Chapter 6
Jack leaned against the wall as he listened to Bra'tac ramble on about customs and procedures. It was not necessary for Jaffa to sleep, but for Jack, it certainly was. It had already been 48 hours since he had last slept and it was beginning to wear on him. He could go more than a week without sleep, he'd tested it on missions before, but it was far easier when he was running on constant adrenaline. Listening to Bra'tac lecture was not causing any adrenaline to flow, and he couldn't help the yawn that escaped. They were currently waiting for the rest of the Jaffa to finish loading the supplies and then they would leave for Earth. Bra'tac was attempting to 'help' Jack fit in better while Apophis was busy planning the attack. Jack knew any second he could be summoned back to Apophis's side, but even that wasn't enough to stave off the impending boredom.
"You are tired," it was not a question it was a statement, and Bra'tac was beginning to look concerned.
"Oh, not so much. Sorry, you were saying?" Jack said, attempting to adopt his best looking-interested expression.
"Humans require sleep. You must do so at once, while the others are finishing loading supplies through the stargate and before Apophis desires your services again. If anyone asks I will simply tell them you are in the middle of your kel'no'reem. Come, sleep a few hours."
"Alright," Jack said, yawning again. "How goes the setting of the explosives?"
"My warriors infiltrated both ships and are now awaiting me on the vessel of Klorel. We have set the 4-C where you have outlined," Bra'tac said, "except at the Pel'tacs of both vessels."
"It's called C-4, Bra'tac, and what's a pel'tac?"
"The control consul."
"Oh. Right," Jack said. "Okay, here's the deal with the pelticks. I'll get the one set on Apophis's ship right before we make our getaway, and you'll plant the one on Klorel's ship. Then, I'll blow this ship and ring over to your ship, and we'll grab Klorel and get back to Chulak. Just before I step through the gate, I'll hit the second detonator, and we can all say goodbye to the ships."
"O'Neill, why are you insisting on the capture of Klorel as an addition to the plan?"
"Klorel's host is an old friend of mine. I'm not leaving without him."
"O'Neill," Bra'tac said, gently, "nothing of the host sur..."
"Ah!" Jack said, holding up a hand and stopping Bra'tac mid-sentence. "I don't believe that bull. We're taking him with us."
"I'll allow it," Bra'tac finally said, "and O'Neill?"
"Yes, Bra'tac?"
"It's called a pel'tac."
Jack rolled his eyes and allowed Bra'tac to push him into the infirmary. He laid down, shut his eyes, and he was out.
Teal'c stood ramrod straight next to the gate as Jaffa streamed into the ship carrying supplies. Bra'tac had assigned him to stay here out of sight. While O'Neill might have been able to pass unrecognized, there was no way that Teal'c would have been able to do so. The gold symbol burnt into his forehead had prevented that. So, Teal'c had to stand guard, hidden. It was a very frustrating position, but he had faith in O'Neill, and he knew that they would be able to pull off their plan. He only hoped his 'brother' would remain undiscovered.
A few hours later, Jack felt someone shake his shoulder. He was instantly awake and crouching, but he relaxed quickly when he realized it was just Bra'tac.
"Apophis summons you. We are about to embark."
"How long was I out?" Jack asked, stretching.
"For half the day. Are you refreshed?"
"Sure, why not?" Jack said. He eased into a standing position and blithely saluted Bra'tac. Bra'tac couldn't help the grin that twitched his lips. The human certainly could be amusing.
"Come along, Hasshak," Bra'tac said, raising an eyebrow.
Jack strolled out after Bra'tac into the halls. After a few minutes of walking they turned and entered the 'throne room.' Jack bowed in greeting and said, "My Lord Apophis." Bra'tac bowed his head and saluted as well.
"Bra'tac," Apophis said, "it is time to take your place at my son's side."
"As you wish, My Lord," Bra'tac said and angled over to the ring transporter. He gave a slight nod to Jack and the familiar rings came up from the floor. Bra'tac disappeared in a flash of light.
