"Normal speech"
"Gothic around non-Imperials."
"Mental Links."
"Ship Names."
"#Ancient to every one#."
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The Shadow Syndicate: No. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot just shove in a new chapter for the hell of it. It took me half a book to get the Sons of Sol integrated. Secondly where would they come from? The chances of them getting over from the Imperium are non-existent and the Sons of Sol aren't going to let any scientists fuck around with their gene seed. So the answer is: no more space marines.
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Davidenko awoke with a pounding headache and a very annoying itch on her back. Opening her weary eyes she took in the room. It was large and dark with a very ornate ceiling that had several candles suspended in the air her eyes took a moment to adjust from the constant red to normal light. Sitting up further she noted that she was lying on a mattress stuffed with straw as it shifted around under her moving weight. She felt very cold for some reason and began shivering in her bed. Hearing a groan from beside her she turned to see a shirtless McKay unconscious on the bed next to her. A quick realization came into her head as she realized that she too was shirtless. Quickly scrambling out of the bed she frantically searched around for her clothes. She found the shredded remains of her SGC jacket and shirt on top of a dark wood table in the corner her combat vest and weapons were nowhere in sight. She pulled on the tight blood stained garments, muttering curses at the juvenile soldier back at the SGC that had issued her such a small uniform, she tied the jacket around her waist to cover up the hole in her shirt.
"Where are we?" Davidenko hear McKay mutter as he sat upright in the bed rubbing his bandaged hand over his forehead which sported a large greenish yellow bruise.
"I don't know but I suggest you get dressed." Davidenko said throwing the similar remains of McKay's uniform over to him.
"So any ideas to what brought us here. It seems kind of nice." McKay said climbing out of bed revealing a bandage on his calf.
"True, but the village seemed pleasant as well." Davidenko said as she began rummaging through the room for any kind of weapon.
"Don't remind me." McKay said from inside his shirt as he wrestled it over his head.
"I remember one of those bizarre women standing over us saying something." Davidenko said as she rummaged through the room.
"Still doesn't explain how we got here. Say, do you think you could break down that door?" McKay said pointing at the heavy reinforced wooden door as he gingerly tested his injured leg.
"Maybe, but I would prefer to have some kind of weapon." Davidenko muttered as she sat down on the bed with a sigh.
"Just break something and use one of the legs as a truncheon." McKay said offhandedly gesturing at the pieces of furniture in the room.
"Okay." Davidenko said as she got off the bed and selected what she assumed was the hardest piece of wood in the room. Grabbing the small table by the sides she lifted it over her head with apparent ease and swung it against the wall. McKay yelped in surprise as a large shard of wood flew past his head. Davidenko shifted through the shattered remains of the table and after selecting a piece that was fairly long and heavy. She stood up smiling at McKay who was limping over to her.
"Let's go." McKay said happily pointing at the reinforced door.
Davidenko nodded in response and handed her weapon to McKay. Stepping back carefully, she shook her self lightly and angled her shoulder towards the door. Gritting her teeth she charged the door as she neared the door it creaked open to revile a single Wych with two long serrated blades over her back. Davidenko and Ommarin collided with significant force, the enhanced woman ploughed right through the other trampling over the Wych Davidenko smashed into the opposite wall. Sliding to the floor holding her extremely painful Davidenko glanced over at the Wych who was cradling her stomach where Davidenko had stepped on her.
Both women stopped as they hear the scrapping of a shoe on the ground looking back into the room Davidenko saw McKay make a clumsy lunge with the wooden bludgeon. In a surprising display of speed considering she had just been rolling on the floor in pain Ommarin kicked out trapping McKay's injured leg. With a swift twist the scientist was sprawled out face down on the ground, totally defenseless. Davidenko seized her chance and threw her self at the distracted Wych only to find a pair of hand planted in her stomach. Ommarin threw the surprisingly heavy Davidenko into her room. Davidenko landed on her back next to the still floored McKay with a thump that knocked all the air out of her lungs.
Climbing to her feet Ommarin rubbed her painful stomach and readjusted her armor which was slipping down. Regarding the two who were laying in apparent defeat on the ground she decided to break the extremely awkward tension.
"You two looked good in bed together." Ommarin said cheerfully.
Both Davidenko and McKay's thought processes stalled as they stared at the Wych who was smiling happily at them pointed teeth and all. It took a second before both their faces turned a bright red as their strange captor's words sank in. Ommarin almost danced with joy as the two in front of her glanced awkwardly at each other. No matter how much her parents had tried to shield her from the more corruptive influences of the Kabal she had still developed a love for toying with people, if only playfully.
"Aw, you broke my table. I liked that." Ommarin whined as she surveyed her room.
"Um, excuse me but who are you?" Davidenko asked as she looked over the strange woman.
"Oh, I thought I told you? I'm Lekiel Ommarin, nice to meet you." Ommarin said happily.
"Okay, then why are we here?" Davidenko asked warily.
"Well, originally I was going to pick you two up and trade you off." Ommarin said making both Davidenko and McKay turn white. "But I decided that since you and your other group was doing so well that you might be able to help me. So I am keeping you two as hostages." Ommarin said cheerfully to the two stunned SGC members.
"Hostages?" McKay croaked out his new found bravery evaporating faster than liquid nitrogen on a hot day.
