CHAPTER 5
With the normal whooshing sound that accompanied the ring system they materialized. Carter was looking up for a few moments after the transporting. Melissa was still sitting but looked frayed, or at least her fur was. Ford was pointing his gun down the corridor. Carter didn't even see him move. He's fast.
"Melissa you still with us?"
"Ah yeah." she said getting up slowly. With a shake her fur stopped standing on end.
"Can you sense or smell anything?"
She looked at him with the feeling of being insulted written on her face.
"No offense, Melissa, but we have no idea where we are and unfortunately for you, you're our best sensor. I'm not trying to use you, I'm trying to keep us alive."
She seemed to relax and understand as she sniffed the air. "No one has been here for some time, wait...dad's here." she started to go ahead when Ford put his hand out.
"Wait a moment. I hear something. It could be a trap or weapons or god only knows."
"You're right I hear it too." Carter said.
Melissa listened and then she noticed it. She didn't like the sound from the grimace on her face.
"Here, this might help." Ford said giving her a couple of cotton balls.
"Why did you bring cotton balls?" Carter asked taking the ones he gave her.
"When and if I have to fire this gun, and Melissa is around, I don't want to destroy her hearing. These might help along with her covering her ears."
"It's that loud?"
"I've seen glass windows and doors shatter from thirty yards away Major. Trust me on this." Ford said all this while still pointing at the only available direction.
"Let's hope you don't have to use it here. This confined, you'd blow all our ears."
"Wait a minute!" Ford said grabbing a part from a pocket. With a few quick turns he had the silencer attached. "There that should help. I'll look around the corner while you two see if their our any controls or buttons."
"Wait a minute. When did you become in charge?" Carter said quite displeased.
"Sorry Major. Force of habit. If you have a better plan let's hear it."
"And why is yours better?" she said getting upset.
"I'm expendable."
"What?!" the ladies said in unison.
"Melissa still has her whole life ahead of her and it wouldn't help relations between our two cultures to have her get killed. You still have your life ahead of you as well and you have a better understanding of electronics and all that Goa'uld stuff. Besides that Jack would kill me if you were killed."
"You're serious!" Carter said shocked.
"Yes Carter I am. If O'Neill was here I'd say the same thing, except maybe the life ahead part since he's like fifty something."
"Right now I don't have a plan, so we'll go with yours for now, but only look around the corner, no advancing." Carter said.
"Got it Major." Ford said slowly creeping up to the corner.
Getting near to the ground he pulled out a mirror and slowly inched it out. The mirror reflected a dead body that had decayed to the bone and was about twenty or more yards away. It was a canine of some origin. Nothing else seemed to be in the hallway except a couple of doorways.
As Ford crept away, Carter turned to look at the box like area they were brought to. The only way to go was toward Ford. It reminded Carter of an elevator, only one direction out. As he shined her flashlight at the dark wall, she only saw a black wall on either side and the back. The ceiling had the ring indentation where they came down but no way to operate them. The landing area, Carter termed it to herself, was all black where the rings came down. The walls beyond it looked much like the inside of the pyramid before. Hieroglyphs everywhere. Seeing Ford walking back over slowly, she asked him if he could understand any of it.
"Well, some I can make out but nothing that I can make sense out of. Many of these symbols I don't recognize from Daniel's teaching." he said scrutinizing the wall. "There are a few doorways around the corner along with a dead body. It looks like one of their race." Ford said silently to Carter. Melissa was sitting against the wall with her hands on her head. She look like she was thinking.
"One of us needs to scout around. That strange buzz is coming from somewhere around here." Carter said.
"Oh no. I put foot down there. No splitting up." he said waving his hands. "I've seen enough other movies and enough of SG-1 make that blunder. We stay together. Splitting up is not an option. I'll keep front, you both stay behind me and give orders from there."
Carter didn't want to argue so she agreed. "Good point." He's good. He would make a great SG team leader.
"Melissa, I'm sorry that this is happening but we need to go."
"It's okay. Dad is here, I can sense it." she said getting up.
"I've got point so don't go ahead unless I say, okay."
"Sure." Melissa said.
Ford looked around the corner slowly with his gun in front of him. He was going to motion them forward when he noticed the dead body again.
"Can I call you Mel, it's much easier?" When she nodded he continued, "Have you been around a dead body before?"
"Yeah I have. It's not something I liked. Why?"