"Ja'tak," Apophis boomed, "take control of the vessel."
Jack nodded and took his place at the pel'tac. Tre'hac had taught him how to fly it as he explained his other duties, and so it was with ease that Jack placed his hand on the control. He powered up the mothership and felt the energy warm his hand. The ship around him began to hum and Jack allowed a smile to creep onto his face.
"Setting course for the homeworld of the Tauri," Jack said. He directed the ship to rise and pressed a few of the keys that opened the door to hyperspace. The ship shifted into overdrive, and they were on their way.
"Excellent, Ja'tak," Apophis said. "Remain at the pel'tac until I return. I go to awaken my son and introduce him to the Jaffa under his command."
Jack nodded and waited until Apophis had left the room. Then he quickly pulled the C-4 from his armor and put it on the front of the underside of the pel'tac, placing the charger on it. Then he armed it quickly and casually resumed his place at the controls. He realized, with a bit of irony, that he was flying a mothership full of aliens to Earth so that the aliens could destroy his planet. Jack knew he could blow the ship now, but their only chance to escape safely was to make it Earth. Jack had briefly considered the glider bays, but since they had placed explosives on both Apophis and Klorel's motherships inside of the bays, that option had been removed. Jack and Bra'tac were both confident that the resulting explosions throughout the motherships would cause a chain reaction of larger explosions that would completely eliminate the threat to Earth. It was with a forced calm that Jack settled back to glide the vessel to either its destruction...or Earth's.
Sam had been in Daniel's office helping him pack of the last of his artifacts when the alarm began to sound. Sam's head shot up and she and Daniel exchanged a look. Instantly they were both headed off in the direction of Hammond's office.
They burst through the door to find Hammond talking urgently on his red phone. They waited impatiently out in the briefing room until he finally finished.
"What's going on, sir?" Sam asked.
"NORAD has just detected to blips coming from deep space. We think they are Goa'uld ships. Big ones at that."
Daniel's eyes widened as he shared a look with Sam. "He just couldn't wait a week," Daniel said sarcastically, "Kinsey just HAD to close it down now."
Sam sighed. "What are our options sir?"
Hammond shrugged, "Sadly, there aren't very many. Samuels seems to have some idea about sending a naquedah-enhanced missile at the ships, but the ships will be here within the next six hours. We don't even know if the missiles will work or not."
"I doubt it, sir," Sam said, "after all, we've seen the Goa'uld use shielding technology before. There's not much difference from small scale application and large scale. They could easily convert the shield technology to cover ships as well, leaving them invulnerable to that sort of attack plan."
Hammond nodded, looking worried, "Be that as it may, Captain, they are using that as our frontline of defense."
"What about the Stargate, sir?" Sam said, her mind scrambling for options.
"I just placed a call to the President. They are shipping the Stargate here as quickly as possible. Luckily, it's still packed up. It will be here within the next three hours. We shall begin setting up the base until it arrives. All personnel are being recalled, but we just may not have enough time. After all, it's not as though you can just press a switch and the base comes back on. We've been clearing out for the last three days. It simply isn't physically possible to be ready in time. However, as soon as the Stargate is set up, the President wants to begin shipping out our country's brightest to what used to be the Alpha Site. If we can't stop this invasion, the Alpha Site will be the last hope for mankind's survival."
"Well, that and Colonel O'Neill," Sam said.
"It's possible that Jack is looking for help on his end," Daniel added helpfully.
"We can't count on that. He may be dead for all we know or he may simply be unaware of the threat," Hammond said. "It's a wide universe, after all. Let's work on what we can do. What little that is."
Sam and Daniel nodded.
"Now, go get the computers online, Captain. Dr. Jackson, please go assist in the recall."
"Yes, sir."
"Sure."
Daniel and Sam both hurried off to do what they could before the ships arrived.
Teal'c was summoned by Bra'tac from where he had been standing guard, and came to see him meeting with all the Jaffa in his wing. "My brethren," Bra'tac said, as Teal'c entered, "we are almost prepared to strike. Once we are finished here, O'Neill and Teal'c have asked us to bring our families and join them on their new world. A world where a Jaffa can live free. What say you?"
