Baa Yaga's Curse

Star Gate or Time Gate: Chapter 2

Ranma, Beryl and Hotaru passed through the gate into pure darkness. With one supremely experienced martial arts master and two trainees who were nearly as powerful they did not end up tripping all over each other and so mere moments after their arrival, Ranma held up her hand and tried to use her senshi powers to light up the room.

The power flared momentarily in Ranma's hands and the group was able to look around the room, then the power flared out and they were in darkness once again. Ranma gave a small curse and said, "Powers are not respondin' like they should I'll try chi"

He held out his hands and a blue sphere formed in them lighting the room once again and letting everyone realize that they were not in some folded dimension like the one the Time Gate had originally created when they had arrived in this universe. No, this time they were in a very physical location. The floor was solid and the gate sat there in the middle of the room. The surrounding walls were filled with star maps, writing, and a single solid metallic door leading out.

Beryl and Hotaru had been trying their powers with similar luck as Ranma had had and stopped trying, then when the room was finally lit by Ranma's chi Hotaru was the first to speak saying with some amount of awe, "This is writing from the Silver Millennium I would recognize it anywhere."

"Yes, I recognize it as well. This is the script that Serenity and her ilk used." Beryl's voice held arrogance and scorn, but the hatred was long gone. "It seems to be explaining the workings of the Time Gate and the history behind it."

Ranma, who was still holding a glowing ball of focused chi, said, "Does it mention how ta turn on the lights in here. I can hold this thing for a few minutes, but not forever."

The two women in the room looked at each other and said in unison, "We'll get right on that Ranma honey." After speaking they quickly moved around the room looking for a power source of some type. Ranma followed them helping to light their way until Beryl pointed at some markings in the floor and slid it open to reveal a dark crystalline device.

Beryl swore softly and Ranma queried her saying, "What is it?"

"The Zero Point Module isn't working anymore. Sorry Ranma, but we'll need you to keep the light on as we look through the facility to see if there's another power source or Zero Point Module in storage."

Ranma dimmed the chi light slightly saying, "I'll see what I can do, but this is gonna wear me out pretty quick. Too bad somethin' is wonky with our powers 'cause if that was my Plasma could keep it up for near ever."

Hotaru nodded and said, "I'm sure we'll all figure it out soon and if this place is laid out anything like the one I visited in my timeline I think I know where we can go." She started walking and the other two followed behind her with Ranma whispering, "Beryl I remember some of Taya's life, but what's a Zero Point Module?"

One short walk and an explanation later the group was in a large room with a strange generator that was built to the ceiling and very large windows giving a clear view of space and another planetoid.

If Ranma hadn't had a past on the Moon Kingdom, been on an honest to god spaceship, or learned how to pilot a vehicle around a planet that was one gigantic city he would have been awestruck. Since he had those experiences he was somewhat more blasé' saying, "So can you two start this thing up?"

Beryl and Hotaru nodded and set to work starting the generator. Nearly half an hour later they finished their work and the generator started with a hum, lighting the room and allowing Ranma to slump to the ground with an exhausted sigh of relief. The two women who had been working on the generator quickly ran over to him to check his status. He accepted their help to regain a standing position and then said, "Wow that really wiped me I think I could really use some sleep, but first we should probably get answers…"

The group walked through the lighted facility in tired silence, arriving at the room with the time gate and attempting to start the device. While they were not successful they did stumble on the activation cycle for an Artificially Intelligent Computers and Holographic Matrix that worked with the gate.

The hologram AI flared to life as a near perfect representation of the former Sailor Pluto, Setsuna Meio and said simply, "Greetings…"

Even as it finished making that simple statement Ranma, Beryl, and Hotaru were in defensive positions ready to attack at the slightest hint of violence. But, the hologram did not attack instead it started from the beginning of its statement, "Greetings I am Princess Pluto the last guardian of the Gates of Time and servant to the Empire of Alterra. If you are seeing this hologram, then you must be Guardians or friendly to our cause. My apologies for being unable to greet you in person, but I will soon either die or ascend."

The hologram was quiet for a moment, then looked to the assembled groups saying, "Replay message?"

Ranma looked at the hologram and said, "Wait, what do you mean die or ascend and why can't we access the Gates of Time?"

The green haired hologram looked at him and said, "Records indicate that the Alterrans were all dying of a mysterious plague. Those who did not perish chose to Ascend to a higher plane of being."

Ranma looked to Hotaru and Beryl and shrugged. The pink haired guardian of earth looked back to Ranma and said, "I assume that somehow they went beyond their physical forms and become spirits of some sort."

The hologram nodded and said, "Energy beings of a sort, so you are correct miss…" it paused and then said, "Forgive me, but I do not have you in my archives or records can you please state your names and designations?"

The three introduced themselves and when they were done Hotaru was the one who asked, "So what happened to the Moon Kingdom?"

"I have accessed all records from the history of the Alterran people. The records show that The Moon Kingdom and Earth were united by the marriage of Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion they combined their empire into one known as Alterra. The Alterrans created amazing technologies and a network of gates throughout this universe. It is likely that had the plague not occurred their empire would be flourishing to this day."

Beryl looked somewhat stunned and said, "So you are telling us that I…or well my counterpart here did not join forces with Queen Metalia and attempt to destroy the Moon Kingdom due to jealousy?"

The hologram simply said, "Records indicate that Beryl also known as Sailor Earth was instrumental in warning the kingdom about the threat from Metalia. She sacrificed her own life to destroy Metalia and a place designated as the Negaverse."

The message ran through Beryl impacting with her conscience in a distinct manner. Her original choice of Jealousy, Hatred, Vengeance, and service to Metalia had destroyed the Moon Kingdom and extinguished millions of lives. She would have continued on that path had she not come into contact with Ranma and Hotaru, but here in this universe a counterpart had chosen the altruistic path without that contact and in doing so had apparently helped create a vast empire across the universe. She fell to her knees in tears and cried under the full force of a wave of shame that washed over her.

Soft hands pulled her up from the floor and embraced her in a soft hug that was joined by another person. A single voice whispered in her ears softly, "We love you Beryl. No matter what you did in the past we are here for you now."

It was Hotaru's voice whispering in her ear, but Beryl knew that the sentiment was shared by both of the people who were holding her. That acceptance allowed her to settle her emotions and feel better about herself. She was not the person she had been, would not ever be so again, and her two companions would love her no matter what. She sighed softly and stepped away from the embrace saying softly, "Thank you, thank you both for reminding me."

There was silence for a moment and another hug that seemed to last an eternity. It was interrupted by the hologram of Sailor Pluto saying, "Repeat message?"

The three groaned, but realized they still had work to do. So Ranma turned to the gate and said, "No, we don't need ta hear the message again. We need to know what's going on with our powers and how ta turn the Time Gates back on."

The image looked at them and said, "The Time Gate cannot be re-initialized without a Zero Point Energy Module. As for your powers more information is required."

The three groaned tiredly softly and provided the information to the AI. When they were done the image said, "Data has been taken in. Analysis of factors will take approximately 8 hours."

Ranma yawned and said, "I think that's our cue to get some sleep."

The three wandered off to find a place to sleep leaving the powerful AI to the task of analyzing all the information and attempting to find a solution.

Eight hours later the three were once again in the room with the Time Gate and receiving a briefing on their powers and what the best AI from the Moon Kingdom could come up with. The green haired hologram was pacing back and forth as she said, "As you know the Guardian powers are created via a Mana receiver that is part and parcel of each guardian's transformation pen. That pen in turn is attuned to a specific DNA and magical signature so that only the guardian may use it to receive mana from their respective planet."