"Yes, that's right." Ommarin said closing the door behind her as she stepped in.
"So what do you need hostages for?" Davidenko asked carefully sitting down on the bed with McKay her eyes never leaving the odd Wych.
"Well you're not going to take me with you with out a reason right? So you are my reason." Ommarin said twirling a long lock of hair around her finger.
"You could have just asked." McKay said.
"Yeah like that would have worked. Would you really just trust some random person who meets you in this place?" Ommarin said her voice becoming cold.
"No, no you wouldn't." McKay agreed as he slowly slid behind Davidenko.
"Aw, don't get scared. You won't impress your woman like that." Ommarin said playfully.
Ommarin smiled as McKay turned a shape of red that matched the artificial sun above them. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and a man in leather armor walked in a single straight sword across his lower back. He stopped and stared at the two SGC members who stared right back at him. He sneered in disapproval and turned to face Ommarin.
"Ommarin have you reported these two to Lord Lect?" The hunter asked the sneer on his face turning to a triumphant grin.
"No, not yet." Ommarin said her voice filled with thinly veiled hate.
"Then I'll just go alert him, to your discovery." The hunter said smiling viciously.
"Do what ever you want worm." Ommarin said making the hunter snarl.
"The only reason that you have your title is your fathers luck." The hunter said smirking.
"I could skin you alive in a second." Ommarin whispered dangerously.
Davidenko and McKay, seemingly forgotten, stared at the two as the apparently bipolar Ommarin and the upstart hunter traded threats and insults. The hunter gave the two one final look over pausing on Davidenko and widening his smirk then he turned to leave. Before he got one foot down his head collapsed to the floor followed quickly by his body as it sprayed a fountain of blood over the room. Ommarin sheathed one of her blades on her back a look of pure hate fixed on her face.
"So… you want out?" Davidenko asked cautiously getting ready to rush the now detached looking Wych.
"Yes." Ommarin said her voice still empty and harsh.
"Why?" McKay asked over Davidenko's shoulder.
"That isn't important. You two get some rest; if I'm right then your friends will arrive here soon." Ommarin said dragging the headless body towards the door.
Ommarin dragged the body out the door and down the corridor the door creaked shut leaving Davidenko and McKay alone in the room with a severed head that had a look of arrogance etched on its face.
"Well that was strange." Davidenko said lying back on the bed with a tired sigh.
"I don't know but if she's willing to help I won't complain." McKay said sliding off the bed and limping over to the wall.
"Where are you going?" Davidenko asked as McKay slid down against the wall.
"Well I… You… bed… sleep together." McKay stuttered out his voice steadily getting higher.
"You are very odd. Come here, you won't feel better sleeping on the floor." Davidenko said patting the straw mattress next to her.
McKay smiled feebly and limped back over to the bed sitting down with a sigh he turned to ask Davidenko something only to find her asleep. McKay shook his head and lay back down on the straw mattress and before he could even begin to mental list all the horrible things that could happen to him while he was asleep he lost his battle with fatigue and fell asleep.
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"I'm telling you that I should be the one to question him." Levis said smiling viciously as he eyed the unconscious hunter at his feet.
"And I'm saying no fucking way. We want answers not for you to have a good meal." Sheppard shouted at the Wraith.
"Insolent cattle!" Levis shouted.
"Arrogant bastard!" Sheppard shouted in return.
"So how long is it this time?" Macdonald asked Ford as they watched the two argue.
"I don't know but I wish that Titov and Mitchell would stop bringing them back." Ford said indicating the pile of three hunters off in the corner.
"Does Emmagan normal get that angry?" Macdonald asked.
"Teyla, nah she's normally all calm and collected. I haven't seen her that pissed." Ford said readjusting his injured leg
"I never thought that she would actually start cutting off that guy's fingers. That was some fucking scary shit, the only person I ever thought would do that was Stuart." Macdonald said.
"Who's Stuart?" Ford asked totally ignoring Sheppard's calls to back him up.
"She's this fucking crazy Lieutenant Colonel from SG-1." Macdonald said resting his head on the wall behind him bored with Sheppard and Levis.
"Sounds nice." Ford said sarcastically as Levis knelt down beside the hunter.
"It is, she doesn't bother me and I don't stop her from threatening everything with a pulse." Macdonald said ignoring the frantic pleading from the captive hunter.
"Hey you two! This ones actually talking." Sheppard said happily.
"Good for him. Bring back Emmagan and we can get going." Macdonald said.
"Hey Teyla get ready." Sheppard shouted out the doorway to the pacing woman.
There was a loud snap from behind Sheppard and he turned to see Levis drop the limp body of the hunter the corpse's head facing in the opposite direction than it should. The Wraith was once again acting oddly his eyes were wide and frantic and his face was fixed in a half sneer.
"What's the matter? Not hungry?" Sheppard said disapprovingly.
"Move humans, Lect awaits." Levis said returning to his normal self.
"What he say?" Sheppard asked.
"Lect is in his room apparently waiting for you to be captured. The transporters will still be active for another three hours." Levis answered lifting Macdonald roughly to his feet and giving him a spear shaft to use as a crutch.
"Alright then let's move out." Sheppard said as Teyla rejoined them.
"John, what about Mitchell and Titov?" Teyla asked.
"We'll meet up with them on the way." Sheppard said confidently making Ford and Macdonald share tired glances.