"There's one here that is one of yours, but I don't think it's your dad."
"Can I look?" she said hesitantly.
Ford nodded and walked forward past the body. The body was back first against the wall. A door, which was closed, was on its left. Right across from that door was another, also closed. The buzzing seemed to be coming from the door near the body. The hallway continued on and turned left. Ford looked around the corner with his mirror as Melissa looked at the body. Carter was watching the doors.
"I think this was my dad's assistant. It's not dad though. I'll have to tell the families again." she said pulling her zat gun out.
"What are you doing?" Carter asked.
"Sending them to a better place. It's how we send off our loved one's." Melissa said shooting the body three times. It vanished on the last shot.
"I thought that was powerless?" Ford asked coming back over.
"I got a new one after we got out of the gate. Colonel O'Neill took mine and I took Ernest's."
"Okay then." Ford said dropping the subject. He twirled his gun a few times before returning it to the holster. "Let's see if these doors open."
Carter looked over the wall trying to see if there was anything that would activate it. Ford looked over the other one. Running his hand down the side he felt something move slightly.
"Carter."
"Yeah."
"I found a switch. Push it please." he said pulling his gun out.
He and Melissa were pointing at the door as she pushed the hidden button. As the door opened she took up a position with them. With a shoom sound it opened to reveal a foxmen with his back to them. He looked to be trying to walk over to a Goa'uld computer. He had a backpack on, a old suit, a fedora hat and a cane.
"DAD!" Melissa said starting to run forward. Ford grabbed her quickly around the waist. She kicked and fought as he tried to talk.
"MEL! Wait Mel! Something isn't right."
"I don't see anything wrong except you manhandling me!"
"If something wasn't wrong with this picture, wouldn't your dad have turned around and seen us by now."
She stopped trying to remove his arms as what he said sinked in. Her father was still in the same position as before. Nothing had changed. Ford slowly removed his arms as she stood there.
"There is something wrong, I almost think time has stopped for him, wait! I think he's in suspended animation!" Carter said. "See that dust falling? It's not moving."
Ford looked into a corner in the room she pointed at and noticed it.
"I wonder." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. Throwing into the room they all saw a ripple as the quarter stopped suddenly in mid air barely inches in.
"There's a energy barrier that encompasses the room keeping everything in it frozen in time. It must have been a trap that he set off." Carter said. "Interesting technology. I've never actually seen it before."
"We need to find the power source to turn it off, any idea's Major?"
"The computer could have the access we need to shut the field off but we can't get to it. I don't see any other indentations around the doorway or on the walls anywhere so it must be farther in."
"Mel, we need to go. He's not going anywhere, fortunately."
She nodded as they continued on. The turn ended up turning again to the right, another right which had a door that couldn't be opened. Part of it was hanging out into the hallway. A cave-in had blocked off entering the room. They continued on making several more turns and coming across empty rooms. Then they came across a Goa'uld computer inset near a wall. Another route led down to a table and hidden door that had a force field that was glowing from a small brick that was leaning against it.
"Well, at least we're safe from any attacks that I can see. Notice anything Mel?"
"I got a weird feeling when we were near dad but that might have been the room."
"I had a weird feeling too, like a Goa'uld was nearby but I didn't see anything either." Carter said.
"Must be that door we couldn't open. What do you want to do?"
"I can check the computer we saw back there while you and Mel could see about that door. If there is a Goa'uld behind it, I want to know before they come out."
"Got it Major."
As they retraced their steps, Carter stayed with the computer, against Ford's advise, as Mel and him headed back to her dad. One they reached her dad again Ford looked over the other door.
"Give me something to think about other than everything I didn't want to know." Mel asked leaning against the wall. She crossed her arms and looked at the ceiling distressed.
"Such as?"
She thought a moment before looking back down at him. He was looking at her, waiting for her response. "Well, for one thing why haven't you told Major Carter your interested in her."
"How did...no, no, no, not this subject. We aren't going here." he said turning back to the door. When she first mentioned it, Ford nearly jumped out of his skin. How did she know? Did I do something that showed interest? Is it women's intuition?
"Why? I know you find me attractive, but won't say anything. Not that it would matter since I'm already engaged. Besides we don't believe in going outside our breed's I think is what you term it. That's why we live in different cities most of the time. Anyway, why don't you tell her?"
"Because, wait I said I don't want to go here." he whined.
"Well..."