Ranma looked at her and said, "But when I was fighting that Emperor guy I had to be in an entirely different Galaxy. How could the mana from an earth star get all that way in an instant and why was it so much more powerful?"

The hologram paused a moment as if to think and then replied, "There are at least two permutations to consider, either of which may be distinctly possible. It could be that the transformation rod pulled Mana from the nearest star to your location and that the star was much more powerful than our own. It could also be that this 'Force' as it was termed was somehow responsible for increasing the power of your transformation."

The hologram pondered a moment more, then looked at Ranma and said, "Or there may be something else. The variables on other galaxies are unknown to this unit."

Ranma sighed and said, "Yeah okay, ya don't know, Taya wouldn't know, and neither of my friends know. Well I guess the only good thing then is that we aren't there and don't have to worry about it right now."

Hotaru and Beryl nodded with Beryl saying, "You're right Ranma our priority should be figuring out how to fix our current situation."

The beautiful green haired hologram nodded and said, "Very well. This unit has considered all of the information provided and the most likely theory is that the Time Gate was attempting to give each of you a portion of the mana tap for Pluto and that in order to do so the Time Gate took most of your reception abilities from your henshin rods. It is possible that when you used the Stargate instead of going to the subspace pocket originally created upon your entrance to this universe you instead came here. When that occurred the portion of the Time Gate inside you merged with its counterpart here taking the entirety of your mana reception system with it."

Hotaru help up her transformation pen and said, "So that means this is basically useless now?"

"That is correct," replied the hologram with a near sad look. "However, if the gate in this reality were to become functional again it is likely that would no longer be the case."

"Zero Point Energy Modules do not exactly grow on trees. I don't suppose you know where we might find one?" Said Beryl with an obvious affectation of haughtiness.

The green haired hologram said softly, "A few places are known to this device. You will have to go to them if you wish to find one."

Ranma looked up with some consternation saying, "Wait a moment. I get that these Modules are really powerful, but how is it that we had the gates inside up previously. I mean yeah we had some pretty major power, but enough for our own powers and enough for the gate?"

Beryl was about to reply when he looked up and said, "Oh wait I get it or I guess Taya does. The Module is just necessary to power the gate up and then it powers itself or somethin' right?"

The hologram nodded again and said, "You are correct Guardian. The gate, once active, is capable of drawing power from the Time Stream."

Ranma nodded. "Okay Got it." Even as he spoke Hotaru was looking at the hologram and saying, "So where are these Zero Point Energy Modules?"

The hologram seemed to hesitate slightly and then replied, "Each planet in this system had at least one at its palace, however…" it stopped a moment and added, "Security clearance Omnicron Ceta not granted."

Beryl, Ranma, and Hotaru looked at the hologram as is seemed to fade in and out, then finally return to solidity. "In addition the Lantean expedition had three, one was brought to Luna Two, one was brought to Hellene, one was brought to Proclarush Teonas..."

The hologram continued a list of planets and systems when Ranma butted in saying, "Wait, what were you saying about the ones here in this solar system? We should try and get those first and then look outside of the Solar System right?"

Beryl and Hotaru nodded in agreement, but the Hologram said, "Unfortunately the Solar Teleportation grid is not working…." It paused again as if to say something more, but instead said nothing.

Beryl looked at the hologram and said to the others, "We are missing something. A piece of information that has been secured by the creator of this holographic AI." Even as she said that she looked to the hologram and said, "We need access to all classified data."

"Denied," was the simple reply.

She frowned at the image and wondered aloud, "What could possibly be secured. It gave us information on the Zero Point Energy Modules, the history of the Moon Kingdom, the Alterran Empire, and the apparent end of the same. What could we be missing?"

The three looked at each other. Ranma shrugged first and Beryl did as well. Hotaru was about to do the same when instead a flash of inspiration caught her. "The other planets in this system; something about them is what is causing the security lockdown.

She thought on her idea a moment and added, "It seems odd that all of the platforms are down, but if I recall correctly there was a security precaution that would shut them down if they were exposed to Vacuum or destroyed. That most likely why we can't do that and why the AI stopped itself so quickly."

Beryl nodded saying, "That makes sense, so something destroyed those planets and their palaces, but it is a secret. I wonder what it was."

"Mistress Nine and the Black Moon Family…" Hotaru said very softly anger and fear radiating off her as she said the names.

Silence permeated the room for a moment, then a different voice said, "Access granted daughter of Serenity." The group looked to see and the green haired Guardian of Pluto had been replaced by an image that looked much like Queen Serenity.

The blond haired hologram smiled slightly at the group and said, "I am Queen Serenity the Fourth and I am recording this classified holodata regarding the Black Moon Family and Mistress Nine. In order to access this file you must have known those names ass passwords, but that does not mean you know the history. So, I will tell you in some detail and then allow you to access all secured data from the regular holo unit."

The image sighs slightly and then said, "It is my own fault. I allowed Wiseman into the Alterran Empire and he in turn corrupted our citizens turning them into The Black Moon family. It was an organization devoted to a book and premise that they called Origin. Supposedly it proved that all Alterrans were gods and worthy of worship. At first I allowed it to spread, but when the violence started I had to intervene, but by then it was too late. The Princess of Saturn was turned to their side and calling herself Mistress Nine. With her help the group was able to gather enough energy to call upon a being of pure malice named Pharaoh 90."

The blond haired woman paused a moment as emotions took hold of her and she cried. It took a few moments before she composed herself enough to say, "It…it killed them all and then it began a destructive path across the solar system. It started at Uranus and worked its way towards the moon. I knew what it wanted…"

She paused again to compose herself again, and then continued, "It wanted the Star Gate in the hopes that it could continue its destructive path across the entire universe. The only way to stop it was to sacrifice everything we had on the moon. Every generator of power we had and the Stargate itself were all set to overload including the Ginzouishou."

"We destroyed the center of the former Moon Kingdom to save the Alterran Empire. Then we took those who still followed the ways of Origin and banished them to another universe."

The hologram stopped speaking and then faded back into its previous green haired form leaving Ranma and his wives staring at the image. The silence went on for a number of minutes until Ranma said, "Well, now we know that the Module things here in this Solar system can't be retrieved without space suits and a teleported, so I guess we ought to go looking on the other planets that were mentioned. The only question left is how to do that?"

The hologram gave him his answer by stating, "The Time Gates can be activated as if they were part of the Star Gate system using the power requirements currently on hand. If you will simply follow my instructions I can tell you how this may be accomplished."

With that the three began working and planning for their journey into the galaxy in the hopes that they could get their powers back, start up the Time Gates, and return to their home universe.

It had been nearly a year and a half since Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill and Teal'c had seen Ranma and his allies. A year that Daniel had spent most of his time ascended and the rest of the team had considered him dead. Now Daniel was back and the group was on a planet attempting to meet with a member of the Free Jaffa in their quest to gain more allies against Anubis.

The four spot a lone unarmed Jaffa walking in the woods and find hiding positions. Jack is the first to exit from his hiding position behind a tree with his P-90 raised he spoke saying, "All right, Hold it! Right There!"

Moments later Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson also came out of hiding with their weapons raised. Daniel approached closest and said, "Hi there."

The Jaffa finally spoke saying, "I am Ryk'l of the Goauld Moloc."

Teal'c approached the man as well and Ryk'l said, "Shal kek nem ron."

The large Jaffa with a gold symbol on his forehead approached closely and said, "I, too, will die free, brother."