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Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell was a prime example of a soldier, but he wasn't very good at the small aspect of waiting especially when his only companion is a perpetually tired Russian Colonel who some how had managed to trick him into doing all the work. Mitchell muttered another string of curses on Titov as the Russian continued to mutter randomly in his sleep. The two of them had finally marked out a clear path to central tower and were now laying in wait for the others to catch up. So far three groups of hunters had come and gone in the massive black tower and the only indication that no one had been captured was the quiet and some times the not so quiet grumblings of the guards as they walked passed Mitchell's hiding spot.
The tower its self was massive about half the height of Atlantis's but for more ornate with several balconies, twisting walls and buttresses adorning the out side. The inside Mitchell could only guess at but he decided it would look something like the interior of the Emperors Light and Atlantis had a bastard child. Overly gothic with an almost insane amount of twisting corridors, insufficient lighting and stair ways that led to god knows where.
"Seen anything?" Titov asked materializing at Mitchell's side looking for the entire world to see like he hadn't been asleep a second ago.
"Nothing important." Mitchell said readjusting his firing position for the fifth time.
"Good the others are coming." Titov stated.
"How the hell do…" Mitchell's question was answered when the faint foot and crutch steps of the other SGC members plus Wraith drifted through the hollowed out building.
"Never doubt my powers of deduction." Titov said.
"What ever, you crazy Russian." Mitchell muttered as Levis, the Wraith he felt extremely uncomfortable around, crouched right next to him.
"Hello human, now tell me are you ready to attack this place?" Levis asked his dark eyes quickly scanning over the guards.
"Yeah I guess, if we got every one into an ambush position and coordinated our attacks but we need the radios for that and they don't work." Mitchell said eyeing the smiling Wraith warily.
"True but once we are inside we will have the advantage." Levis stated.
"How so?" Titov asked hovering just behind the two.
"Your weapons are better suited for interior combat and we have a straight rout to our goals." Levis said his smile widening.
"Fine. Sheppard, Ford you two take a flanking position in that small tower over there on the left. Teyla and Macdonald you two stay here with Levis and shoot what every come out of the gate. Mitchell you and I are going over to that wall on the right. Every one get in position and when the guards are changing we will attack." Titov said pointing out the different positions.
"You sure? What about McKay and Davidenko?" Sheppard asked.
"If I know Davidenko then she will be making her way here so either they're yet to arrive or they've been captured. So when we get in either they will arrive behind us or we'll find them in there." Titov said his eyes fixed on the Malignant Spire.
"Sounds like you're just guessing." Sheppard said.
"Just get into position, one we are in the tower we'll look for them." Titov said moving towards his position.
"I hope Rodney is all right." Teyla said as she helped Macdonald over to Levis.
"If he's with Davidenko then he'll be fine." Macdonald said.
"Come one Ford lets get all the way over to that fragile looking tower." Sheppard muttered helping his friend limp away.
"See you latter." Ford said over his shoulder.
"Why do I have a really bad feeling about this?" Sheppard muttered to him self.
"You say something sir?" Ford asked.
"Nothing Ford, nothing." Sheppard reassured the marine.
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Ommarin burst into her room holding a selection of weapons and clothing to find McKay and Davidenko asleep on her bed clinging to each other. Clearing her throat loudly she then poked them both in the ribs with the staff of a glaive in her hand. McKay and Davidenko jumped awake ignoring their position they fixed Ommarin with an annoyed glare.
"As touching as this moment is, here." Ommarin said smiling as she flung her luggage onto the bed.
"What do we need these for?" McKay asked holding up an armor bra.
"Lect knows that your friends are outside the tower and he's setting up an ambush inside. You two are going to help me kill him." Ommarin said holding out a re-curved dagger.
"Why?" Davidenko asked taking the dagger.
"I told you I want out of this place; I want to see all the different worlds that my parents told me about and… I want to see that man dead." Ommarin said her knuckles tightening as she gripped the hilt of the glaive.
"Okay… that seems good. I'll just leave." McKay said grabbing the leather vest, chain mail shirt and trousers off the bed and making a move towards the door.
"Where do you think your going?" Ommarin asked blocking McKay's path.
"Another room." McKay said while Ommarin just stared at him blankly. "You know to change… away from Lilia." McKay said trying to break Ommarin's stare.
"No you can't. Untill your out of that." She gestured at his bloodstained uniform. "You can't go anywhere. So get naked." Ommarin finished smiling innocently at him or as innocently as her pointed teeth and large swords allowed her to look.
"Just do as she says Rodney." Davidenko said as she readjusted the metal bra.
McKay followed Davidenko's example and stripped down keeping his back to the Russian woman as she pulled on the tiny garments of the Wychs. McKay spared Ommarin a glance only to find her staring at him a thoughtful look plastered on her face. He winced as he pulled the baggy leather trousers over his wounded leg. A chain mail undershirt went on next the cold steel or what ever it was made him shiver. Sliding the thick leather vest over his head he sighed as he picked up short sword and its sheath. Turning around he found Davidenko fixing on the forehead protector that most of the Wychs wore. She had a set of greaves and a long fore arm protector with spikes protruding from it along with the small amount clothing all the warrior women in Commorragh seemed to wear.
"There all done. So how do I look?" Davidenko asked.
