Chapter 22: Rude Awakening
Gym Room, Stargate Command
3:50 P.M
Noa caught the ball when Mitchell passed it to her.
Slipping her way past one member of SG-3 and two more from SG-12, the Canadian took one bounce and threw the ball at the basket. The ball hit the rim and was deflected away.
"Crap!" Noa mumbled.
"Easy there, Williams," Mitchell replied. "You'll get it next time."
Noa nodded.
"Yeah, I better," Was her reply.
Staff Sergeant Redding, who Noa had not seen since the end of basic training, now on the opposing team, tossed the ball to the Canadian. Then he began to block the Canadian's view of both the basket and her teammates.
"Watcha gonna do buddy girl?" Redding asked teasingly.
Noa dribbled the ball, not taking her eyes of the Staff Sergeant. She smirked.
"I'm not your buddy, guy." She replied.
Using the corners of her eyes, Noa noticed that Mitchell was undefended and she quickly passed the ball his direction. Mitchell caught it and threw the ball at the basket.
A swoosh.
Sergeant Marlowe, who Noa also hadn't seen since training, and also on her team, cheered.
"Hell yeah Colonel!" His right arm fist pumping the air.
Mitchell grinned and shrugged.
"If it weren't for Willaims," He commented. "I wouldn't have made that shot."
"Thank you sir," The Canadian replied.
"No, thank you!"
"Alright, settle down," Colonel Reynolds began, dribbling the ball. "It's a tie, 3-3, next shot wins, alright?"
"Ah come on, Colonel," Mitchell replied with a chuckle. "So soon?"
Reynolds smiled, tossing the ball to Mitchell.
"Alright then, let's make it interesting," He replied. "Only Private Williams or Major Satterfield can score the next shot, no one else's will count."
Mitchell nodded.
"Fair enough," He replied.
Both the Private and the Major got into position, ready to grab the ball once it was airborne. Reynolds then tossed the ball upwards. Once opportunity knocked, Noa jumped up into the air and grabbed the ball before the Major could react.
"Holy crap!" Satterfield commented.
"Damn girl," Redding added, laughing. "I don't care how much you suck at shooting hoops…but damn it to hell you can jump."
"Thanks guy,"
The Staff Sergeant tried to get the ball away from the Canadian.
"I'm not your guy, friend!"
Noa chuckled as she fluently slipped passed the opposing team and with the help of Marlowe, who was given the ball long enough for Noa to get close to take a close shot.
The ball went in.
With a smile, Noa placed one hand on her hip and pointed the thumb on the other at her chest.
"My name is Private Noa Williams of the Canadian Armed Forces and this is my favorite basketball court in Stargate Command!"
"Hells yeah!" Marlowe commented, high-fiveing the Canadian. "You show em' girl!"
Satterfield also smiled, approaching Williams to shake her hand.
"Good game," The Major said to the Private.
"Absolutely," Williams replied. "You weren't bad yourself either,"
Once everyone started to head back to the locker rooms, Satterfield and Williams began to converse.
"Where'd you learn to play so well?" The Major asked.
Williams shrugged. "I wouldn't say 'so well', but I used to play in school back in Canada."
Satterfield smiled.
"I'm sure your team won plenty of games then,"
Williams shook her head.
"We lost almost all of them."
Satterfield nodded. She then asked:
"How's Colonel Alexeyeva doing?"
1 Week Later
Infirmary, Sub-Level 21, Stargate Command
11:47 A.M
-Beep-…-Beep-
Noa sat next to the Lieutenant Colonel's bed, hoping for her commander to wake up. It's been a whole week since Natasha was shot in the chest. Doctor Lam told Williams that while the bullet was slowed down, by the soldier's vest, to the point that it only was only partly buried inside the skin, and the procedure was a success. Until the wound heals, Alexeyeva was to be in a drug induced coma. That didn't mean Noa still couldn't talk with her friend however.
–Beep-…-beep-
"Hey Colonel," Noa began, as if speaking to herself. "It's me…sorry I haven't been around to say hi or any of that…I've been kinda busy."
Noa took a deep breath before continuing.
"A lot has happened since you were…"
A sigh.
"Anyway, it's been getting hectic lately."
Noa looked back and found that no one was behind her.
Returning her view to the Russian, she continued.
"We got the guy who shot you and…well…I'm not sure what else to say. Maybe I just want to spend time by your side, I mean…you've been there for me so why can't I?"
The Russian laid there, no motion and emotionless.
