Chapter 17 All's Well That Ends In An Explosion.
General Jack O'Neill sat in the commander's chair on the bridge of the George Hammond and watched the chaos unfolding in front of him.
Athena's palace guard and warriors were running haphazardly in all directions, pursued by Teal'c and Bra'tac's erstwhile Jaffa. The enemy were entering the Ha'tak, heading into the trees, re-tracing their steps back to the palace or lowering themselves off of the balcony. A few bodies lay in the courtyard and more could be seen closer to the palace. Many more wounded were attempting to struggle away from the fighting.
Jack sighed. It was never good when a guy had to witness the deaths of so many good men. He watched as the Al'kesh came steaming back into the melee – it loosed off a couple of bombs on the far side of the palace before edging nearer to the Hammond and hovering above.
"General O'Neill?" an unknown voice sounded over the bridge. "This is Vielkah of the Tok'ra. We have Colonel Mitchell, Doctor Jackson and Athena on board."
"What?" Jack's face brightened. "You got that witch? Where'd you find her?"
"She was attempting to flee from what appeared to be a hidden doorway on the other side of the palace." Vielkah sounded as if she were smiling. "We will keep her incarcerated here until it is possible to transfer her aboard the George Hammond."
"Nice." Jack resisted the urge to jump to his feet and punch the air. Remember the knees. "Are Mitchell and Daniel okay?"
"Colonel Mitchell has been injured, as I believe you are aware, but it does not appear to be life threatening. Doctor Jackson is well."
"I wouldn't exactly say 'well'," Jack heard Daniel complain. "Living – that would an accurate description. Living, extremely tired and bordering on starvation – that would be more like it."
"Quit your whining," Jack grinned, hearing a rueful chuckle in response from the other ship. They were interrupted by another voice breaking over the airwaves.
"Jack? Sir?" Sam sounded as if she was running. "Are Teal'c and Bra'tac on board the Hammond yet?"
"Not yet." The General was straight back to business. "Teal'c? You there?"
"Indeed." The Jaffa answered immediately. "We are close now. Do you wish us to come to you?"
"Carter?" Jack asked.
"You have another…" there was a pause. Gunfire sounded in the background and Vala could be heard saying something unintelligible. "…another three minutes. Then the generator'll go up."
"Get out of there!" Jack ordered.
"We're trying, sir!" Sam replied, through gritted teeth.
"We will come aboard now." Teal'c sounded decisive. "You may then take off in the Hammond, GeneralO'Neill, and if necessary bring ColonelCarter and ValaMalDoran aboard, before transporting the other Naquadah generator aboard the Ha'tak."
"Why thank you, Teal'c," Jack said, sarcastically. "Remind me to promote you to General when we get home!"
"I am unsure of what you mean," Teal'c replied, as he began to weave through the courtyard, avoiding the enemy weapon fire. "I do not believe that as a Free Jaffa I can be considered for the post of General."
"Ack!" Jack flapped his hands in frustration. "Just get your butt over here now!"
As he spoke the General saw a contingent of warriors, Bra'tac and Teal'c among them, appear from different directions and begin to make their way towards him.
"Carter?" Jack spoke into the comm. again.
A moment or two of silence then - "Sir?"
"Where are you?"
Another pause. Sam sighed. "Still in the palace sir. There's a group of…"
Weapons fire was heard. "I have to go, sir. See you soon."
"Two minutes, sir," Marks was watching a countdown beside him. "Two minutes until the palace goes up."
Jack said nothing. His face was expressionless, eyes hooded. See you soon, he repeated. Hope so.
o – o – o – o – o – o –
The two women had a break at last – one of their own Jaffa managed to get around behind the small contingent of vociferous warriors who were making a last stand in the large, colonnaded atrium. He took out a couple of antagonists before the enemy realized, by which time Sam had brought down another. A knife went whizzing through the air, above her head – she was amazed to see that Vala had wielded it. The blade sunk into the thigh of a young man who was busy shooting badly in their direction.