McKay cleared his throat loudly before answering. "You look good."
"As sweet as this is grab some pointy thing and let's go." Ommarin said opening the heavy wooden door.
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The changing of the guards in Commorragh was a fairly unorthodox thing. It normally involved the four men out side being confronted by a new set of four warriors. This almost definitely devolved into the older guards beating one or more of the younger guards until they either got bored and went their separate ways or the younger man got lucky and managed to escape. Sufficient to say most of the SGC members watched in shock as the youngest guard was beaten over the head with a plasma rifle while the others watched and laughed for about five minutes. Levis in comparison took almost all of his self control not to burst out laughing him self when the younger guard bit the older one on the leg and scrambled back inside the tower followed by a cursing man who ran after him screaming threats while waving the plasma rifle over his head.
As the other six guards huddled together around the doorway reluctant to do any form of actual work other than insult some random person, normal the man directly opposite them, or pin one of the weaker warriors to the wall and use him as target practice for knives and plasma; the trap was sprung.
One man on the far left who had his arm slung over one of his compatriots shoulder was laughing almost manically as the smallest guard successfully twisted his body to avoid castration by a plasma burst. A hail of bullets tore through his chest exploding the liquidated heart and lungs along with shards of his rib cage over the stunned warrior beside him. The warrior stared in shock as the lifeless corpse crumbled to the ground but he didn't get to voice his apparent shock as a single bullet blew most of his brains out of his skull and onto the ground. The warriors dropped what they were doing and dove into cover, except far the smallest who struggled futilely against the knives binding him to the wall. The three warriors on the right hiding behind a fallen pillar were taken completely by surprise as two of them had their lower intestines sprayed all over their supposed cover as the small metal lumps tore through their bodies. The third whirled around only to get a burst of bullets in his chest, he crumpled up like paper and collapsed to the ground gurgling as the remains of his lungs filled with blood.
The remaining two assuming that they were being attacked from both the left and the right fled into the open doorway only for one of them to collapse both his knees reduced to a bloody mess. The final mobile warrior turned and fired blankly behind him plasma burning scorch marks all over the ruined buildings. A twisting bolt of blue energy sprung from the ruins and smacked him clean in the chest sending him twitching to the ground.
All in all the entire attack took just under a minute.
After waiting several seconds to see if anything was coming Titov emerged from his position with Mitchell close behind him. Levis with a resigned looking Macdonald slung over his shoulder followed by Teyla emerged after them and lastly Sheppard helping the limping Ford down the street.
"That was surprisingly easy." Mitchell muttered as he came up to the still struggling warrior pinned to the wall.
"Don't complain." Titov said as he walked pass the stilled warrior not even sparing him a glance.
"Teyla lets go." Mitchell said over his shoulder as the muttering Wraith stalked past him.
Teyla jogged over to Titov who was slowly sliding into the tower keeping a close watch for any activity.
Everyone spun round when a burst of P-90 fire erupted behind them followed by pained screams and the sound of something hard hitting flesh. What they saw was Ford beating the pinned warrior with the butt of a P-90 as a torrent of blood poured out of the man's stomach. Sheppard just stood their supporting his friend as he shouted threats and insults to the half conscious warrior.
"I like that one." Levis muttered as Ford rammed the end of his P-90 into the bleeding wound a let off another burst of bullets. The warrior sagged limply against the wall his life spent.
"Come on." Mitchell said as Sheppard, who was completely neutral, dragged Ford who was scowling at everyone forward.
Levis and Titov slid into the darkness eyes peeled for any sign of movement, the Wraith's night vision proving invaluable. All that greeted them was an empty dark corridor lit by a few sparse candles and the ruby red glow from the door way. Behind them was Macdonald once again leaning on his spear pole and Ford who was using Sheppard as a makeshift walking stick. At the rear were Mitchell and Teyla who had the unfortunate job of walking backwards.
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They had been walking for what felt like hours but was something more like thirty minutes. The darkened corridors where like Mitchell had imagined vaguely reminiscent of Atlantis but with the wall covered with engravings, tapestries, murals and hundreds of sparsely placed candles and flickering lights. At several points they had come across dead bodies in various stages of decay, some had been hastily hidden behind pillars or in alcoves but others were lying propped against the walls. At no point had they encountered any of the warriors and the only one seemingly not worried by the lack of resistance was Levis who was grinning madly and constantly flexing his left hand.
Titov stopped the group as they saw a large doorway full of light further down the hallway. "Any one else think this is weird?" He asked gesturing to the empty corridors behind and in front of them with his P-90.
"Yeah. I would think that there would be more guards or something." Sheppard said nodding down the corridor getting a nod of agreement from Ford.
"Pathetic humans, always worrying. This is why your species has no right to live." Levis growled tensing up.
"I had just about enough of you." Titov said leveling his P-90 at the snarling Wraith.
"Worthless." Levis grunted as he lunged forward down the corridor.
Levis got two feet before his entire left shoulder exploded backwards in a shower of blue blood and shattered bone. Levis fell backwards his face stunned as the wall behind the SGC teams exploded in to a shower of stone chips and dust. A shimmering trail in the air marked the shots flight path. Everyone threw them selves into the small amount of cover offered by the pillars and shallow alcoves.