The Jaffa cheered, except one. Fro'tak instead inquired, "We shall bring our women and children with us?"
"Indeed," Teal'c said with a smile, "I myself have plans to fetch Drey'auc and Rya'c the instant we get back to Chulak. I owe you a debt of gratitude for allowing them to remain in your care in my absence." He bowed his head deeply to his friend.
Fro'tak's face, for an unseen moment, took on an expression of jealous rage, that was quicky replaced by a pleasant mask. "Of course, my friend," he said, "I know you would do the same for me."
"For now," Bra'tac interjected, "take your positions. When the first explosions rock the other vessel, make your way down to the Stargate. O'Neill will join us there and light the final explosions that will free our people. We might need to fight our way to the gate. Are you prepared?"
All of the Jaffa bowed their heads in acceptance and saluted Master Bra'tac. However, one Jaffa's eyes glittered dangerously as he kept his head lowered. His thoughts did not bode well for the others.
Jack sighed as they came in sight of Earth. It was absolutely stunning. Jack couldn't help the awe that filled him as the planet filled his view screen.
"Stand aside, Ja'tak," Apophis commanded, "I will command the vessel from this point on."
Jack nodded and stepped away from the pel'tac. Apophis took his place. Apophis smiled malevolently and motioned toward the planet, addressing the Jaffa around him.
"Look at the pathetic planet. They send us no challenge, and yet they challenge me and attempt to steal away the loyalties of my people. I shall deeply enjoy watching them as they beg for my mercy."
At that moment, the ring transport engaged and Fro'tak was left standing as the rings dropped back into the floor. The Jaffa around him quickly drew their weapons on his unexpected arrival. Jack studied the newly arrived Jaffa. Something about the alien made all of Jack's warning bells ring. However, he kept his face carefully neutral. He had never met this Jaffa before, so hopefully the Jaffa did not know him either. However, at the Jaffa's next words, Jack felt the sinking feeling that goes with a bad turn of events.
"My Lord!" the Jaffa cried, "I have an urgent message for you. I must speak with you immediately."
"What is this interruption?" Apophis said. "Why do you come as I prepare for my glorious victory?"
Fro'tak's eyes searched the room. He had never met the Tauri O'Neill, but he thought he would be able to tell him from the others in the room. However, to his surprise, he seemed to be surrounded by Jaffa. Not a single one stuck out as being human.
"May I speak to you privately, My Lord?" Fro'tak asked.
"Who are you?" Apophis asked.
"I am thy loyal servant Fro'tak," Fro'tak said with a bow, "I have a message for you that will change this battle from defeat to victory."
Apophis studied the Jaffa in front of him with stern eyes, before he finally nodded and motioned for the Jaffa to approach him. The Jaffa around Fro'tak pulled back their weapons, but watched him carefully.
Fro'tak approached and bowed. "My Lord," he whispered quietly, "you have Shol'va within your ranks. The Jaffa traitor Teal'c and a human of the Tauri have infiltrated these ships and are attempting to destroy them. They have recruited several other Jaffa and are planning to kidnap your son Klorel when they leave. I am told the Tauri stands disguised within this very room, though I do not know his face."
Apophis froze. His eyes lifted from the face of the Jaffa in front of him, and he studied the Jaffa around him. All of them bore his mark and he had felt their loyalty, but Teal'c had shown him that even those he trusted most could betray him.
"Speak to no one of this. If it is true you shall be rewarded for you dedication," Apophis said, then he turned and faced the other Jaffa around him. "Jaffa," he said, "bow before me." Instantly, all the Jaffa around him dropped to one knew and saluted.
Apophis began to concentrate. With so many infant symbiotes around him, it made it hard to detect someone without naquadah in their system. However, as he focused on the feeling he got around each of his Jaffa, he finally noticed that he did not sense the presence of a symbiote from one of them. He approached the individual and was disturbed to find the absence came from none other than Ja'tak.