"Nice!" Sam told her friend.
"Thank you," Vala tugged it back out of the boy's leg as they ran past, after knocking his weapon easily aside. She paused momentarily – his eyes were hard, angry – he tried to grab at her.
"No you don't," Sam, catching sight of the movement, kicked his arm away.
"One minute!" Major Marks voice, sounding very slightly concerned, broke over the radio.
"Time to go!" Vala tugged the Colonel towards the door and they raced out towards the treeline. "So…" she began, conversationally as they ran. "Samantha dear, I was wondering if you'd…"
The sound of the Hammond taking off behind them interrupted their conversation. It was closely followed by the deep whine of the Ha'tak performing the same manouver. Speech was impossible for a few moments.
"…be my honourable maid?" Vala finished, reaching the woods and plunging straight in.
"Your what?" Sam said sharply, joining her among the nettles and ferns and keeping right on running.
"My honourable maid." Vala tripped but regained her balance quickly. "That's what a bride asks her friend to be when she get's married isn't it?"
"What?" Sam stopped short. The Jaffa immediately behind crashed into her and sent her flying. "Sorry," she grimaced, apologetically.
Vala pulled them both up and they resumed their race through the woods.
"Married, Smanatha," the alien repeated, sounding exasperated. "You know what that is, don't you? I mean, you do still speak Tau'ri, correct?"
"I – yes!" Sam stopped and ducked as weapons fire came from their left. She watched her friend, incredulous.
"What?" Vala asked crossly.
Sam loosed off a long Zat blast into the woodland ahead, then another, higher towards the trees. A lone enemy soldier tumbled out of the branches. She grinned hugely, blue eyes shining.
"Great shot," Vala nodded, pleased.
"Thanks." Sam laid her hand on her friend's arm. "You mean – you and Daniel..?"
"I do." Vala smiled, as her face shone. She blinked and cleared her throat. "I mean, don't you think that it's about time? That Daniel and I became married?"
Sam let out a shout of laughter as they all clambered up and resumed their flight through the woods. "Vala – I think it was about time five or six years ago!"
The alien snorted a laugh but didn't waste any more breath on speaking.
Major Marks' voice sounded over the comm. again. "Ten seconds."
"Where the heck are you Carter?" Jack yelled.
"Running sir!" she replied. Even as she spoke the Al'kesh swung into view above them.
"Stand still!" commanded Vielkah, and mere moments later they were on board the bomber.
"Sir!" Sam called to Jack. "Have you transported the Naquadah generator to the Ha'tak?"
"I have now," he replied, relieved. As he finished speaking, the palace erupted in a massive, booming explosion of stonework, glass, wood and metal. The Alkesh pulled away quickly, even so it was caught in the strong blast wave. Rocking heavily from side to side, it's occupants went staggering and stumbling into each other and everything else onboard.
The Hammond could be seen in the near distance, rising up and away from the palace. The Ha'tak was also moving, heading closer to the Al'kesh.
"Guessing we don't want to be too close to that for the next few minutes," remarked Daniel, edgily.
"May I?" Vala edged Vielkah gently out of the way, and plonked herself down at the controls. Within moments they were reversing at speed away from the enemy ship, which continued to plough inexorably towards them.
"Vala…" Daniel pointed out of the window.
"I see it!" she retorted, crossly. "It's a bit too big to miss really isn't it, darling? I'm not blind as a butt!"
"Bat," Sam interjected, absently. "And 'maid of honour', by the way."
"Butt is better." Vala began to swing the Al'kesh in a wide, high arc away from the Ha'tak, before swooping quickly earthwards again. The other ship, unable to manouver as quickly, continued on it's path. "You can't see out of your butt, but a bat can see. So my way is better. And thank you – does that mean that you will?"
"Will what?" Mitchell grimaced and shifted on his seat.
"Not you!" Vala frowned. "I don't want you as my honour maid, or whatever it is! I want Sam!"