After speaking Teal'c grasped hands with Ryk'l in a Jaffa greeting, when they finished Ryk'l said, "Teal'c of the Tau'ri? Your legend precedes you. Thank you for meeting me."

Teal'c nodded and said, "We have been told that there are a great many here who believe in the dream of freedom for all Jaffa." Just then, a blast of energy hits Ryk'l from behind and he drops to the ground with a hole in him. Then, more of the energy blasts go whizzing by SG-1 as they run for cover behind some rocks and start returning fire. Bullets fly through the air and Jaffa wielding staffs use them to fire blasts that come dangerously close to killing members of the SG-1 team.

There are a great many attackers moving closer in attempting to pin the team from Earth down and destroy them, but suddenly they are beset from behind by new blasts that seem to be a combination of energy blasts and some type of wind blade that bisects anything it hits. Silence pervades as SG-1 stops firing and trying to see into the Smoke and debris that cover the area.

Jack whispers to Teal'c saying, "More rebel Jaffa?"

Teal'c shrugs very slightly saying, "There is only one way to be certain." He then shouts out, "Shel kek nem ron!"

There is no response at first except smoke and then Teal'c calls again, "Shel kek nem ron!"

Footsteps can be heard in the smoke and then two female Jaffa step into view with their staff weapons at their sides. The lithe dark skinned one with short curly black hair speaks saying, "Warriors of the Tau'ri we mean you no harm."

Several more female Jaffa join the first one and then a Red headed girl fades into view right next to SG-1. She holds no weapon at all and just smirks at them as she moves from her position and joins the others as if to say, 'I had you dead to rights and you never knew.'

The lithe black skinned woman speaks again saying, "Please come with us."

SG-1 seems to be mulling their response over as a death glider flies overhead. The lithe woman looks to another paler skinned woman with short curly brown hair and a sour expression that seems grafted on her face and says, "Shak krek tel kree."

The brown haired woman leaves and the Red haired woman takes her place. She stands there without a weapon and continues to grin as if she is holding a funny secret. Before she can speak to SG-1 the woman standing next to her says, "The Stargate will not be accessible for long. We must hurry."

Even as she is speaking the pale brown haired woman walks to Ryk'l and turns him over. She pulls at his stomach and removes a squealing creature, then places it in a metal pot with a lid. SG-1 watches with some trepidation and Daniel Jackson says, "What is she doing?"

The lithe woman just looks back at him and says, "There is no time to explain here. Please come with us."

The woman with the creature in a pot approaches the group and speaks to the dark skinned woman in their dialect. The two argue momentarily and then the brown haired woman finishes with a clear phrase that SG-1 can understand, "They are outsiders."

The other woman shakes her head and says, "So were Ranma and her allies once. Besides they are SG-1 of the Tau'ri."

As Jack says, "Hey, what's going on?" Daniel blinks at the name and looks at the girl. She shoots him a glance as if to say, "took you long enough"

Ranma looks at him and says, "Neith ain't so keen on you guys coming with us, but Mala here is the in favor of it. Despite what Neith thinks we do kinda need your help."

Mala nods and says, "Please…we knew you'd be here."

Teal'c stoically responds with a simple, "How?"

Mala looks at him with a knowing glint and says, "Our intelligence network runs deep within the Jaffa of Moloc. We came to ask for help. I promise you will be safe."

Daniel looks t the others and says, "They did save us, and we may have just stumbled on the source of those rumors we've heard about the mystical tria who have come to help bring Jaffa out of bondage."

A short time later the group of female Jaffa exits the Stargate with SG-1 in tow. There are female Jaffa on horses and others waiting for their return.

As they walk forward Mala turns back to SG-1 as they arrive and says, "Welcome to Hak'tyl."

In a whisper Daniel says to Teal'c, "Independence?"

The response is a simple, "Liberation." While Mala continues walking and says, "Our dwellings are this way ... please."

But Jack shakes his head and says, "Well, you know, we really should call home first. Let the folks know where we are. It's past our curfew."

Mala allows it and can be heard arguing with Neith for a moment. She sends the brown haired woman ahead and waits while Samantha dials Earth and lets them know about their change in plans.

Sometime later SG-1 and the Jaffa are walking to the Jaffa camp. Colonel O'Neil looks to Teal'c and says, "So, Teal'c…who are they?'

Teal'c gives a ghost of a shrug and says, ""My knowledge of the Goa'uld, Moloc, is limited. However, I am unaware of any Goa'uld that would permit his women Jaffa to be warriors."

Daniel replies, "They seem to be well trained."

Teal'c looks at Daniel and says, "All females receive training. They are expected to defend their home world with their lives when their men are called to battle."

The shaggy brown haired man says, "Can't help but think of the ancient Greek Amazon mythos."

Ranma who had been nearby hears the comment and laughs saying, "No way are they Amazons. Bet even Pink and Link mighta had a decent shot at taking most of 'em down."

Mala looks at her and Ranma looks back saying, "Sorry Mala, just tellin' it like it is. You guys still need some major training"

The lithe woman sighs and nods, then keeps walking. Soon enough, they are led into a camp. There are many more women and children in the camp. The younger ones run to take comfort from the older women.

A blond woman emerges from one of the dwellings. Flanking her on either side are a woman with pink hair and one with dark black hair. They seem to hold no weapons in their hands and yet something suggests that they are a threat anyway.

Mala introduces the woman saying, "This is Ishta, our leader." When Mala finishes speaking Ishta descends the steps from the dwelling to approach SG-1. The brown haired woman from their previous encounter emerges behind her.

O'Neill starts to speak diplomatically saying, "Well, howdy, ma'am ... it's nice to meet you. I heard so ..." then puts his foot in his mouth, "actually, I've heard nothing about ... you."

Luckily the woman seems to hear none of it, ignoring him and walking straight to Teal'c. Her blue eyes meet his dark orbs as she says, "Teal'c ... of Chulak ... former first prime of Apophis. You are the Shol'va who has become a legend nearly as great as that of our own Tria."

Jack rolls his eyes and says to Sam and Daniel, "That's a bit thick, don't you think?"

"I am no legend. I fight as any true-hearted Jaffa for the freedom that we deserve." He bows his head slightly and she does the same in response. Then he directs her attention to the rest of SG-1 saying "This is Daniel Jackson, Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill." She walks down the length of them, stopping just in front of Jack.

He starts another greeting, but she just says, "I have asked you here so that I may propose an alliance."

Jack nods saying, "Well, that's a fine idea. We should sit, talk, nosh ..."

Teal breaks him off with an angry, "No alliance can be formed between the Tau'ri and those who would steal symbiotes from their brother and leave him to die."

With anger apparent in her voice Neith breaks in saying, "He was no brother of mine. Just a murderer of innocent children."

The blond haired woman shouts, "Shel kree!" Neith stops immediately, but the tension in the air is very clear. Ishta seems to take that in mind as she says, "There is much to discuss." She looks to her side and a young girl comes over to stand with her. She smiles on her and says, "This is Syn'ac. This morning, she lay on her death bed. She reached the age of Prata three days ago."

Jack looked to Daniel with some confusion and the scholar said, "Puberty."

Jack nods while Ishta continues saying, "Without the symbiote we procured this morning, she would be dead now." She looks to her side and another young girl comes to stand with her. "This is Nesa, younger sister to Neith. She is next to reach the age. Without a symbiote, she will die ... as will all our children."

Samantha ended up going with the women and speaking to them as an emissary. In a small tent she sat with, Beryl, Neith, Mala and Ishta in one of the dwellings sitting on the floor around a low table.