"This has to be a woman thing." he muttered. "Your going to nag me until I talk huh?"
"Yeah."
"Fine, I admit it. I love Carter. I've had a crush on Sam since I started watching her on TV. I wanted to date her and see if she would eventually marry me a few years down the line. But I knew that would never happen, I gave up that dream and gave up on women period. Besides that I think she's Jack's girl." he said still feeling out the door. "I've never really gone on a true date, in most senses, and decided to give up early in my teens."
"Why? Did someone..."
"No. I gave up because I'm incapable of having children. Born that way. Can we please change the subject now? I can't concentrate with this subject. I never wanted to talk about this subject. To anyone."
"Why would I be Jack's girl?"
Melissa just turned her head as Ford closed his eyes and slowly rapped his head on the door. From the sound of how he was hitting the door it must have hurt.
"Life deals me another hand of embarrassment." he mumbled. Turning to her, "Any success at the computer Major?" he said avoiding the subject. She must have noticed that he didn't want to talk when she didn't try pursuing it. The look was enough that she could tell he wouldn't answer any questions.
"Yes. There are two symbols that we have to push at the same time. They will release a hidden panel that will open the door. I think."
"Any idea what's on the other side?"
"No."
"Alright then. Where are the symbols?"
Fifteen minutes later they found the symbols which had to be several feet from the door. There was one on each side.
"They must have put them here to make sure that no one could shoot or get into the room. It would give whoever is in the room time to prepare. Major, can I take point?"
She was going over the things she heard him saying to Mel just recently and didn't hear him the first time. The second time she did.
"What? Sorry, my mind was elsewhere."
"I noticed. Anyway, you and Mel will push the symbols while I wait to see what's on the other side of the door."
"But it won't open until we access the panel that is hidden."
"When has that sort of thing ever truly happened?"
"Right. I see your point."
Ford got on one knee pointing at the door and the ladies pushed on the symbols. A brick fell out of the wall as a Goa'uld panel popped out. Ford continued pointing at the door as he examined it. It was a fifteen color coded panel. There was some writing along the sides.
"Great. It's color coded."
"So?" Carter said.
"I'm color blind."
"Wait, then what color do you see?" Melissa asked confused.
"I see all colors but differently. I mix them up. Where you see orange I may see red, and ..." he muttered some other words they couldn't identify as he waved his left hand signifying he was through explaining.
"Okay Carter. From what I can read on it, it saying blue, blue, blue, red, orange, white, black, purple, green, yellow. The next line says, blue, black, red, green, orange, white, white, yellow, purple, black. The last one says, black, red, orange, green, white, purple, blue, yellow, red, red. I'm guessing two of them are what we want and the other is a trap."
"Any idea on which one it is?"
"Not a smegging clue."
"What?"
"Never mind. Did the computer say anything about the colors?"
"No."
Great. Well instinct says go for the middle.
"Let's try the middle."
"I say the first one." Carter said.
"I'm with Major Carter." Melissa said.
"First it is. Carter you'll have to push them as I read it out."
When she nodded, he called out the first line of colors. As soon as she hit the last button the door shifted as it slowly moved up. Ford heard movement inside as Carter and Melissa said something felt wrong. He rolled under quickly as Carter protested. Coming back into a crouched position he pointed up at a Jaffa warrior that was still try to stand inside a sarcophagus. The Jaffa warrior spotted him and brought his staff weapon up, but not quickly enough. Ford fired sending a round into his gut. His silencer broke off for some unknown reason as the staff weapon the Jaffa was holding fired. It's energy round hit the inside of the sarcophagus causing it to short out from the damage. Ford fired off two more rounds to make certain he was dead. One in the chest and the other in the head. The head shot blew the head off. He slumped into the destroyed sarcophagus as the door finally got high enough for Carter and Melissa to see inside. Ford was still aiming around as they entered.
"I don't see any more Jaffa present Major, do you?"
"No. It looks safe to stand." she said pointing her gun around.
Ford glanced back seeing Melissa holding her ears.
"Mel, can you hear me?" he said holstering his gun and walking over to her.
"There is a bad ringing in them. What was that?" she said with a moan.
"Here, sit down. The ringing will go away." he said helping her to the ground. "I'll be right back."
Carter was still standing were she was when he left her, pointing at another sarcophagus that hadn't opened. There was another behind it, but was totally destroyed from part of the ceiling collapsing on it many years ago. The sarcophagus were facing them feet first with one behind the other. Ford pulled his gun again and looked at the barrel.
