.

No sooner did Teal'c put Luanda down than the girl stabbed a finger at O'Neill and said, "I have sworn a blood oath against the--"

"Sit down and shut the hell up!" O'Neill barked at her. "We don't have time for your nonsense right now!"

Still livid, Luanda sullenly took a seat next to Olivia.

Olivia had finally caught her breath when she felt a hand grab her shoulder. She glanced up and saw that it was Daniel. "You ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm good."

He handed her a canteen. "Have some water," he said. "And feel free to share it with her," Daniel added, pointing at Luanda. "That is, if she doesn't bite your hand off."

"Thanks," Olivia replied, as she took a swig. When she offered it to Luanda, the girl angrily shook her head. "I'll leave it here," Olivia said, placing the canteen by Luanda's leg. "In case you get thirsty, ok?"

Luanda still glowered at her as Olivia got to her feet and walked over to where the SG1 team stood on the very edge of the ledge. They were watching what appeared to be a large fire in the distance. "What's happening?"

"Looks like the Jaffa blew up the caverns," Sam told her. "But only after driving everybody out. It doesn't make sense."

"It is indeed an unusual tactic for Jaffa warriors," Teal'c commented. "They allowed the Kelori to escape."

They were all startled into silence by the sound of a horn that blew in the distance. The horn sounded again--a low, plaintive bellow that could be heard for miles--as the long line of Jaffa warriors once more came into view in the gathering dimness. The eerie sight of their glowing red eyes were joined by something else--the multiple flashing at the end of their staff weapons.

Olivia gasped when she recalled the Jaffa earlier who was about to shoot her with his staff weapon: the pod at the end had given off a flash when it split open.

"They're powering up their weapons," Daniel said.

When the horn sounded a third and final time, the Jaffa finally opened fire into the forest. And Olivia's blood ran cold when she heard a new sound: people screaming in terror, and pain.

"They're shooting them down!" Olivia whispered. "They drove everybody into the woods, only to shoot them down like animals!"

"That's just it," O'Neill said softly. "That was their plan all along…."

"What was, sir?" Sam asked, alarmed.

"Daniel said that Neith was the goddess of warfare…and of the hunt," O'Neill grimly told her. "This was why the Jaffa never opened fire in the cavern."

"They were driving everybody out of the shelter, and into the woods," Daniel said, sounding sick. "To be hunted."

"And now the hunt has begun," Teal'c muttered with disgust.

"I think it would probably be best if we kept moving," O'Neill said, glancing at the others. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Olivia stared in horror as the line of Jaffa warriors advanced into the forest, spewing multiple death rays from their staff weapons. The forest itself was alit from the blast of their weapons alone.

She was startled when Sam placed a hand on her shoulder. "Olivia," she said gently. "C'mon."

"Uh, yeah…." Olivia muttered, still stunned. Earlier today, she was worried about how she would ever get back home.

Now, Olivia wasn't sure how she would even survive this night.

To Be Continued...