Standing in the lit doorway was a grotesque mixture of machine and man. Two people stood holding a wide and long but thin tube connected to a large box next to them. The rail gun was fused into the first shoulder as he knelt on the floor a large metallic shield melded into his chest which provided covered for him self and the man behind him. The second had the rear end fused into his chest while several tubes and wires extended down from the mangled mess of his face into the gun. The second was missing both eyes one replaced with a camera lenses while the other just had a tube extending put from it.
"What the fuck is that?" Mitchell muttered between coughs.
"I don't know and I think I don't want to know." Titov said quietly as he grabbed the still Levis and dragged him behind a pillar.
"Secondary targets located. Firing." Ground out a coarse voice from the rail gun team.
The pillar next to Teyla's head exploded into dust as the second shot tore through the wall like paper.
"After it fires again rush it!" Titov shouted at Mitchell and Teyla.
A third shot blew up the ground next to Titov's feet almost taking his legs off. He gulped down the lump that had formed in his throat and continued to apply pressure to the large hole in Levis's shoulder in an attempt for the Wraith's healing ability to kick in.
Teyla and Mitchell ran past him firing burst of fire at the strange contraption only for them to bounce off the metal shield. They threw them selves back into cover when the two men shifted their stances and a fourth shot nearly decapitated Mitchell the super heated air singeing his hair.
Suddenly Levis sat straight up throwing Titov off him. In a fluid motion he drew the Zat he had been given and started to fire down the hallway. The first few shots went wide impacting on the stone work around the two gunners sending blue sparks flying. Growling in annoyance Levis fired again striking the front gunner in his armored chest plate. A tortured gurgled rose from both of them as the Zat's charge looped between their flesh and the machinery fused to it. Both of them keeled over to the side landing with a loud fleshy snapping sound as the rail gun was tore from the its flesh mount.
"Most effective." Levis muttered before collapsing back down his shoulder slowly knitting its self back together.
"Fucking great. Mitchell help me carry him." Titov said as the Lieutenant Colonel emerged from his cover carefully feeling the burnt area of his hair.
"Fine." Mitchell said kicking a large piece of masonry out of his way.
"Hey wake up." Titov said shaking Levis roughly.
"Food." Levis muttered incoherently.
"How far to the transporters?" Titov asked shaking the Wraith more.
"Two flights up. Main control room. Human Emotional Studies." Levis muttered as he passed out again.
"Human what?" Mitchell asked glancing at Titov in confusion.
"I have no idea, but it might be where we need to go." Titov said looking over his battered group.
"I don't like the sound of it." Mitchell said as he slung Levis's good arm over his shoulders.
"Doesn't matter, a way out is a way out." Titov said throwing the Wraith's bad arm over his shoulders.
"Sometimes, I hate this job." Macdonald muttered as he hobbled along side Sheppard and Ford.
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Ommarin had left Davidenko and McKay several corridors down hidden in a small recess from what she called the Foris, apparently the central control room for the Ancient outpost of Commorragh. The two of them were extremely nervous as they both were worried about being found, after several of the stomach turning stories Ommarin had told them as they walked they had developed a very healthy fear of capture.
As they sat in silence a pair of metal boot slowly got closer, McKay his normally over active nerves set on extreme high activity jumped out expecting it to be Ommarin returning from what ever errand she had run off to. Instead he leapt right into the path of a tall, scowling and extremely muscular warrior who was sporting a large cannon like object over his left shoulder filled with what appeared to be hundreds of long sharp needles. On his right shoulder was a row of three spikes and impaled on them was a fresh head still dripping blood down his dented chest plate.
The warrior took one look at McKay as he stared at him in complete horror and noting his leather armor and injuries swiftly backhanded him into a wall. With out so much as a look back he continued onwards.
Hearing the noise of flesh impacting stone Davidenko stepped out of the recess only to ram straight into the warrior who, caught off guard by the unexpected collision, stumbled to the side.
"Watch where you're going bitch." He muttered after regaining his footing.
Davidenko just smiled at him sweetly and moved off to look at McKay who was poking the inside of his mouth wincing every so often.
That would have been the end of that little incident exempt for the fact that Davidenko had forgotten in her panic that every resident of Commorragh had their teeth filed to a point. The warrior, no being the sharpest tool ever made, would have overlooked such a thing as a trick of the light which was a very common occurrence in the dim tower. That would be is he wasn't looking for a reason to crack some skulls and possible have some fun with the Wych after dealing with the weakling.
Spinning around he brought the butt of his needle cannon smashing down on Davidenko's neck. The redhead woman was sent sprawling to the floor as the warrior loomed over her. What he didn't expect was the hunter he had dismissed to come flying at him with a short sword. McKay's swipe was deflected with what seemed like a minimal effort by the needle cannon and the next thing he knew he was doubled over having to make an extreme effort to pull any air into his lungs with darkness creeping into the edge of his vision. The warrior bent down and grabbed a handful of Davidenlo's hair pulling her up to the level of his face. Annoyed at the resistance still evident in Davidenko's face the man jabbed his cannon into her exposed belly making her scream in pain as the needles tore into her skin.