The blond haired woman began her tale, "Thirty years ago, Moloc decreed that only male children would be allowed to live. Only they could strengthen his armies and lead him to victory in the war of the gods."

Carter looked perplexed and said, "Well, aside from the obvious immorality, that doesn't make sense. How do you sustain a population of any gender without women?"

Ishta looked at her and said, "Women were taken whenever he raided the other system lords and the Jaffa lifespan is longer than humans. This could go on for a hundred years. Any female child is to be sacrificed in the ceremony of fire, immediately after they are born."

The implications of that revelation stunned Samantha Carter for a moment. Despite knowing how evil and cruel the System Lords were she hadn't quite been prepared for that level of cruelty.

Outside, Daniel, Jack and Teal'c are talking to Hotaru while Ranma has gone off to help a group of the female Jaffa train. The black haired woman is saying, "We started out searching the galaxy for a device we need, but it was very hard to do so without skill in the language out here. It was I suppose a lucky break that we rescued a group of them and they decided to bring us here."

She chuckled lightly at a memory and said, "Ranma was in female form or else things would have gone rather poorly in the beginning. Even without that it took some time before we learned their language and they learned to trust us and allow us to help them."

Inside the tent Carter was saying, "So, how did you start bringing the children here?"

The blond haired woman said softly, "As a temple high priestess, part of my duty is to keep record of births ... and to preside over the ceremony of fire itself. I could not sit back and watch my sisters be murdered and do nothing. As high priestess, I, along with my seconds, Mala and Neith, are allowed relatively free access to the Chappa'ai of the worlds under Moloc's rule."

"No one outside this camp knows you're doing this?" Carter responded attempting to understand in full.

Ishta shook her head and said, "No. Our duties require us to attend to many missionary matters on various planets."

Carter seemed very interested as she said, "So you offer the parents of these children a chance for their daughters to live."

Ishta simple shakes her head and says, "No, all but a few Jaffa under Moloc worship him religiously. Not even the parents can be trusted. The children have to be spirited away, secretly, for fear we'd be reported to the imperial guard. Luckily for us we have found Ranma, Beryl and Hotaru who have become our Tria and helped us immensely with their ability to become nearly invisible and so we have succeeded in saving many from their birthright of death."

Carter looked at her closely wondering just what these women needed as she said, "So you want our help to overthrow Moloc?"

Ishta looked at her with some surprise and said, "Our Tria has asked us the same thing when they learned our language, but the answer is still the same. Moloc is very powerful and his armies are vast."

Carter shrugged and perhaps bragged slightly as she said, "We have our ways ... and some very powerful allies."

Beryl broke in and said, "Ishta, please listen to her as you may not have us. They can help you overthrow Moloc and help bring weapons, food, and supplies. It does not need to be one thing or the other. Especially if they can help us gain access to the artifact that we have been searching for."

Ishta thought about it a moment and looked to Carter saying, "We are proud warriors, but we need the Goa'uld right now. We offer you our services and our knowledge in return for your help. We have an extensive intelligence network among the Jaffa under Moloc."

Carter looked to Beryl and then back at Ishta "What if I were to offer you an alternative?"

Mala spoke first saying, "An alternative to what?"

Carter smiled knowing that she had a solution to at least one problem, "To your reliance on the Goa'uld." The women in the tent looked at her in askance and she began to explain to them about Tretonin and how it could help them survive without a Goa'uld symbiote.

Ranma had finished training a group of Jaffa and sat next to Beryl and Hotaru, the three watched as Teal'c wandered off into the woods and then Ishta followed after. Ranma laughed once and said, "Looks like Ishta has a thing for that Teal'c guy."

Hotaru replied, "Oh, you think so? I thought she was just going to ask him about the Tretonin"

Ranma shook his head and said, "Nope, these girls here may not quite be Amazon material in the fighting department, but she definitely had that look about her. The one Shampoo used ta get when she wanted ta glomp me."

Beryl fluttered her lashes and gave the redhead the exact same look and proceeded to glomp her. Hotaru joined in and they were happy and giggles for a time. When the hug and cuddle fest was done Ranma said seriously, "We still haven't been able to steal one of those Alkesh yet, but I know the USA went to the moon once in my world. I sure hope they can help us get there at least…"

Beryl replied saying, "A true irony. We can use the Time Gate to travel across the entire galaxy, but the planets of the solar system are not within our reach."

Hotaru added, "Well it seemed like a good idea when we began, but most of our leads didn't pan out or, like that one called Proclarush Teonas, they had poisonous atmospheres."

Ranma nodded and was going to respond when Ishta called everyone together for a large gathering. All of the female Jaffa and SG-1 were there when she proclaimed, "No longer will we need to lose our sisters in battle. No longer will our daughters be dependent on symbiotes. Teal'c ... has taken the drug. He stands here before you as evidence. I am asking for four volunteers to travel with me to the Tau'ri to test its effectiveness."

After several seconds no has stepped forward, then Mala comes forward and says, "You must not go."

Ishta shakes her head and says, "Mala, I have made my decision."

"Hak'tyl needs you." Mala argues, "You are our leader. I will go in your stead. It is my right as Kin'dra. You cannot say no."

Ishta sighs lightly and says, "You are brave and true."

Another Jaffa steps forward and says, "I too will go."

Two others step forward and Ishta smiles. Then she looks at Neith and Neith casts her eyes down, not wanting to look at Ishta. Ishta walks to stand in front of Neith. Nesa is at Neith's side. Ishta looks at Nesa and says, "Nesa is of the age ..."

"She is a child." Neith growls lightly.

"I'm told it's not without risk." Ishta bargains desperately, "but if there is one among us ..."

Neith cuts her off angrily saying, "Never! That you would even consider this is an affront to all of us."

Ishta frowns and says, "Your words are disrespectful." But, Neith does not respond. Instead she turns, touches Nesa's shoulder and walks away with Nesa following her.

By now the four volunteers, Ranma, Beryl and Hotaru are at Ishta's side and she looks at them, then back to SG-1 saying, "I cannot force her hand."

She looks to her volunteers and the Tria and says, "I wish you well."

In the S.G.C Gate room Sam and Jack come through the 'gate with the four volunteer Jaffa and the Tria. General Hammond is at the base of the ramp to greet them. "Dr. Jackson? Teal'c?"

Jack shrugs and smiles slightly saying, "As Teal'c would say ... undomesticated equines couldn't drag him away ..."

Carter rolls her eyes and smiles as well saying, "The leader of the Hak'tyl wanted to learn more about the rebel Jaffa. We figured we could send updates on the progress of the tretonin treatment and the Tria here to Daniel through the MALP."

"Kind of a P. R. thing, sir." Jack adds slyly.

Hammond nods slightly and then turns his attention to their visitors. "I'm General Hammond. Welcome to Earth." The four Jaffa nod slightly in greeting while Ranma looks back at the General and says, "Well the reception was a lot better this time General."

Jack breaks in saying, "Well that's the difference between being invited in and breaking in…"

Hammnod looks at him in askance, then to Ranma and her friends saying, "Well we'll get the four Jaffa situated and then discuss your situation. How does that sound?"

It doesn't take long before the three are sitting across from Hammond, carter, and Jack in the briefing room. Beryl has been tasked as the diplomat in this situation and is speaking of their situation saying, "So, once we were accepted we had pretty much given up on finding the artifact we were searching for originally and just began taking missions to help out. They already had seen some of what we could do, but once we were able to move about with absolute secrecy and impunity we began to be called the mystical Tria."