"What happened?' Carter said rubbing her ears.
"The silencer broke off. It was special made too, but not of the same material as the gun. Kind of figured that would happen someday. Are you alright?"
"Yeah. My ears are ringing, but not much. Let's see if there's a way behind that broken sarcophagus up there."
They both passed slowly by the unopened one and looked around the fallen beam.
"I think that we might be able to get through, but I don't see anything but another wall. I think it's a dead end." Carter said.
"Figures. There has to be a way out."
As they talked the unopened sarcophagus was slowly opening.
"It looks to big for me or you to fit, but Mel might. I'll go get her." Ford said turning around. As he walked by the sarcophagus, a hand grabbed his and brought him down quickly.
"Carter!!..." Ford was saying as some old guy inside practically kissed him.
Carter turned to see Ford being held by a old man. The guy's face was next to Ford's. Ford fired a round into the guy before dropping his gun. Carter heard it but barely since he had stuck the barrel into the guy. As the now dead man fell back into the sarcophagus, Ford's eyes rolled up and he slid off the lid. Carter rushed over as Melissa came in. He was opening and closing his eye's like that of someone in shock or seizing. Carter held his head up as she looked him over. Suddenly he grabbed her right arm and opened his eyes wide. Carter backed up quickly and pointed her gun at him. Melissa did the same. Carter told Melissa to wait when she went to shoot him.
"Oh god! Ohhhhhhhhh...Carter where..." Ford said as he turned over.
Grabbing the lid of the sarcophagus, he pulled himself up as he hurled. Carter and Melissa looked away momentary as he got sick.
"That was sick! French kissed by a dead guy."
"Ford?" Carter asked.
"Yeah give me a moment." he said with a raspy voice. Grabbing his water he poured it into his mouth spitting it back out a few times.
"Ford?!"
"What Major?" he said turning back around. He swished his mouth out again before looking at her. "That was disgusting." When he saw fear in their eyes and their weapons pointed at him he dropped the canteen as it hit him. He grabbed his head as it suddenly felt like spikes were being driven into his head. Falling on his knees he kept from crying out. Then there was blackness.
Carter and Melissa still kept there weapons on him as he fell forward. After a few minutes Carter slowly moved closer and turned him over.
"Let's get him into the hallway." she said grabbing his shoulders.
"What?! Isn't he a Goa'uld?" she said putting her weapon away and grabbing Ford's.
"I don't know. I've never seen anyone actually move after a symbiont has tried to take over. Ford didn't think it happened, unless he was faking it. Maybe the Goa'uld died when it entered him. The sarcophagus is very old looking. As was the guy inside."
Melissa walked over and grabbed his feet and helped her get him into the hallway. Carter removed his pack and placed it under his head.
"No. It's still alive inside him."
"How can you tell?"
"It's not something we like to talk about, but some of us can read and sense other minds."
"You're telepathic?"
"Tela-what?"
"Telepathic. It means you can read minds. Now I see how you knew Ford was interested in me and wouldn't say nothing."
"I can tell your interested to, but afraid.."
"I can read my own mind thank you."
"Sorry. I have trouble blocking out strong thoughts like that. What do we do now?"
"Wait and see if he wakes up. If he's taken over then you'll have to stun him."
"And if that doesn't work."
"I don't know. Find out whose inside him and hope they tell us the way out."
"You're not going to kill him even if he tries to kill us?"
"We won't have that happening. I'm going to tie him up and remove anything that he might use to break free. Help me get this stuff off him."
Ford could feel them moving him and placing him somewhere. The hallway he figured. He could hear them talking quite clearly too for some reason. He felt as Carter and Mel removed his ammo and equipment and tie him up. He tried to talk, but nothing came out and tried opening his eyes but they refused to respond. He was thinking about what to do next when he heard another voice.
"You are different. Different from any other human I've came across."
"WHO'S THERE! Where are you?"
"Inside you."
Carter was looking over the dead Goa'uld when she heard Mel fire her weapon and a whack noise. Mel was looking at her father from across the hallway when Ford bolted up. He smacked his head into the wall with a resounding whack. He leaned over just in time as she fired her weapon. It hit the wall, dissipating as it was absorbed. She was going to fire again when Carter stopped her. Ford was on his side squirming.