The warrior's smirk that he had worn from the start changed into a full blown grin when he saw clearly that the supposed Wych he had by the hair wasn't part of the Kabal. He let the needle cannon fall to the ground and began to stroke the inside of Davidenko's thigh. Her eyes snapped open at the first contact and she began to fight back more aggressively. The warrior began to laugh cruelly and moved closer to her. His thoughts were broken when a kick impacted into his ribs, the warrior had judged Davidenko to be not that physically strong based on her frame and hadn't braced him self properly. The armored foot of the half-Pariah women connected full force cracking the warrior's chest plate and sending him skidding to the side. Davidenko freed from the warriors grasp made ready to pounce at him until she found the newly required needle cannon pointed at her face.
"I'll make you pay for that." The warrior spat at her as blood started to seep through his hand cupped over his injured ribs.
Time froze for a second as the warrior and Davidenko stared at each other. Suddenly the warrior jerked and then collapsed to the side. Behind him was McKay a cold almost hateful expression fixed on his face and his short sword buried up to the hilt in the warrior back.
"Are you okay?" McKay asked moving over to Davidenko.
"Yes." Was her short answer.
"Are you sure?" McKay asked his face serious.
"Yes." Davidenko said again but with more feeling.
"Good lets go then." McKay said happily ripping his sword from the warriors back.
"Go where, little man?" A voice from behind Davidenko asked.
"To find you." McKay said pointing his sword into the shadows.
"Oh my, what a mess you've made. Well I don't care so let's go, you friends are almost there." Ommarin said her silhouette detaching from the shadows.
"Are they okay?" Davidenko asked turning to face Ommarin who just smiled at her.
"I take that's a yes?" McKay asked scratching his head and once again trying to understand the strange woman.
"Mostly, they've have nearly every kind of thing thrown at them, warriors, Wychs, experiments, you name it. So, their alive just not in the best condition." Ommarin said cheerfully.
"Okay and how are we going to help?" McKay asked pointing at him self and Davidenko.
"Well we're going to be a bit late but you two are going to hang in the back and after I make my move you two will deal with the other two or three people that Lect will have as a rear guard. Your friends and I should take care of the other seven." Ommarin said smiling happily.
"Okay but what if we're found out?" Davidenko asked.
"Then you die." Ommarin stated simply almost glaring at the two of them as if she was challenging them to try and change her plans.
"Oh, okay." Davidenko said taken aback by the cold answer.
"Let's go or we'll miss the fun." Ommarin said once again acting cheerful.
"That woman is weird." McKay muttered and Davidenko nodded as they started to follow.
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Teyla was out in front and once again she was getting the feeling that everything wasn't right, the place looked empty but she couldn't shake the feeling that something somewhere was watching her. The notion wasn't exactly unfounded since the strange thing that had attacked them two floors down nothing had happened and they were once again walking unchallenged towards their destination. Currently they were walking through a large hall much like the gate room at Atlantis just bigger with a very large twin set of doors at the other end. The ceiling was completely dark and she had no idea if it ended a several meters above the light or a few centimeters. Behind her Levis had shook off Titov and Mitchell and was walking by him self again although his arm was still useless. Ford was quickly becoming worse his wounds were now leaking puss and he was nearly unconscious for the entire final leg of their journey. Macdonald was still hobbling along on his spear shaft his air of laziness back around him.
Almost as soon as Teyla thought that Sheppard looked like he was about to collapse from the strain of carrying Ford along a high pitched war cry echoed through the hall. A single hunter came flying down from the pitch black of the ceiling aimed straight at Teyla. Before she could react the hunter was caught mid-air and slammed down into the ground by Levis. The Wraith smiled cruelly as he pinned his food under his knee and tore open the hunter's shirt. The entire group looked away as the man began to age and dry out, finally the feeble pleading stopped and Levis stood up flexing his fully repaired arm.
"Lets go, there will be more and soon... Lect." Levis said pushing past Teyla and taking the lead of the group.
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Astonain Lect wasn't what you would call a forgiving man but as he stood hidden in the shadows around the massive twin doors leading into the Foris or control center he was already planning ways in which to torture the hunter's family. The fool had attacked early and given away the hiding space of his compatriots and undone all the work that Asmosarth had done, he would have to talk to Hanzi about disciplining the hunters more. That though was thought for another time right now he was more interested in the best prey that had entered Commorragh since the Ancients had been hunted by their test subjects.
Looking to the right of him self Lect nodded to the warrior carrying the needle cannon and singled to attack when the prey had reached the quarter mark. The man nodded his old face set in determination. Suddenly Lekiel Ommarin appeared at his side looking as apathetic as he ever saw her.
"Where have you been?" Lect asked tightening the straps that held his skin flayer, a tool normally used by the Homunculi, on his hand.
"I have been searching the Spire, several guards have gone missing." Ommarin said her face betraying no emotion.
"How annoying. Still I will have my prey." Lect said dismissing Ommarin with a flick of his wrist.
He licked his lips as Pet crept ever closer, he knew that even the Wraith's superior night vision couldn't see him and he licked his lips imagining the punishments that he would perform on the disobedient Wraith.
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Levis stiffened when he hear a slight shuffle coming from the shadows around the entrance to the control room. He shoved the female next to him out the way and dove to the side unfortunately the two males, Sheppard and Ford, weren't so lucky and Ford caught a body full of needles while Sheppard's arm was hit as well. Ford slumped as his body finally decided that consciousness wasn't a good idea and gave out. Titov moved forward and fired into the shadows receiving only the sounds of bullets ricocheting off rock. Mitchell took Ford's other arm while Sheppard began ripping handfuls of needles out of his arm.