Carter nodded and said, "So you never explained the gender switching thing at all then?"

Ranma shrugged and said, "It's pretty easy enough to avoid hot water when there isn't any available for much more than soup. Still we did end up telling Ishta and Mala so that they'd know just in case."

Jack added with some confusion, "and what's a Tria anyway?"

"A group of three women." Beryl stated, then added, "In this case something more than the Jaffa had ever seen before so they deemed us mystical."

General Hammond nodded and said, "So what is it that you three need from us then?"

Beryl replied, "We need…" she paused to brush a pink hair out of her eyes, "Space suits really. We are pretty sure that we can retrieve an Alkesh and probably fly it, but without the Space Suits we will be unable to retrieve the artifact."

Jack looked at her in askance and said, "I thought you said all of your leads were a bust so you gave up looking?"

Beryl shook her head and said, "They were a bust only because we did not have the technology to search them all and that is where you come in."

Jack frowned lightly and said, "You helped us once before, but you're being rather scanty in the details on what this artifact is. How do we know you won't take whatever this artifact is and use it against us?"

Beryl looked at him, then said, "You you have already offered to help the people that we are allied with. Despite any misunderstanding in the past surely you must realize that we would prefer to be your allies."

Jack nodded and says, "Well it still seems pretty odd to me that you guys had enough technology to force our gate open, but can't make some space suits…"

Beryl frowned and looked somewhat stung as she said, "Yes I am quite aware of the irony." In her mind she once again reviewed numerous attempt to use what was left over at the Palace on Pluto to create personal shields or some way to survive in vacuum, but without utterly destroying an important part of the power generator or the holographic AI there was just not enough usable material left after so much time has passed. As it was they were had been pulling things apart just to ensure that those two devices were up and running.

The group sat a few moments and then Hammond looked at some papers and said, "I'll have to talk with someone we have at NASA and then we'll get back to you. In the meantime I hope you'll stay and help the Jaffa get situated here." With that he stood up and the meeting adjourned.

While things are happening on earth Daniel Jackson befriends Nesa on Hak'tyl while Teal'c and Ishta become something more than friends. Back on Earth Hammond has been able to get three spacesuits, but Mala is not doing well and has been placed in isolation.

Sam and Dr. Fraiser open the door to the isolation room and find young Hotaru visiting Mala. Sam speaks softly saying, "Do you mind if we speak to her?"

Hotaru looks up and is about to leave when Mala says, "It's okay, whatever you need to say can be heard by a member of the Tria. Besides, I think what you have to say has something to do with the fact that you have moved me away from the others because you did not wish to frighten them."

Samantha shakes her head and says, "No, the truth is, you're not doing so well. You're more susceptible to infection in your condition."

Understanding alights in Mala's eyes and she says, "How are the others responding to treatment?"

Carter replies trying to lighten the other woman's load with the truth, "They are doing Good ... very good."

Suddenly, Mala closes her eyes and starts making a wheezing sound as alarms go off on the equipment monitoring her condition. Carter looks to the doctor and says quickly, "Janet?"

Fraiser comes over and starts checking her over. A nurse joins them and says, "Her B. P. is 60 over 40 ..."

Janet responds, "Give her a bolus ..." Then looks at the monitors and says sadly, "We have to put her symbiote back."

Mala Grabs Sam's arm and says, "Do not!"

Carter responds with concern, "But, If we don't, you could die."

Mala shakes her head and says, "No, this must work if my people are to be free. If I continue to be enslaved by the Goa'uld I carried, I am as good as dead ... please ..." Even as Mala speaks her last and loses consciousness Hotaru has placed her hands on the woman's body. Hotaru's glow lightly with power as the young woman pours healing power into Mala.

The nurse nearby stares at the scene with awe and says, "Her blood pressure is rising…" Dr. Frasier hears that and looks at other medical instruments. Her eyes go wide…

Sam is watching the scene and looks to Janet saying, "What...what is it?" There is a hitch of hesitance and near awe in her voice as if she might already know.

Frasier responds, "Her vital signs are getting better, we may not need to put the symbiote back in…"

Hotaru smiles at hearing that and then falls to the floor. The scene becomes a different sort of chaos as Frasier rushes to the girl and checks her pulse, "Her pulse is weak. We need to get her into a bed quickly, whatever she was doing might have healed Mala, but it was not good for her."

Hotaru wakes up in a hospital bed. Ranma is in a chair next to her sleeping, while Beryl is pacing back and forth. When the pink haired woman notices that Hotaru is awake she quickly rushes toward her side and hugs her close saying, "What were you thinking!"

The commotion wakes Ranma and she gets up and says, "Yeah, you gave us a scare usin' all of your chi up like that."

Hotaru said softly, "She was dying, Doctor-san and Carter were saying so just behind me. They said that she would have to have as you would say 'that disgusting snake' placed back in her. So, I used my healing power on her. I didn't think it would drain me so much."

Ranma nodded and said, "Yeah, well it used ta be that you could tap into magic remember. Now all ya got is your chi, which is pretty strong, but it ain't nearly as strong as mine yet. Plus you were pumping out full blast which is what made ya faint like that."

Hotaru nodded and said, "I'm sorry…"

Beryl smiled and said, "It's okay, just try not to do that again okay?" Even as she finished Ranma added, "and eat as much food as you can. You need ta replenish yourself. We ain't going anywhere until you're feeling better."

The young black haired girl nodded and drifted off to sleep while her companions kept watch.

---break---

Back on Hak'tyl things are spinning somewhat out of control. Neith has challenged Ishta for the right to lead and has been defeated. Ishta stands over the defeated woman with a charged staff weapon pointed at her head. Teal'c looks at the blond haired woman and says, "Ishta! Ishta!"

Ishta frowns and says, "You dare interfere? She challenged me, it is my right!"

Teal'c comes closer and says, "It is also your right to grant mercy."

Daniel comes rushing up. "Excuse me!" He stops and catches his breath, then continues, "I just wanted you all to know that Mala is on her way to a full recovery. Apparently Hotaru did something and now the Tretonin is working."

Ishta looks down at Neith and says, "You see, the Tria has helped us again. Perhaps it is time we actually listened for a change…"

Neith slowly stands up and says, "I…I just don't know." She glances at the Stargate and then walks off on her own.

Sometime later Hotaru, Ranma, and Beryl are exiting the gate onto Hak'tyl to get the information they need and finish preparations for their attempt to retrieve an Alkesh. They are met at the gate by Neith who says, "I wish to come with you."

Ranma starts somewhat surprised by the request and then says, "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

Neith shakes her head and says, "You need someone who can pilot an Alkesh. You might need backup or someone with a staff weapon to help you. I can be that person for you…" she pauses and looks at them pleading, "please…"

Ranma looks to the other two and Beryl says, "Well you only have experience with the vehicles in that one place, what was its name?"

"Coruscant…" Ranma provided remembering her training in piloting from a clone trooper that later attempted to kill her. She sighed and said, "Yeah we haven't had a chance to see how similar these Alkesh are to those vehicles. I suppose we could use a pilot."

Neith seemed happy at his statement and the red haired girl looked at her seriously saying, "Just, take our lead and be careful okay?"

Neith nodded and the group went back to the camp on Hak'tyl where they gained the rest of the information on the Alkesh they planned to steal from one of Moloc's worlds.

Neith looked around her. The landing pad was shrouded in darkness and shadows and her companions seemed to be entirely invisible. A frown of annoyance reached her face as she realized just how much she would need to train in order to access the technique the Tria was using. Instead she was forced to wear dark colors and hide in the shadows as she watched the Jaffa crew unload the Alkesh.