"Seize him," he said, pointing to Ja'tak. At that moment, he could see the change that came over Ja'tak's features. Ja'tak spun from a kneeling position into a crouch and shot the nearest Jaffa warrior with the staff weapon that he held in his hand. Apophis calmly lifted his hand-held device and watched as Ja'tak shot another two individuals. As Ja'tak wheeled around and brought the staff weapon toward Apophis, Apophis concentrated and hit Ja'tak and a couple of Jaffa around him with a powerful blast that flung the traitor into the nearest wall. As he lay stunned, two other Jaffa seized him under his arms and hauled him to his feet.
"Remove his head-plating," Apophis commanded.
Tre'hac, who held one of Ja'tak's arms, quickly did as commanded. As the head plate came off revealing short, dark-brown hair, Apophis realized he did indeed recognize the man. He had even killed him once before.
"You!" Apophis snarled. He felt deep anger settle in his chest. The impudent Tauri had mocked him. He had infiltrated Apophis's trust and made a fool of him. He would pay dearly for this.
"Yes, me," mocked the Tauri, "who were you expecting? Your grandmother?"
"By what are you called?" Apophis growled.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill," Jack said, and then he lifted up two fingers of his armored hand as he added, "two 'L's in that."
Apophis paced back and forth in front of his prisoner. "How many traitors are among my ranks?"
"Hundreds," Jack pronounced, "you're completely surrounded."
Apophis wheeled on Fro'tak and his eyes flashed as he glared at him.
"He lies!" Fro'tak said quickly. "There are a mere sixteen besides this one."
"What are their names?" Apophis asked Fro'tak.
"Your servant Bra'tac leads them with the Shol'va Teal'c."
Apophis's rage grew. "We must speak to Klorel at once," Apophis growled, but as he gestured for the Jaffa and the prisoner to follow him, one of the Jaffa interrupted.
"My Lord," he cried, "the Tauri have fired upon us!"
Apophis turned to see a missile heading toward his ship. "I shall deal with this," he said, attempting to sound unperturbed.
He resumed his place at the pel'tac and quickly called up his shields. He watched as his son did the same for the second mothership. Both shields sprung up and the missiles exploded harmlessly off in space. However, the issuing impact rocked the ship and gave Jack the slight distraction he needed.
Jack ducked down and brought his arms together above his head, slamming the heads of Tre'hac and the Jaffa on the other side of him together. They grunted as Jack continued ducking, slipping his arms out of their grasps and rolling backwards, kicking the back of their knees as he came up behind them. Both Jaffa howled and crashed forward, trying to grab their knees around their bulky armor. Jack continued crouching as he positioned himself behind a pillar, one of the Jaffa guard's zats in his hand. He began to fire it at the surrounding Jaffa. Apophis quickly erected his own shield and the zat blast Jack sent his way merely clashed harmlessly against it. However, Jack unerring shots took down most of the remaining Jaffa. Fro'tak and a couple others had managed to pull themselves behind posts as well, and were firing back at Jack.
Apophis fired another blast from his hand-device, but though it cracked the post which Jack hid behind, it missed him entirely. Jack punched the symbols for the ring transport. He felt a zat blast from Fro'tak zip past his ear and he sighed in relief that it had missed. He pressed the last symbol and jumped on the ring platform, completely exposed.
"Welcome to Earth, Apophis," Jack said as he sent a last triumphant grin toward Apophis and pushed the detonator. Apophis fired once more as Jack disappeared, and Jack felt the pain of the hand-device strike him again as his view of the pel'tac vanished.
The pel'tac behind Apophis exploded and sent him, shield and all, flying forward. The blast of the explosion hurtled Fro'tak into the nearest wall as well, and Apophis stood up to find his host's ears ringing. He quickly repaired the minimal damage that had been inflicted upon his host and looked over at the destroyed pel'tac. The ship was angling off course and he could hear sounds of explosions erupting all over his ship.
"Quickly!" he commanded the Jaffa around him who were beginning to recover. "After him to the other ship!"