A scraping sound came from the side and Teyla fired several bursts into the shadows enticing a half scream and a heavy thud.
"Keep moving!" Titov shouted as another blast of needles soared past his back.
Mitchell slung Ford's whole body over his back and made a run for the door. The others formed up behind him firing at anything odd on the walls or ceilings several bodies crumbled to the ground but there was always more firing back at them.
Suddenly behind them they heard a loud shout and a thud. Whipping round they saw Mitchell with a warrior's foot on his neck struggling on the ground and Ford kneeling before a man wearing faded bone colored armor with a long sword in one hand and on the other a bladed glove they'd seen one of the hunched frail men wearing. The sword was resting on ford's shoulder while the forefinger and middle finger blades were pressed against his neck.
"I congratulate you on getting this far. But this is where it ends!" Lect said pressing the two bladed fingers just hard enough to draw a thin line of blood.
All around the room ten warriors and six Wychs emerged from the shadows some of them heavily injured from the stray fire of friend and foe. From behind Lect four people stood, two Wychs one with red hair the other with long deadly looking swords and a warrior who looked pissed at everything along with a hunter who for the life of him looked completely out of place.
"Well how does it feel to have come so far and fail?" Lect asked but the SG-teams and Levis were too focused on the pistol Ford had discreetly drawn to pay much attention.
"What's the matter? Lost for words?" Lect asked tilting his head at the lack of response. Ford smiled at Sheppard and placed the gun against his shoulder.
"Answer me!" Lect shouted as the gun when off.
Ford's shoulder blade was shattered as the close range bullet tire through it with ease and burst out the back in a spray of blood right into the femoral artery of Lect. Lect's eyes widened as his a river of blood poured down his legs coming out in gushes in time with his heart beat. He collapsed onto his back desperately trying to stop the massive bleeding and Ford fell face forward blood pouring from the hole in his back. Every one just stared in shock for a second before all hell broke loose.
Davidenko seized her chance and stabbed the warrior holding Mitchell down through the neck, dropping him like a tone of bricks. Mitchell was too stunned that one of the Wychs was betraying her own side to take the offered hand. McKay drove his short sword under the warrior next to him chest plate and with a quick tug spit the man's intestines all over the floor along with a large river of blood. The entirety of the SG team whipped around and started to tear apart the warriors and Wychs behind them. Most of them got away by diving into the many corridors that lead to the hall but some where scythed down. Levis moved towards the rapidly paling Lect who was pleading with Ommarin to help him.
"Hello Lekiel." Levis said as he stopped over the squirming Lect.
"Hello Levis." Ommarin replied as she drew one of her swords.
Levis grabbed her hand his eyes insane and cruel. "Leave him." He growled more of a threat than an instruction.
Ommarin sheathed the serrated sword reluctantly once the vindictive Wraith had let go of her hand. "What now?" She asked as Davidenko and McKay came up behind her.
"Simple we leave." Levis said as he turned to see the Titov and Mitchell trying to get Sheppard away from the still body of Ford.
Abruptly a loud horn echoed through the Spire and the sound of hundreds f metal boots running on stone echoed through the hall. Mixed in were the hunting cries of the Kabal and the strange tortured wails of animals driven beyond madness.
"Sheppard we have to go!" Titov said urgently as he forced a group of warriors to hide behind a pillar as he unloaded the last of his clip at them.
"I am not leaving Ford!" Sheppard shouted as he tried to lift Ford with his one good arm.
"John, he's gone. He wanted you… us to live so let's go and live for him." Teyla said resting a comforting hand on Sheppard's back.
"Shit! What the fuck is that!" Mitchell shouted as strange animal that resembled a cross between and lizard and a lion entered the far side of the hall.
"John we have to leave!" Teyla said urgently pulling at Sheppard's arm. He began to move reluctantly as the lion-lizard bounded across the hall, foaming at the mouth, moving far faster than any human.
"Inside humans." Levis said grabbing onto one door and slowly pulling it closed while Davidenko and McKay worked on the other.
The twin door shut with a resounding band and a second latter they massive things shook as something distinctly flesh impacted mercilessly against them. The doors shook again as the lion-lizard smashed into them again and again. After the third impact the thing began wailing loudly out side but didn't ram the door again even though the metal was starting to deform.
"So now what?" Macdonald asked looking at the row upon row of Ancient computers.
"Now, one of you activates the transporters." Levis said gesturing randomly at the computers.
"Which ones the transporter?" Titov asked looking over the identical layouts.
"It's either that one at the top far left or the one in the second row third in form the right." Ommarin said smiling at Titov.
"Speaking of that who the hell are you?" Mitchell said pointing his empty gun at the Wych.
"And why are Lilia and Rodney dressed like that?" Teyla asked pointing at the two who were standing behind Ommarin.
"Disguise." They answered at the same time.
"I'm Lekiel Ommarin, ex-Master of Blades. I was hoping seeing as I have two of your friends you could take me with you." Ommarin said smiling at the stunned group.
"You were never that smart." Levis said smirking as the Wych glared at him.
"Is this it?" Titov said pressing a combination of keys.
The entire room darkened and a large pedestal rose out of the middle of the room. On the pedestal was a large crystal with hundreds of little gold lines running through it on either side were ZPMs, one was active and the other dead. Suddenly a voice began to speak.