Minutes later they were done with the unloading and four of them walked off, while one took a last inventory. This was her chance! She rushed out of her hiding spot and blasted him taking him down with a single shot, then moving quickly to the vehicle and dragging his body into it.

Behind her a voice said, "Ah man! We gotta get out of here quick! Come on Neith take the controls and let's go." She recognized the voice as Ranma's and she shook her head slightly.

"Not yet, I must retrieve his symbiote." Neith replied as she reached for what she needed.

"What?" Ranma responded with confusion, "I thought you guys weren't doing that anymore now that the drug works?"

Neith pulled the symbiote out and started to put it in the jar she had brought when a blast hit her and she went down dropping it with a horrified, "No!"

Beryl and Hotaru sent Vaccum blades of power back at the Jaffa who were attacking and Ranma grabbed Neith and helped her into the Alkesh. Just as she entered another Neith pushed the button that closed the cargo hatch, but was hit in the shoulder by another blast as the doors were closing and went down.

"Look after her!" Ranma called as she rushed to the controls of the vehicle. Silence pervaded the landing pad for a few minutes as the Jaffa sent blast after blast into the hull of the ship.

Ranma was examining the controls with a desperate look in her eyes as Beryl said, "We need to get out of here Ranma."

"I know, I know…." She hastily grabbed some of the controls thanking herself for learning the written word of these people as well as the spoken while they were in camp. "I think this is what we need."

The red haired girl grabbed the Peltak and shoved on it making the Alkesh lurch up into the sky where it was hit by another blast of power. "Beryl was next to the girl focusing on some other readouts and saying, "There seem to be at least five death gliders out there about to close on our position."

The Alkesh quickly gained speed and shot out of the planet's atmosphere. "That ought to lose them!" Ranma said with glee.

Her glee was utterly killed when she noticed an entire Goa'uld mothership sitting in space in front of them with a mass of death gliders disgorging from it. "Oh crap!"

The Alkesh moved in the opposite direction and Ranma fiddled with a number of buttons, "Come on where is it?!"

Beryl said, "You concentrate on dodging. I'll look for the controls that will send us into hyperspace."

Ranma called back to Hotaru, who was still with Neith, "You see any weapons we can use on our pursuers back there?"

Hotaru shook her head and said, "I haven't had a chance to look. She's losing a lot of blood and needs healing badly."

"Don't use too much of your chi reserves, you just replenished them okay!" Ranma shot back as she maneuvered the Alkesh to dodge yet another blast of fire from the pursuing ships.

"Will do!" Hotaru called back and was then forced to grab onto something as the ship suddenly shot forward and Beryl shouted, "Found it!"

Sometime later in the SGC Infirmary, Jack, Sam, Ranma, Beryl, and Hotaru are watching from the observation room as Janet works on Neith. Ishta and Teal'c are in the room with her.

Dr. Frasier says seriously, "I don't know how much longer I can keep her alive. If we're going to administer the tretonin, it's now or never."

Teal'c whispers to Ishta and the woman moves to stand beside Neith's bed and leans down slightly to look into her face. "Neith ..." the curly brown haired woman's eyes flicker open, "Your symbiote is dying."

Neith looks sad and says, "You must procure another."

Ishta shakes her head and says, "How can you say that? You volunteer to help the Tria and yet you do not realize that those ways are over?"

The woman in the bed sighs and says, "You sentence me to death, but please convey my apologies. I should not have tricked them."

Ishta looks down and says, "I have sentenced you to nothing. You are the one who has a choice to live or die." Neith turns away defiantly. Ishta closes her eyes and accepts defeat.

She leaves and goes to the observation room saying, "She will not listen to me do you think you three can convince her?"

Ranma shrugs and says, "I don't know…"

Just then, Daniel and Nesa come into the room and Daniel says, "Well, maybe she'll listen to her sister."

Nesa walks to stand were Ishta was seconds before. The young girl looks to her sister and says, "Please, Neith ..."

Neith coughs and says, "You disobeyed me and betrayed me."

The young girl shakes her head and says, "No ... you betray me. Since before I can remember, you have taught me to believe in our freedom. You said you would do anything so that you might protect me. One day, I will be a great warrior like you. But I am not yet. I still need you. I have chosen to live free. You must choose to take the tretonin, if you are to continue to teach and protect me. Please ... I do not wish you to die." When the small girl is done talking Neith reaches up and touches Nesa's cheek, then smiles a little. Nesa bends down and gives her a hug.

Back on Hak'tyl the Alkesh, hidden in some vegetation, was being loaded by Ranma, Beryl, and Hoatru. The three were speaking together and as Beryl said, "I thought it was very nice that the one called Teal'c kissed Ishta. She could use someone like him."

Ranma just shrugged and said, "I guess so, it still bugs me that Neith went and did that to us though…" he looked off a moment and then added, "But, she did apologize and started takin' the Tretonin, so I guess we're good."

Hotaru smiled and said, "Don't forget that she gave us flying lessons too."

Ranma nodded and finished stowing their space suits. "So are we ready to go?"

A somewhat sarcastic voice said, "Not yet, you're forgetting something."

Ranma looked over and saw Jack O'Neill and frowned lightly saying, "What would that be Colonel?"

He gave the red head a somewhat smarmy grin and said, "Us…seems Ishta felt she owed us one and so she gave us permission to go with you guys."

Ranma frowned lightly as she thought about the new situation. Sure the SG-1 seemed like it wanted to help the Hak'tyl and had even provided quite a bit of help, but that didn't change the fact that they had captured Ranma and her allies. It also didn't change the fact that in a different world the U.S. government had been after Ranma and her allies and people in a complex very similar to the SG-1 had developed Skynet.

Hotaru looked to Ranma and said softly, "Different universe and different people my love."

The red head nodded and said, "All right they can come…" she looked at the four and added, "Just remember we're in charge on this so you follow our orders. Do you think you can do that?"

"Whatever you say General…" Jack said in a sarcastic tone. Without a thought Ranma responded with her 'John Conner' voice of authority, "Best keep a serious tone Colonel or I'll make sure you become a Lieutenant in no time…"

Jack just grinned and SG-1 entered the Alkesh, but Sam had heard the change in Ranma and whispered, "She sounded like General Hammond for a moment why do you think that is?"

The others weren't sure and soon enough the Alkesh was out of Hak'tyl's atmosphere and headed towards the Tauri solar system. It didn't take too long before the vehicle appeared outside the orbit of Neptune. Samantha spoke first as she saw the sight saying, "That's Neptune. What are we doing in our solar system?"

Ranma ignored her to look at Beryl and say, "You getting anything?"

The woman looked down a strange cobbled together device and said, "No…from what I can tell everything fell into the center of the planet. Theirs is nothing floating in the clouds or on any of the moons."

Ranma nodded and said, "Right…next stop then."

"Wait," Carter said with some annoyance, "You didn't answer my question."

Ranma looked back at the woman from her position at the Peltak and said, "No, we didn't answer your question did we…" The red head paused then thought a few moments more.

Finally she decided on her words choosing them carefully, "We are searching here, because it might be the best place to find the item we're looking for as well as anything else."

After answering the question Ranma piloted the vehicle into hyperspace and then out again. The vehicle was now outside the orbit of Uranus, but once again there was nothing. The same thing was true at Saturn and Jupiter, but when they arrived at mars there was some activity.

Looking at her device Beryl said, "I don't know there's something down there from the Silver millennium, but it's not much."