"Oh man that hurts. I need an ice pack bad." he kept moaning about his head hurting as Carter asked Melissa what happened.
"He sat up quickly all of the sudden and hit his head into the wall."
"Ouch. I wondered what that sound was."
Moving slowly forward she kept her gun pointed at him as she came into his view. Ford was looking at the floor when she came into view.
"Carter? What the hell happened? Why am I tied up on the floor?" he asked completely confused.
"What do you remember?"
"Ah...let's see...oh god my head….I was French kissed by a dead guy, got sick, passed out and then brought out here, and then I think I was talked to in my head."
But your not going crazy.
When Ford's eyes widened she took the safety off.
"Oh damn. Wait a minute. Don't shoot." he said squinting his eyes. "Carter?"
She nodded saying she heard him.
"Since I have a Goa'uld in me, which I can feel and hear, why is it that I'm still me."
"Are you, you?"
"Funny. I know that when a Goa'uld takes someone over they lose there life and if the Goa'uld has succeeded, then that strange voice they all have is heard, right?"
"Right."
"Then what is going on?"
I do not wish to take over, nor can I for some reason.
"Great. That's makes no sense. Carter get me off the floor please."
Carter looked over at Mel who nodded with the intent to shoot if he tried something. Carter then set him back up.
"Is the Goa'uld talking to you?"
"Yes Major, what do you think?" he said sarcastically. Seeing the brief hurt that she got rid of quickly, "Sorry. I shouldn't yell at you for my problems." he said squinting his eyes in pain as the room spun a little.
You care much for this one. It has been a long time since I had such feelings.
"Oh yeah, right. Like I believe that."
It is true, I am sorry that I had to do this.
"Sorry. Sorry! Listen to that Carter he says he's sorry." he said trying not to think of the pain flashing through his head still.
"I can't hear him Ford. You should know that, if this is you."
I was dying inside the sarcophagus. It's capability to keep me and the host alive was failing and had been for some time. When I saw you, I had to join with you to keep alive.
"Right."
Carter and Mel watched as Ford talked, well to them, nobody.
I was banished in here for rising against what I believed was wrong. Many, many years ago I was on the planet you call Earth. I secretly led a rebellion against the System Lords who controlled it. I never saw the Goa'uld as gods and when captured I made it known to them what I believed. I was to be executed but Nirriti had me spared to help her. I help for many years until she left when her experiments on animals failed. When Path'ar took over, he made the animals sentient like you. When that happened, I had to stop them from being slaves as well. I helped as before, silently and in secrecy to help them rebel. When a human from your world came along, he helped in the uprising. I was found out and put here to be taken and executed later. Two Jaffa warriors were to keep watch over me until I was to be taken away. I thank you for killing the Jaffa who survived.
Ford explained everything he was being told to them. Carter thought he was rambling while Mel kept looking more and more stunned, unfortunately neither one noticed.
The human who helped came through the Stargate many years ago. He was a man without fear of the Goa'uld. His name was Dodge Primus.
Carter watched his face stay angry as he kept talking. When he went to say the name he was told, his face fell in shock.
"No smegging way. You're messing around in my mind."
I have no reason to lie. I have access to some of your memories, but you also have access to mine. Look...
Ford saw in his mind how his many generations ago grandfather helped many different animals fight against slavery. Other images came to mind as he looked at the memories of the Goa'uld inside him. Ford tried explaining everything that he was seeing. Melissa was right in his face listening intently which Carter didn't understand.
"Who are you?"
I'm Hercules.
Ford stared off into space as it looked to Carter. He slowly started to chuckle which quickly turned into a laughing fit. Carter was surprised, to say the least as he went from being angry to laughing hysterically. Mel jumped back thinking something was wrong. When he looked to be changing color, Carter rushed over trying to help him. He was laughing so hard he stopped breathing and passed out again.
"What happened?" Mel asked.
"He passed out from lack of air. He's breathing fine now. What was he talking about that had you so interested?"
"Our history about how we freed ourselves. It was all accurate. His family ancestor did come and help us to see the evil of the Goa'uld. There was a Goa'uld that did help us in the rebellion against being slaves. We never found the name of him though. His strength was…god like as one of the text we have say."
"So that's why you all acted funny when his name was mentioned."
"Yes. We knew even then who Ford was, but we didn't know if he knew. Apparently from what we heard, he didn't."