"If you are hearing this then I assume the recovery team has penetrated this far. The subjects have rebelled after learning the truth of their world. It is extremely dangerous to be here, if the tribes haven't killed each other yet then they will without a doubt fight until the strongest survives. In that case I urge you to take this data module; it contains all the research and appropriate pass codes for this operation. Please don't allow the Universe to learn of the monsters we created in the darkness." The recording cut out after that.
"Well that was helpful." Mitchell said scratching the back of his head.
"I suggest we take it. He said pass code and that may be useful." Teyla said moving to take the crystal.
"What about the ZPMs?" Macdonald asked looking at the glowing device.
"I would advise against that, something has to power that sun and I don't like to think what would happen if we removed it." Titov said as he fiddled with the correct terminal.
"What's a ZPM?" Ommarin asked looking confused between the glowing device and the talking SG-teams.
"It's that glowing thing. It provides power for Ancient technology." Macdonald said off handedly as he watched Teyla and Mitchell slowly disconnect the data crystal.
"Ah, got it. Ready to leave?" Titov asked as the twin doors shook again and the bulge in the metal expanded.
"I think that's a yes." Said McKay as he looked worriedly at the door.
"Okay and here we go." Titov said as he punched in a final combination.
He was engulfed in a flash of yellow light seconds latter along with Sheppard and Teyla. Levis, Macdonald and Mitchell followed next then Davidenko and Ommarin leaving McKay all alone as the door shook again and the metal screeched in protest. McKay shut his eyes as the metal doors began to tear open.
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McKay felt warm not warm like you would feel on a pleasant summer's day, no the warm when your sitting next to a roaring fire that is burning out of control. Opening his eyes he saw that was exactly what was happening all around him things were on fire. The small hamlet that was the pleasant front to Commorragh was burning. A black shape shot over head a several seconds late the familiar noise of jet engines met hi ears. Standing up he saw that he was with the Wraith, Mitchell and Davidenko. The Wraith was staring at something behind him his face frozen in something resembling fear and shock and he turned to see what it was. Stalking towards them in armor as black as night holding a flamer in one hand and a strange mace in the other fresh blood dripping from it was an Adeptus Astartes.
McKay had only met the two marines Gideon and Angelus and this one was neither of them. So him standing there in enemy clothing with a Wraith at his side wasn't going to go down well. Luckily for him and Levis Davidenko had spent a lot of time with the marines.
"Hello Ishmael." Davidenko said from behind McKay as the Chaplin stopped right in front of McKay.
"Ah, Major Davidenko. You look different in that." Ishmael gestured to the Wych's clothing with his Crozius Arcanum.
"Never mind me what's all this?" Davidenko asked gesturing at the burning town.
"When you didn't report Elizabeth Weir became worried and asked us to come have a look for you. So we evaded the Wraith blockade and when we arrived the inhabitants attacked us." Ishmael stated.
"Oh well thank you." Davidenko said smiling at the Chaplin.
"No need to thank me. Now what is the Xeno for?" Ishmael asked leveling his masked gaze and flamer on Levis.
"This is Levis, he helped us escape." Davidenko said discreetly sliding in-between the marine and Wraith.
"Hmm, it depends on Angelus but he is occupied at the moment." Ishmael said lowering the flamer slightly.
"So that means your not going to kill him?" Davidenko asked.
"We'll see." Was Ishmael's curt answer.
"It's a start at least." Davidenko said sighing in relief.
"What makes you think…?" Levis didn't finish another of his racial slurs as Davidenko and McKay both clamped their hands over the Wraith's mouth in an attempt to stop him from getting himself killed.
Ishmael put his hand to his ear and activated his vox. "This is Brother-Ishmael I have two team members plus one extra." He said and waited for a reply.
"It seems that all of your teammates have been located, plus another extra. Major Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan and Colonel Titov have been picked up by Nestor. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell and the extra have been found by Vanem and Captain Macdonald has been found by Levi." Ishmael said looking quizzically at the two humans as they still tried to prevent the Wraith from talking.
"Thank you Ishmael. When do we leave?" Davidenko asked as she wrestled with Levis.
"You are to follow me to extraction point 3." Ishmael said moving towards the outskirts of the village.
Once he had gone a couple of steps Davidenko and McKay let go of Levis. "Listen, just be quiet about the whole Wraith superiority thing or they will kill you in a manner of painful ways." Davidenko said trying to emphasize the point by waving her arms around at the destruction around them.
"Hmph, what makes you think they could. They're just humans." Levis said turning away from them, while checking out the side of his eye to gauge their reactions.
"Listen these guys are killing machines, they will literally tear you apart with their bare hands. So, just don't go around insulting them." McKay said.
"If it gets me off this rock then, fine." Levis muttered as he followed Davidenko and McKay who looked pleased with them selves.
"Angelus is not going to like this. I only hope O'Neil is still lucid." Ishmael muttered as the two humans and one Wraith followed him onto the waiting thunderhawk.
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Far away on a lush mountainous world, in a large building a single ornate ruin changed from a perfect white to a deep red. Two lithe, elegant figures stared at the slowly flashing rune in puzzlement. Who in their right mind would enter Commorragh and take the central computer? This would require investigation.