Episode 12: A Startling Trip
Stargate Command
"Chevron Seven, locked!" the Sergeant's voice from the Control Room echoed.
Ahead of the assembled team members, the Stargate exploded in a flurry of energy, flashing outwards and then collapsing in on itself, stabilizing into a wall of shimmering blue.
"You know," Jack mused aloud, "that big flush is kind of a hint about the seventh chevron."
"Amazing," Riker said, "an actual stable wormhole."
"Yup," Jack said, adjusting his hat.
"And you just step through it and you're on another world? Incredible."
"It's similar to your transporters in theory, Commander," Sam said, smiling.
"Expect here you're going half-way across the universe," Ezri Dax said, stunned by the wormhole, "Oh, Jadzia would have loved this!"
"Yes, yes, very exciting," Jack said, yawning.
"Jack might not be the best…delegate for Stargate travel," Daniel said diplomatically, "but if you step through it we'll be planetside in no time."
"Astounding," Riker said in awe, "you can actually see the fluctuations in the even horizon."
"Heard something like that before," Jack said, looking over at Sam. Reaching out with a finger, he pushed Riker through the Gate, "Saddle up, people. We have a tour to give."
"So," Ezri began, taking her place next to Teal'c as they went up the metal ramp, "Dr. Jackson tell me we have a little something in common."
"Indeed?" Teal'c commented, raising an eyebrow.
"We both have symbiotes!" Ezri said excitedly, "I can't tell you how exciting it is to find a race of people in another universe that carry symbiotes. We have so much to discuss!"
"My symbiote is a symbol of the slavery of my people to false gods. Is it similar on your world?"
"Err…not quite," Ezri said quietly, slightly taken aback.
"Indeed," Teal'c repeated, stepping through the Gate.
Ezri emerged on the other side in a rush, almost tumbling down the stairs in her excitement over the wormhole, forgetting her brief conversation with the Jaffa warrior. Teal'c's strong arm caught her, setting the giggling woman upright. Ahead, Riker was walking in a tight circle, eyes everywhere, a tricorder in his hand. Behind the team the Stargate dissipated.
"Amazing!" Riker exclaimed.
"There's that word again," Jack replied.
"We don't have anything like this in the Federation, Colonel," Ezri explained.
"Oh, I know. I've seen all the episodes."
"What?"
"What the Colonel means is we're sure your technology is just as impressive. Besides, we didn't create the Stargate. The Ancients did," Sam clarified.
"Going through that would be something I'd never get tired of," Riker said with a sigh.
"We've been to this planet before," Daniel said, "there are some interesting archaeological finds a few miles up if you'd like to see them."
"Now there's the capper for the day," Jack said, "digging up some rocks."
"I'm sure it will be very exciting," Ezri said, patting Daniel on the shoulder.
"Major Carter," Riker called out, "I thought you said this planet was devoid of technology."
"It is."
"I'm detecting energy readings, just over that hill."
Sam wandered over to the Commander, looking at his tricorder and realizing she could make little sense of the readouts. Riker smiled and indicated one of the readings. Sam nodded and turned over to Jack, "Colonel, he's right. Something is over that rise."
"I don't like this," Jack said, adjusting his weapon, "Teal'c, get ready. Daniel, dial us up."
"Colonel?" Riker said, "It's moving." Taking a step back, he pulled his phaser from its holster as Daniel began to dial home.
"Could be Go'uld," Jack thought, "everyone find cover."
The team moved to several large boulders scattered around the Stargate just as a construct emerged from the top of the hill, its arm swinging back and forth across the little field.
"Aw, crap," Jack said, "Daniel, get out of there!"
Daniel moved aside just as the first volley of energy blasts peppered the ground around the dial-home device. Daniel jumped behind one of the rocks, Riker helping him and returning fire with his phaser. Jack and Teal'c also fired with their respective weapons, the construct's armour sparking under their fire. The robot swivelled once more, firing another volley at the boulders they were using as cover.
"Sir," Sam said loudly, "something is wrong."
"And what might that be, Major?" Jack said, pulling a grenade out of his vest. Next to him Teal'c fired his staff weapon.
"That robot shouldn't have missed Daniel. And it should be picking us off like flies."
"We've been lucky before, Major," Jack replied.
"Yes sir, but that's not a Jaffa soldier shooting at us. It's a computer controlled robot and realistically, it shouldn't miss."
"Get to the point, Major!"
"It doesn't want us dead, sir."
On the hill the robot swivelled once more, a cold voice resonating out, "TARGETS DESIGNATED." Behind the construct two bright silver flares could be seen, as the robot lifted off the ground and flew down to the field below.
"The robot can fly," Teal'c observed. The construct landed heavily and lumbered over to the boulder Riker and Daniel were using as cover. One arm reached out and hefted the immense rock aside, sending Jack and Sam scrambling out of the way. Teal'c pushed Ezri behind his broad back, brandishing his weapon.
On the ground Riker and Daniel looked up at the robot, their reflections plain on the glittering silver and blue surface of its torso. The twin-bladed head loomed over them, the electric blue eyes studying the humans. The robot nodded and reached out with its clawed hands, grabbing the humans and lifting them up like toys.
"TARGETS ACQUIRED. BEGIN TRANSPORT."
"No!" Jack yelled, rushing forward. A field of red energy encompassed the robot and its struggling cargo, and then quickly flared out of existence with a loud snapping noise.
Riker and Daniel were gone, taken by the construct.