Jack's Fangtastic Adventure – Part Eleven
Major Carter leapt out of the wormhole and straight into the waiting hands of the medical team. To one side Colonel Johnson was being put on a gurney, his vest and weapons already held by an assisting airman, his remaining team members watching.
Ignoring the people around her, Sam scanned the faces watching from the Control Room, quickly finding the one she wanted.
"General!" Her urgent call caught everyone's attention, even Janet looking up for a moment before continuing her examination of Johnson.
Sam saw Hammond lean into the microphone. "What is it, Major?"
"He was there, sir. The Colonel. I looked back just as I stepped into the Gate and he was there."
"Are you sure, Sam?' Daniel hurried to her side, grasping her arm, Teal'c a short step behind him. The sudden hope that flared in her teammates' eyes had her turning all her attention to them, nodding.
"I'm sure. I only caught a glimpse, but it was him – up on that small hill."
"Was he okay?"
"I don't know, Daniel. I only spotted him for a second." She turned back to the General. "Sir, we have to go straight back to the planet. He hasn't got a GDO"
Hammond nodded confirmation. "Agreed, Major. As soon as we can re-establish the wormhole." He turned away, speaking to someone out of Sam's line of sight, before bending into the microphone once more. "There's fresh supplies coming for your team, and SG-3 is gearing up to go with you. I've told them to be ready before the Gate finishes dialling."
He had barely finished speaking before the clatter of feet heralded the arrival of the SG-3 Marines.
"Here you are, Major." Major Lawrence handed Sam a replacement pack and fresh weapon, and Sam saw Daniel and Teal'c accepting the same equipment from other members of SG-3.
The tiredness dropped from Sam as she impatiently waited for the dialling sequence to begin. Her feeling of urgency must have conveyed itself to Daniel, because he was bouncing on his heels in unconscious imitation of Colonel O'Neill.
Major Lawrence moved to the front of the small group, and as he past Daniel, gave him a quick pat on his shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll get the Colonel and be back here before you know it."
Daniel nodded, his face lined with worry. "But what condition will he be in after so long? Could you tell how he was?" He directed the last question towards Sam.
"No. He was too far away."
The sound of the gate turning broke into her words.
"Chevron one locked." Walter's voice came loudly over the speakers in the suddenly tense silence.
Major Lawrence raised his voice, settling his P-90 in his arms. "We'll find out soon enough."
xoxoxoxoxoxo
"No!"
A cry, hoarse and desperate.
The blue shimmer disappeared, leaving an afterimage that pushed forward and caught Jack in its grip. He walked slowly towards it, spellbound, while large bodies surrounded him, pressing against his legs.
Deep inside something urged him to run, to escape – to reach the circle where safety lay.
There was no point. They had caught him.
"No."
A whisper, lost on the breeze.
He crossed the bare ground in front of the Gate, replaying the moment in his mind when the familiar figure of Carter turned and seemed to look straight through him, before leaving.
Was he still visible? Or had he become, like the creatures that seemed commonplace and yet were as alien as any they had encountered, lost between reality and dreams, flickering in and out?
Each time he saw his reflection he had faded more.
Was he trapped here with them, condemned to become a ghost upon an alien landscape?
Had he gone completely?
He reached the steps, turning to sit. A tongue licked up, wiping dried blood from his arm, soon joined by another that ran across his unshaven face. Teeth nibbled at his arms.
They were playing with him.
He had a choice to make, let them take what they would and fall into the trance, the pain stripped from him, probably not to awaken, or to fight, going down but not under, as a warrior should.
"No."
A word not spoken aloud, but still shouted.
He smiled, his choice made.
Teal'c would approve.
xoxoxoxoxoxo