–Beep-…-Beep-
Tears began to roll down the Canadian's eyes.
"Damn it…" She breathed. "Why…won't you…just wake up."
Sobbing.
Then silence.
Noa wiped her tears away and began to stand up.
"Yeah…" She mumbled to herself. "You need rest…I get it."
She placed her hand on the Colonel's shoulder and looked down.
"Get Well Soon, lady-hero."
As Williams began to walk away, a single groan could be heard behind her.
"Liya?" The voice asked.
Noa immediately turned around and ran up to the Colonel.
"Colonel, Ma'am," She replied. "It's me, Williams…how are you feeling."
"Liya?"
"Colonel?" The Russian's chest shot up.
"LIYA!" The woman screamed, her eyes now wide open.
–Beep- -Beep- -Beep- -Beep-
"DOC!" Noa yelled over her shoulder.
Doctor Lam and another medic rushed towards the bed and examined the wounded Russian.
"She's having a cardiac arrest." The Doctor replied.
"A heart attack?" Noa asked.
"Get outta here, Private," Lam added.
"But…"
"Now!"
Fifteen Minutes Earlier
General Carter's Office, Sub-Level 27, Stargate Command
11:32 A.M
General Kerrigan entered Carter's office with a smile.
"Morning General," He said, announcing his presence.
Sam, who was doing some paperwork, immediately shot up her head and stood up.
"General Kerrigan," She said, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you again sir."
"Like wise,"
Carter nodded before sitting back down, rubbing her forehead.
"I heard about what happened to that Russian officer you have in the infirmary." Kerrigan began the conversation in his business-as-usual voice.
Carter nodded.
"So close at coming home and yet she still has to suffer getting back."
"I've seen her in action during training," Kerrigan tried to reassure Carter.
"She can take the punishment; I can vogue for that,"
"Says the man who didn't like her."
"After the stunt she pulled with the destruction of the enemy base using a vehicle…she was lucky that she didn't kill anyone."
"By the way," Carter interrupted. "How did she end up using a vehicle anyway?"
Kerrigan shrugged.
"She got smart, I guess." He replied. "It was during Operation: Cold Play, a sort of – how should I put it – a tournament between the Colonel's team and another set of recruits that were also on-site, another set of foreign personnel I might add. The purpose of this Operation was to determine who was going to earn the bid to lead the first team from the international community."
"Not exactly what the U.N had in mind, General," Carter replied. "But what was their mission," she asked. "for Alexeyeva and her team?"
Kerrigan took a seat before Carter's desk and sighed.
"The recruits had to deliver a demolition charge into an enemy base and detonate it without any 'casualties' on their side, or at least the fewest. There were three rounds and each side would trade roles, defense and assault, after each one…it was a tie by the final round…"
2 Weeks Earlier
Undisclosed Stargate Command Training Grounds, Colorado
04:09 P.M
Alexeyeva, Marlowe and Redding were kneeling behind cover as the opposing force opened fire on their position.
"Any ideas Ivan?" Marlowe asked, clenching onto his MP5.
The Russian slowly crept to the side of the barrier and peaked at the other side, only to shove herself back just before the enemy stun bullets could hit her.
"Three enemies firing non-stop and two others are behind heavy weaponry." She reported to the other two.
"You kidding me?" Redding asked.
"Where's that EOD kid?" Marlowe asked.
Alexeyeva turned her head away as an Intar bullet flew over her head.
"Private Williams is still preparing the explosive." Redding scoffed. "Yeah, so much for winning this round."
He replied, bitter at his team leader for letting them down.
For the previous 15 minutes, during this round in the final training assignment, Alexeyeva and her team were bogged down by several problems while trying to complete their objectives.
At the beginning, Williams forgotten several pieces of her equipment and had to leave the field while Redding lagged behind Marlowe and Alexeyeva with the heavy AT-4 Rocket launcher slinged over his back, causing the team to be well behind schedule. Even after completing the objectives, the team had to make their way past a no-man's-land that was controlled by the OPFOR opponents. It didn't help that the team was almost out of ammo.
"Yo, Ivan," Redding asked. "How many mags you got left?"
Alexeyeva checked through her vest and only found two magazines left.
"Well shit," Redding replied, sitting down next to the barrier. "We're done, aren't we?"
Then, as if an answer, a jeep quickly drove up to the three.
"Hey!" Marlowe called out, pointing at the incoming vehicle. "You see that?"
"Oh shit, hostile vehicle!" Redding replied, aiming his MP5. "Not good…not good!"