"Yes," Sam grinned. "I will."
"Excuse me?" Daniel remarked, feebly.
Vala merely smiled sweetly over her shoulder at him.
"What the heck are we talking about?" a confused Mitchell was looking from one to the other.
"Daniel and I are getting married," Vala flicked several switches, and pulled on the lever in front of her. "You can come, if you behave yourself. But not as an honour maid."
The Colonel's mouth dropped open. He wasn't quite sure where his voice had disappeared to.
Not that it mattered – a second later and the Ha'tak exploded in a giant orange-gold fireball which spread widely across the velvet black of space. Sparkles of silver and crystal twinkled amongst the bright, spherical glow – flames snaked wildly out from the rapidly disintegrating remains of the vessel.
The Al'kesh was caught again in the blast wave – fortunately Vala had managed to get enough distance between the two ships for only minimal damage to occur – the shield held strongly as the smaller ship wobbled about from side to side.
"Carter!" Jack's voice broke sharply over the airwaves. "You okay over there?"
"We're fine sir," Sam leaned in to the console. "Some good flying by Vala helped."
"Once a space pirate…" murmured Daniel, moving close up behind her. She elbowed him sharply, a retort brewing up, before Mitchell tumbling off of his seat interrupted them both.
"Oh, poor Cameron!" Hopping off of her perch, Vala gave control of the Al'kesh back to Vielkah and knelt beside the Colonel.
"Owwww…" he let out a long drawn growl. "Damn leg!"
"You should lay still," Sam, deep in conversation with Jack on the Hammond, broke off to look down at the injury. She winced. "Ouch – that looks sore."
"Underestimate of the century," Mitchell lay himself flat down on the floor and closed his eyes.
"We'll be able to enter subspace soon," Sam continued. "You'll be back at the SGC before you know it – Carolyn can patch you up."
"I'm on it," Vala interrupted, whipping out her healing device for the second time in one day. She slipped it over her knuckles.
"Are you sure?" Daniel and Mitchell spoke together.
"I mean, you've used it once today already," the archaeologist added.
"It doesn't have batteries, darling, it won't run out." Vala's hands were already spread, hovering over the Colonel's injured leg.
"I know – I just meant – look after yourself," Daniel crouched beside her. He lifted a hand to gently stroke along her jawline. His clear blue eyes were intent, sparkling, loving.
Vala shivered, then blushed as his thumb trailed over her mouth. She bit her lip, endearingly.
Daniel, immediately forgetting about everybody else on the ship, leaned in close. Cupping her face in his hand, he kissed her deeply in front of the entire contingent of Tok'ra, Jaffa and anybody else who was watching.
"Get a room," Mitchell interjected eventually, from his position on the floor. He grinned as they broke apart, both blushing.
Daniel cleared his throat. "I'll just – er – I mean – I need to find.." he scooted off in the direction of the store rooms.
Vala straightened her arms out again. She smiled down at Mitchell, silvery eyes sparkling. "Now shush," she told him. "Or I might end up tying you in knots!"
The Colonel closed his eyes. The Gou'ald device spread warmth across his poor wounded thigh, a soft, seeping warmth. He could almost see it through his closed eyelids. It was making him feel sleepy too – or perhaps that was just after the exertions of the day. Goodness knows how long they had all been awake. Mitchell felt his consciousness drift away slowly – mere seconds later he was sleeping, mouth slightly open, one arm thrown above his head.
When Daniel returned a few minutes later he found Vala asleep too, sprawled across Mitchell's feet, Gou'ald healing device still in her hand. He tucked it into one of her vest pockets before gently lifting her up and cuddling her in close against his own chest, arms encircling her protectively. Propped up against a pile of rucksacks and boxes, Daniel lasted another two minutes or so before he joined his team mates in a deep, long-awaited sleep.
TBC...
Nearly made it to the end now, peeps! Well done for lasting the course :-)