Ranma nodded and said, "Alright, I guess we'll have to go take a look. Can you make the rings work?"

Beryl nodded and Sam added, "I can help with that."

The two quickly made some adjustments and the device was ready. Soon after that everyone was in space suits and ready to go. Beryl sat at her position near the rings saying, "All right I'll send you down and direct you from here. I'll need the ship's energy to power the device and help lead you to the source of power."

Ranma and Hotaru gave her a thumbs up and the Rings popped up, and then sent them down to the surface. Moments later they arrived next to the crumbled ruin of what had once been a highly sophisticated castle. It was sitting in the shadow of a mountain and looking out onto the desolate surface of Mars. Hotaru led the way into the ship following Beryl's directions with Ranma and SG-1 behind her.

Instead of leading into the crumbling ruin of the castle the signal kept the group outside where they came upon a silver obelisk with writing on it. Hotaru examined a plaque on the obelisk and said, "Here lies the princess of Mars. She died to help protect us all from Pharaoh 90."

Above the plaque was a simple pedestal and a henshin pen. Hotaru took it in hand and said, "This is probably what is giving us the energy signature, but without a DNA and Magical match it's useless."

Carter approached and looked at the item saying, "What is it?"

Ranma shook her head and said, "Not what we were looking for. It's basically useless."

Carter took out her own instruments and tested the device. Looking at her instruments from her helmet she called on her radio to the rest of SG-1 saying, "According to my instruments it doesn't have any power at all."

Hotaru waited until Sam was done and took the pen back. She placed it back on its pedestal and said, "We'll let her rest in peace then. Sayonara Mars-san, may your next journey be filled with happiness."

Soon after the group was transported back up to the Alkesh. Once they had arrived and Ranma and her team were back in the control area Jack motioned to his team to stay behind and spoke saying, "If I remember right Ranma there asked for some pens that looked a lot like that one when she was imprisoned at the SGC."

Carter nodded saying, "We gave it to her too and that's just the thing sir. As far as I could tell the pen here on Mars and the ones we gave them were entirely without power, but that can't be right because somehow they detected it."

Daniel broke in saying, "added to our mystery is the fact that the plaque was written in ancient. So who are these people…" he paused a moment and then looked toward the front of the craft, "I wonder if they actually are ancients?"

Teal'c stood and looked impassive while Jack looked to Daniel and said, "But, I thought you said all the ancients ascended."

Daniel shrugged and said, "I think I said that as far as I knew they had ascended…" he paused to gather his thoughts and Carter broke in saying, "Look at what we have seen them do sir, they throw power blasts without weapons, move at incredibly high speeds, are incredibly strong, and can be seemingly invisible. Plus, the one transforms into a girl with water. They called it magic, but I think that's a clear indication that they are more than human."

Jack looked at the two of them and said, "So what do you think maybe they were kicked out like Daniel was for interfering?"

Carte started to say, "It's possible. What do you think Daniel?"

Daniel shrugged and said, "As far as I know no one talked about them. That doesn't mean they weren't descended, but I can't be sure."

Jack nodded and said, "Well as long as they are on our side I guess."

Sam added, "Me too sir…and I wonder why they didn't go to Pluto?"

The question was left hanging and soon enough SG-1 was back in the front of the ship and near the controls while Ranma took the ship to Venus where they found nothing again. Then, another trip took them to the Moon and again they found nothing at all. The final stop was Mercury and this time Beryl said, "I'm getting a reading…"

Ranma wiped some sweat from her brow and said, "Where?"

Beryl replied, "It's on the surface, but not currently pointing towards the sun."

Carter looked serious and said, "That's good because these suits are only rated for plus 121 degrees Celsius and it can be over 420 degrees in the sun on Mercury."

Jack looked at her with a perplexed expression and she said, "Seven hundred and twenty two sir."

Jack nodded and he said, "So, now that we know we won't be charbroiled should we head on down?"

Soon enough the same party that had investigated on Mars was arriving on Mercury. There they saw a large ship smashed into a large rock wall. They approached the vehicle and could easily see its name written in ancient on its side, "Deimos"

The approached closer and it was clear that despite some at the vehicle's front section, the rest was in near pristine condition. They came to a door and Hoatru said, "It seems to be closed…" she approached closely and examined a pad next to the door and continued saying, "I think I can open it."

Ranma nodded in her suit, and then realized Hotaru couldn't see that and said, "Go ahead hon I got your back."

Hotaru proceeded to use the controls and the sounds of an airlock cycling could be heard. Soon after the door opened and everyone walked inside, then the door closed behind them and the air lock cycled again.

From their radios Beryl's voice could be heard saying, "The instruments here tell me that the pressure level is somewhat low, but it should be alright to take off your suits, though…"

"Got it, "Ranma said, and then proceeded to take her helmet off. She breathed in a few times and looked somewhat green, "Ugh…it smells like something died in here."

"The air may be somewhat stale…" Replied Beryl with some laughter in her voice.

Ranma grinned a bit while everyone else was taking off their suits and making the same face, the he added, "So, any idea where the artifact is. The hall has lighting and the air lock worked so there must be something powering this place."

Hotaru looked at the red haired girl and said, "Wait…we should check the bridge first."

Ranma shrugged and said, "Alright we can do that." Then she followed behind Hotaru as the girl led them to a small bridge area. Ancient bodies were strewn to the forward area and nearly crushed beyond recognition.

The group looked at the bodies and Jack said, "Why are they all piled up like that?"

Hotaru was staring at the carnage and said timidly, "I...I'm not quite sure."

Ranma stared at it and said softly, "I…am…it's from the failure of the inertial dampeners." Her mind was remembering Taya's life and an accident from her own time. She had been Sailor Sol at the time and even then she had suffered broken ribs and contusions from crashing through at least three walls and a bulkhead. The crewmembers had not been so lucky.

Ranma snapped out of her reverie and took Hotaru in hand facing her away from the carnage and saying, "So what do you need here?"

The younger girl looked at Ranma and said, "The bridge controls the entire ship. If we could get it working, then we could have the whole ship…" She paused hesitating as she looked at the bodies again.

Ranma noted her glance and said, "Yeah we would need ta make sure we don't end up like that. But, we could just get the artifact we need and not worry about it…" Ranma trailed off knowing that neither she nor her allies would leave this universe at the mercy of the Goa'uld threat. Instead she changed courses and said, "Why don't we have Beryl come down and we can work on that and see if it's possible okay?"

Hotaru nodded and Sam broke in saying, "What about the artifact you need?"

Ranma grinned at her and said, "We'll just take it with us."

Daniel whispered to the others saying, "This is an ancient ship…" Jack nodded and said to Ranma, "I don't remember our deal including allowing you to take an ancient ship or did you think you'd just sneak that one by us?"

Hotaru huffed lightly and said, "We are the closest to the people who once owned this ship, we certainly have the right to use it."

"Besides," added Ranma. "You need allies too and with us in this ship you'd have some pretty powerful allies to call on when you need 'em."

Carter, Teal'c and Jackson looked to Colonel O'Neill and he said, "Alright we'll do it your way. Carter can you help them get this thing online and working?"

"I think so sir." Carter said with a look of happiness at the challenge of working with Ancient technology.

"You too Daniel," Jack added continuing on by saying, "You have a working knowledge of the language, so help Carter and these guys if you can."

He looked to Teal'c and said, "Sorry Teal'c, but you're with me. We're going to move the bodies…"

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and said simply, "Indeed."

Finding a single Zero point energy module powering the Deimos would have made Beryl happy, but finding another in storage was beyond their wildest expectations. Upon her discovery of the device Beryl had put it back and immediately informed Ranma and Hotaru who were also very happy to hear the news.