It wasn't until the three saw the driver did Alexeyeva force Redding's weapon down.
The driver, as it turned out, was none other than Private Williams.
She took off her sunglasses and smiled.
"Ya miss me?" She asked.
Under a hail of bullets, Redding made his way towards the Canadian.
"Crap! Get down already!" He yelled as he yanked her out of her seat just as five Intar bullets hit the windshield, shattering it into a reflective light show.
"Hey what the hell!" Williams yelled, shoving Redding's hand away from her. "I just came in saving your sorry asses and now your throwing me to the ground?"
Alexeyeva smiled.
"We appreciate your assistance, even if you are late…as its better late than never, nyet?"
Williams smiled before nodding.
Pointing with her thumb, Williams notified them of the team of a fresh cache of ammo she brought with her. Redding, in desperate need of ammunition, attempted to go after the cache but Alexeyeva stopped him.
"Why do you get to do everything Ivan?" The Sergeant asked.
"Wait here," The Colonel replied, handing her remaining magazines to Redding and Marlowe.
"On three, I want you to cover me with suppressing fire."
"Yeah," Marlowe replied, reloading his empty sub-machine gun. "Whatever you say Ivan,"
Alexeyeva turned her head to Williams and asked her where ammo was.
"In the trunk with the device."
"Alright then!" Alexeyeva replied. "You remember what I need you to do Marines?"
"Yes ma'am," Marlowe answered.
"Yeah," Redding added.
"One!" The Colonel yelled.
The two marines had turned off the safeties on their weapons.
"Two!"
The bullets still came at them.
"Three!"
"Suppressing!"
Marlowe and Redding emerged from cover and returned fire.
At that very second, when their MP5s fired away, the Russian quickly dashed towards the back of the vehicle. Intar bullets followed her as she dove behind the jeep. Falling on her hands and side, Alexeyeva immediately got back on her feet. She placed one foot on the back bumper and lifted herself up, knowing her legs might get shot if the enemy decided to shoot under the vehicle. The Russian grabbed the tarp and pulled it away, revealing the ammo box and the device itself. Grabbing as many magazines as she could with one hand, while the other keeping her steady on the bumper, Alexeyeva tossed the ammo towards the two marines, who in turn scrambled from them like hungry beggars. After all the ammo was given, the Russian returned to the others, barely missing every bullet that came her way.
"You got balls, Ivan!" Redding commented. "I'll give you that."
Marlowe nodded with a smile.
"Whoever Stargate Command is fighting right now…those bad guys are gonna be pissing their pants." He added.
"Yeah well," Williams replied. "Now how the hell are we getting past the NML?"
The Russian thought for a moment, before eyeing the jeep behind her.
"Private Williams," She began. "I assume the device is ready for use, da?"
Williams nodded before pulling out the detonator.
"I still don't know how…"
She was cut off as Alexeyeva snatched the detonator from the Canadian's hand and darted for the driver's seat of the jeep.
"What the hell are you doing?" Marlowe yelled.
The Colonel restarted the vehicle before answering.
"What does it look like I'm doing, marine?" She replied. "I'm going to drive this thing right down their throats."
Marlowe's eyes nearly popped out.
"You're gonna kamikaze their asses!"
Alexeyeva only shrugged, then drove off. Marlowe returned his sight to the other two.
"Come on, come on!" He yelled. "Cover the crazy bitch!"
Alexeyeva could only damn herself as she drove across the open area.
She steered left to right and then back again to avoid incoming fire, praying that she doesn't get shot then tagged out. She kept her head down for most of the advance, making sure the enemy couldn't target her. The front wheels hit a pot hole and threw the jeep forward, turning it upside down. Alexeyeva instantly bailed out of the vehicle as it began to flip over. The inertia from jumping out of a moving jeep made the Russian slide uncontrollably across the sandy ground on her belly.
"COLONEL!"
Alexeyeva could hear Williams' voice echoing in her headset.
Once the Russian stopped, she turned on her backside and looked at where the jeep was now located. It was upside down, but inside the facility. Sitting up, Alexeyeva noticed that the detonator was still in her hand, miraculously. She flipped the switch and won the round as well as the tournament which had secured her guaranteed leadership of the first SG team consisting of foreign personnel. Her teammates were running up to her as she began to stand up.
"Jesus, man!" Redding yelled. "You almost had gotten yourself six feet under you crazy…"
"We won, didn't we?" Alexeyeva interrupted. "We won,"
"Yeah, maybe…" Redding replied. "But that General guy is gonna freak when he gets wind of this."