I see that you have heard of me, but the laughing I don't understand. I will help you free your friend and get you out of here to prove to you I'm not like them. Focus your strength.
Ford listened as Hercules told him how to release Mel's father and how to activate the hidden rings to get them out of the tomb there were in. Carter was getting an explanation about Melissa's peoples past when Ford sat up suddenly breaking the ropes holding his hands together. Untying his feet quickly, while Carter was telling him to stand down, he got up.
"No time Major." he said touching several symbols as Hercules told him to. All at once the field left and the foxman inside kept moving as though nothing happened.
"Daddy?"
The elderly foxman turned around to see his daughter slowly walking toward him. "My little Mel. How did you get here?" he said embracing her.
"You've been stuck in a trap by the Goa'uld for several months now. Friends from Earth came to help us. Primus has returned."
"The
prophecy is true." the elder foxman said.
"Oh please." Ford
said from outside. Carter still had her weapon pointed at him.
"Carter if you think I'm going to do something that would harm
you in anyway, then shoot me now." he said holding his arms out.
"You heard what I said to Mel when she was asking me all those
questions about my love life. I couldn't shoot you if you were
taken over."
"But I'm not the one taken over."
"Neither am I. Hercules is in there, but I have total control. He says it has something to do with me being different. Why, I don't know."
"Did you say Hercules?" she said with a short laugh.
"Yeah. I'd probably be laughing again but he's helping me control myself."
This time Carter laughed, not long but enough that Mel and her father came out. Her father got between her and Ford when he felt something wrong.
"Shoot him woman before he kills us all!"
"Hello, I'm Ford Primus, I got you out of there with Hercules help, your daughter has been quite helpful, charming, and didn't kill me when this unfortunate.."
Unfortunate?
"Shut up Herc. Anyway where was I, oh yes, when this unfortunate thing happened, but better me than the rest of you. Melissa didn't kill me, so please extended me the same courtesy." Ford said shaking the shocked mans hand. "Now we have to get out of here. Opening that sarcophagus was bad, because a message has been sent to the Goa'uld. A mother ship will be here shortly or not for awhile or not at all. Best to get everyone ready."
When they all looked at him like he was crazy, he let Hercules take over.
"Now how does this work, oh yeah..." he said crossing his arms and dropping his head. After a moment his head came back up with Hercules in charge as his eyes flashed.
"Forgive me for having to take your friend as a host. I do not have full control like a normal Goa'uld and cannot even if I wanted to with Ford Primus. Something prevents me from that, which I have always believed to be wrong. I am the one who helped Dodge Primus achieve your freedom. Unfortunately I was captured and put here to be executed for defying the System Lords commands. When the sarcophagus I was in opened, it released a signal to the Goa'uld that I have escaped. As long as it has been, they may still come anyway. Time is short." Ford's head dipped down and came back up quicker.
"That was weird. The was so weird." he said rubbing his head.
"He must be the one that helped those many years ago. I can sense he is telling the truth."
"I can sense it too father." Melissa said.
"If your really in control, how do we leave?"
"Well, there's a ring system in this room that can take us back to where we were or to the mother ship, but that won't work because there's no power there, so we have to got back to where we were before we got here."
"Okay, then let's activate it and go." Carter said.
"Without everything I brought. No way."
"Fine. But I'm keeping the guns." Carter said in command mode again.
"Fine. But I hope you give it back when and if the Goa'uld attack. Though I hope the signal is so old they forget about it."
The next several minutes consisted of Ford replacing everything she had taken off him. The knife, standard nine millimeter, and his gun, Carter kept with her. Once he was sure he had all his ammo anyway, they got into the center of the room Mel's father was in. As Ford activate a few controls, with Carter watching, he asked Mel what her father's name was.
"Vash."
"I like it."
"Why'd you ask?"
"I wanted to know so if I ask him something later I don't have to say, hey old man or hey dude or something equally more demeaning." he said stepping into the middle of the room with them. "Knife please Major."
"Why?"
"That last button has to be pushed. I could shoot it but it wouldn't send us anywhere then, so I have to hit it with something. If I push it and I'm not here, you'll all leave me here alone. The end of a knife will do. Old system."
She gave him his knife back and put her gun barrel up against him.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Carter." he said throwing the knife. It landed precisely on the button, handle end first. As it clattered to the ground, the rings came down.
She is cute when anger.
"Now is not the time Herc." he said as they vanished.