With a smile on her face Ranma said, "So, with that and the repairs we've made we should have something here. The only question left is the inertial dampeners we took from the Alkesh going to be enough for this ship?"

Beryl shook her head and said, "Only enough to make the bridge area somewhat comfortable at a maximum potential of three gravities and the rest of the ship will experience at up to eight or nine gravities of acceleration, so loose items will need to be either, strapped down or, removed."

"Alright then, let's get SG-1 and see if this thing will fly." Ranma said. Meanwhile SG-1 had been having their own conversation at the same time.

"I've never seen anything like it sir. Sure, it's theoretically possible, but an actual Zero Point Energy Module…" she paused trying to find words for just how amazing the find was, "Well I don't think that even the Asgard have that sort of technology."

"Right…" Jack said looking somewhat clueless, "So how powerful is this ZPM thingy?"

Carter looked unsure of herself and said, "Conceivably it could power the entire U.S. and still have power left over to fly this ship."

The Colonel looked around at the bulkheads and then said, "So what is the extra power for then?"

Teal'c responded by saying, "I would suggest that it is most likely used for the weapons and shielding systems."

Jack frowned and said, "That's a lot of power…" He sighed and then said, "I hope we're doing the right thing by trusting these people."

Daniel broke in at that point saying, "Just one more think Jack. The writings and logs that I could find in this ship suggest a different origin that most ancient writings. The makers of this ship were something different from the ancients as we know them."

"Get to the point Daniel." Jack said, cutting the other man off.

Daniel stopped himself in mid stream and said, "Simply put, this ship and the people who controlled it were the ancestors to the Alterrans."

Jack looked at him and said, "So they were ancient Ancients?"

Daniel sighed and said, "Something like that."

The conversation broke up and SG-1 joined the Tria on the bridge of the Deimos after securing everything that they could, and having a brief ceremony/burial on Mercury's surface for all the people who had died on the ship.

Ranma sat in the center seat, while the others sat around different control chairs. "Everyone strapped in?" She asked.

The answer was a resounding affirmative and so she said, "Alright then first stop is Earth, let's do it!"

Hotaru sat at the navigation controls and said, "It's been some time, but I think I can do it." She moved the controls trying to remember a past life where she had done some piloting of ships just like the Deimos and soon enough the ship lifted into space. She smiled happily at being able to maneuver the ship and Beryl gave her a thumbs up and then moved some of the controls at her own station. The ship jumped into hyperspace pushing everyone into their chairs with three gravities of acceleration for a few brief moments and then the ship suddenly stopped flinging everyone forward into their restraints at nearly the same power upon its deceleration.

After recovering themselves from the ordeal everyone looked at the view screen. There in front of them was Earth. Ranma smiled and said, "Well there's Earth, do you want us to teleport you down?"

Jack O'Neill stood up and motioned to the rest of his team. This was the point; either he trusted these people or he started another front in their wars. He frowned lightly and said, "Yeah, alright beam us down."

Hotaru nodded and made a few motions on her console. Moments later SG-1 was gone and the Deimos was on its way to Pluto.

Back in the SGC Jack looked to his companions and said, "I think we should dial up their Stargate to…" he grinned as if he was winning a game, "make sure that they got home okay."

Carter nodded and said, "We'll get right on it sir." She walked off with Daniel behind her saying, "I think it should be in the database, I know I entered it from the last time we saw them."

Sometime later on Pluto the spare ZPM was being placed in its receptacle. "So now we have that all we need to do is start up the Time Gate with it right?"

Beryl and Hotaru nodded while the green haired hologram said, "That is corr…" she broke off her sentence to state, "Incoming Stargate protection initiated."

A shield of pure force appeared around the Time Gate preventing a wormhole from fully forming. Soon enough the shield disappeared and the hologram said, "Proceed with Time Gate activation?"

Ranma was about to respond in the affirmative when the 'gate activated again and another shield was thrown up. The red haired girl said, "Why don't we wait…"

The hologram nodded and then said, "I believe I am receiving a transmission this time. Would you like me to relay?"

"Yeah go ahead," Said the red haired girl with some annoyance.

"This is Stargate Command we are requesting peaceful dialogue." Came the voice on the other end.

Ranma looked annoyed and said, "Tell them everything is fine here and that we'll allow them to come see us tomorrow."

The hologram relayed the message and the shield deactivated along with the wormhole attempt. Hotaru smiled at that and said, "Now all we need to do is…" she grinned even wider and said with authority, "Begin Time Gate Activation!"

"Acknowledged, beginning Time Gate activation sequence." The hologram spoke and soon afterward immense energies poured into the Time Gate, soon enough there was an explosion of energy within the confines and everyone present could hear the all too familiar voice of the Time Gate itself saying, "Time Guardians Ranma, Beryl, and Hotaru it is good to see that you have not discorporated."

Ranma was saying, "Yeah, no thanks to you." While Hotaru was already activating her transformation. Beryl followed suit and Ranma looked to them and said, "Right…" Moments later the red haired girl was transformed as well.

Beryl nodded to Sol and touched her skirt as she said, "Did you notice the green stripe in your outfit?"

"Yeah, you and Saturn have one too. Probably not perfect fashion or somethin' but I guess I know what it means."

The Time Gate responded by saying, "That is correct you are now the Guardians of Pluto as well as your own planets and have full access to my powers as well. Since you have already seen the dangers of tampering with a time stream the only other matters left are twofold. First, stopping time will inevitably cause the person doing it to discorporate. Second, I am unfortunately tied into the Stargate network and will only be able to send you places using those devices."

Ranma grinned to her friends and said, "Well now we have our powers, a battleship from the Moon Kingdom, and the Time Gate. I say we go find Moloc and show him who's boss."

Hotaru said, "Ranma darling, didn't we tell the nice people from the SGC that we would speak with them tomorrow?"

Ranma nodded and said, "Yeah, but who said we have to do it here? Why can't we physically move the Time Gate onto our ship?"

Hotaru grinned and Beryl caught the red haired girl up in a hug saying, "You do have some brilliant ideas sometimes did you know that Ranma?"

In a distant Galaxy Pharaoh 90 was trapped in a single gem. He had thought it would be his escape from the wretched Moon Kingdom and the brat Serenity, but he had been wrong. Without any of his servants who knew the secret he was trapped and forced to serve one of the Priors of the Ori. It was truly pathetic, if he were free he could drain all of the Ori and take their place as a Dark God fed by the prayers and worship the Ori received. If possible the creature would have sighed…

Steps approached the Prior holding the staff said, "Halt in the name of the Ori!"

A voice said in return, "No…die! Die in the name of Wiseman!"

Powers crackled and snapped, but the outcome was assured from the beginning. The Prior died and Wiseman picked up the staff. "Ahh there you are master. I was sure I might find a version of you somewhere if she kept sending me places."

Wiseman cradled the staff to himself and said, "Now see here you are and my pledges to you take precedent to my servitude. I will free you and then you will free me and then we…together will rule over the entire multiverse!" The creature known as Wiseman laughed with insane glee and then he proceeded to recite an ancient unlocking right and smashed the scepter into the ground.

Author's Notes:

Okay before anyone complains I know this has a huge amount of Ranma-chan, but at this point Ranma has become comfortable in both forms and, of course, the Jaffa on Hak'tyl aren't so fond of men.

Other than that I expect that I may be able to really continue this now. I have ideas aplenty and it should lead into finding out just what happened to Ryouga…