The four turned to face the wreckage that was created at the wake of the Russian's doing.
"Eh, who cares," Marlowe replied, grinning.
He then extended his hand to the Colonel.
"You're a frikin hero in my book,"
Alexeyeva smiled, as thin lines of blood began trickling down her face. She shook hands with the Marine, and soon with the other before being embraced by the Canadian. Little did they know, of course, that the Russian would be suspended for the final week of training…pending behavioral evaluations.
Present Day
General Carter's Office, Sub-Level 27, Stargate Command
11:32 A.M
The phone rang. Carter, out of reflex, picked it up.
"Carter," She spoke into the microphone.
She listened for a moment.
"What happened?" She asked, standing up.
Kerrigan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"When?"
Carter listened for another moment.
"Uh-huh…understood…I'll be right there,"
'Click'
Carter sighed before placing her fingers through her hair.
"She's awake," She added.
"The Russian?" Kerrigan asked.
Carter nodded.
"Turns out she had a heart attack," She explained as the two exited the office.
"Jesus," Kerrigan breathed. "She alright?"
"Doctor Lam isn't sure what caused it…but she says that Alexeyeva is stabilized and awake."
The two entered the elevator before Carter pressed the '21' button on the panel.
The doors closed and the elevator began to ascend.
"Hopefully we can get answers from the Colonel before anything else happens." Carter added.
The two waited patiently as the elevator continued to go up.
"O'Neill will be arriving soon to check up on SG-26 in about a week…the Pentagon needs to file a report to the U.N."
Carter looked at Kerrigan with a surprised look.
"SG-26 has only been active for a little more than a week, General." She replied. "Don't you think it's a little too early?"
Kerrigan shrugged.
"Believe it or not...like it or not…26, and all subsequent teams, is U.N property not U.S Air Force or U.S government so it's not our call."
Carter looked away.
Clearly, she wasn't told about this.
The elevator doors opened and the two made their way to the infirmary. Upon entering, the two found the members of SG-1 and 26, as well as Doctor Lam, surrounding the bed that held the Russian.
"Colonel," Carter began, placing her hands on the bed's railing. "You alright?"
Alexeyeva looked away, mildly embarrassed.
"I'm quite alright, General, spaseeba."
She then turned her head to find Kerrigan standing next to Carter.
"General Kerrigan, sir," She added. "I'm surprised to see you here,"
"As much as I am to see you in this state." Kerrigan replied.
"Yeah," Mitchell added. "What the hell happened?"
The question was more directed at Lam than at Alexeyeva.
Before the doctor could answer, Alexeyeva intervened.
"Nightmare, Colonel Mitchell." She answered. "More of a bad memory, I rather should put it."
"A nightmare?" Williams asked. "About what…did it have to do with this…Liya?"
Alexeyeva looked away.
She explained to them about her operation in the nation of Georgia during her short-lived service in the Spetsnaz.
"We never got a hold of that kind of information, Colonel." Kerrigan replied. "Is it wise to share this with us?"
"Does it matter?" Alexeyeva asked. "I almost died of a Myocardial infarction today…honestly…I don't know how to respond to your question."
"Calm down, Colonel," Lam quickly added. "You need rest so I would like everyone else to leave."
There were some groans and other sounds of disappointment as some of the members wanted to speak with the Russian. Nonetheless, they cleared out.
After everyone left, Lam approached Carter and Kerrigan outside the infirmary.
"We had her sedated," She bluntly spoke out. "And yet she woke up and had a heart attack…this isn't good."
Carter sighed, shaking her head.
"She special forces…Russian special forces and only god knows what they had done to her for to able to resist the sedatives she was given." She replied.
"The stress won't help her either," Lam added.
"That's not good," Kerrigan replied. "There was going to be an evaluation of SG-26 later on…and I doubt the Colonel will be fit for it, assuming the U.N would still want her to lead 26 in the immediate future."
"Then we can't have her in Stargate Command for as long as she's under this condition." Lam commented. "Now…she's stable as this moment and will be without any distractions but."
Lam paused.
"She'll have to relocate to a residence outside the facility."
Carter thought for a moment before peaking back into the infamy to catch a glimpse of how the Russian was doing.
"She can stay with me until she gets better." She finally told the two.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Sam?" Kerrigan asked.
"It's not like you'll be there for her 24/7."
Carter nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sure…and I think she could use the rest."