"Normal speech"
"Gothic around non-Imperials."
"Mental Links."
"Ship Names."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The reviewer with no name: Here are the answers to your questions. The Guards are Guardian analogues. Fiery Eyes are Fire Dragons analogues. Angry Stars are Dark Reapers analogues, just focused on taking out lightly armored infantry (very common) rather than heavily armored ones (rare). Suits are Wraithgaurds/Lords analogues, just with living pilots as no such thing as Spirit Stone exists in the SG universe. Elites have no analogue, basically due to the presence of Stargates the possibility of a warrior encountering multiple warzones in a prolonged battle is increased. So the need for adaptable soldiers that aren't tied down to a single task has arisen. Thanks for the review, it is good to see people enjoying the story. Wisdom is the beginning of fear.
Anonymus: I won't give away the plot but expect twists and turns however in the end the Imperium will unite humanity in Pegasus and the Milky Way. Victory is simply greater perseverance.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sun was setting behind the overly alert group of humans while massive black storm clouds gathered in the sky above them. The assembled Imperials were trying to meet up with one of the armored columns that advanced down the lance-made roads. Off to the side, maybe three hundred meters away, a castle jutted out of the forest, nestled atop a hill that in its heyday would have given it a good view to command the surrounding area. Angelus led at the front with McKay and Levis, putting the doctor's newly acquired bionic eye to use; behind them Sheppard was talking with one of the I.G.L. riflemen about Earth, in the middle another four I.G.L riflemen walked in silence with Carter and O'Neill. Ommarin was staring intently into the forest, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the sword she had been allowed to bring. Vanem was busy describing the Eldar that the Sons of Sol knew to Davidenko who found the whole history of half-truths, brutal wars and shaky alliances to be very confusing. As the rear guard Levi and Samuel were observing their surroundings while at the same time debating the best plan to wipe out the Wraith once and for all.
Ghen'Hòar moved silently through the bushes, trying to get a better look at her quarry. She heard the loud, heavy steps that she and most other Zerfàrim had quickly come to associate with danger. A quick look confirmed her fears; several of those large armored soldiers were accompanying a squad of heavily armed humans; and a Wraith! Things were getting stranger and stranger. She whispered a report into her comm, requesting support from a squad armed with heavier weapons than the shuriken rifles she and her retinue carried. Not bothering to wait for a reply from Sàdo'Kel she motioned for her squad to fan out and surround the humans. Behind her the twelve man squad of Guards from the Nirhaal Adraj that she had taken command of sprang from their resting places and spread out into the forest. Victories over these armored humans had been few and far between and taking out four at once would be a boost in both their chances of survival and moral.
Angelus suddenly stopped and narrowed his eyes at the trees, his instincts were telling him that something was wrong and after so many years of war he trusted his instincts. His arm shot out, stopping McKay in his tracks, before the scientist could complain a volley of small, gleaming-white streaks shot forth from the trees in front of them. The lightweight shuriken bounced harmlessly off the Marines' armor and Levis dove out the way, however McKay wasn't so fast, or lucky for that matter. Sheppard sprang forward as his friend slumped backwards, his chest pierced by the small projectiles.
"McKay stay awake!" Sheppard shouted, dragging the McKay behind the trunk of a large tree.
"Eldar!" Angelus roared into the forest, firing his bolt pistol and drawing his power sword before running off into the darkening forest in search of the Eldar. A second later Vanem and Levi appeared at his side, the Librarian wielding his glowing force sword and a plasma pistol while the Tech-Marine carried a bolter. Centuries of warfare and diligent practice allowing the trio of Marines to see the hidden Zerfàrim without any difficulties.
"Sheppard! Move!" Samuel commanded, before tossing a roll of bandages to him and clipping his chain sword to his armor.
"I hate this; at least you could always see the Jaffa." O'Neill muttered as he fired into the dark forest, hoping to hit one of the unseen foes, before slouching back behind a large fallen tree trunk that he and Carter had occupied.
"They are experts in guerilla warfare. Just like we were." Carter replied, firing her P-90 and being rewarded with a startled yelp.
"Are you implying that we've got lazy?" O'Neill asked, staring at her from under his cap.
Carter fired another burst before twisting around to face her old teammate and commander. "I wouldn't dream of it sir."
Ghen'Hòar quickly and silently changed position as another volley of small red lasers tore though the undergrowth around her. The armored men were running around wildly killing the few unfortunates they found but they were heading away from the main body of her squad and towards the heavy weapons team she had called for, now all she had to do was keep the rest of the humans pinned down, this wouldn't take that long.
McKay was in a dark place, a desolate place. Were infinity was no longer just an imaginary concept. It was a place he didn't like to remember. A place that haunted his thoughts, like some cruel specter, every time he looked at Teyla.
His body was heavy, cold, sluggish in its begrudged compliance. Pulling himself to what his equilibrium insisted was upright he cast his wary gaze over the shapeless void. There was no sign of anything else in the darkness. Doubts and fears clawed their way inside his mind, whispering relentlessly. Was he dead, was he trapped in some barren limbo doomed to nothingness forever. No, it would not be. A deeper instinct took hold demanding that he survive, commanding that he move onwards until he finds the light again.
"Why's this stuff only happening to me? Okay think, how did you get out last time? You stabbed Teyla and she woke you up. Great, just great." McKay mumbled to himself as he set off in a random direction, insecurity and impatience tearing at him.
Contemplation was his only companion; together they walked through space and time dissecting its wonders. Nothing changed as he continued his endless trudge, not detecting the echo of his footsteps doubling.
"Okay, I just have to avoid that weird green mist and Sheppard will wake me up eventually, so I just stay here, alone, in the dark...." He stopped walking and quietly looking around; shifting from foot to foot, as the blackness pressed in all around.
"I've got to say I'm disappointed Meredith." A slightly higher pitched version of his voice muttered from behind him, dripping with malevolence and sarcasm.
"Who's there?" McKay asked, whipping his head around to find only darkness.
"Oh, come on. A brilliant mind like ours should be able to figure this out in a second!" The same voice said from his right and he felt a heavy weight resting on the same shoulder.
McKay slowly turned his head to the right, dreading what horror lay their, only to find his gaze resting on a silver copy of himself examining its nails in apparent boredom. "Who, no, What! The hell are you?" He shouted towards the strange apparition.
"Meredith, Meredith." The silver McKay said in a disappointed tone, slowly shaking his head and lifting his elbow from McKay's shoulder. "I'm you! You worthless idiot!" It screeched pointing an accusing finger in McKay's face, the solid green orbs in its black eyes drilling into McKay's own.
"You can't be me you silver bastard. Silver? The only thing silver on me is the Necro… Oh shit!" McKay shouted backing away from his smirking clone, a numb coldness spreading in his chest.
"Finally caught on, have we?" The silver McKay asked before it burst out laughing, the evil sound echoing through the unending darkness around them.
"Wait, why does the Necrodermis have a consciousness, and why do you look like me?" McKay asked, watching with suspicion as his silver Doppelganger started to stalk around him a superior smirk on it face.
"Ah, good question. I think I'll humor you, seeing as you'll be little more than a memory in a few minutes. Lets see." The thing cupped its chin in one hand and stared upwards for a second. "This thing you're looking for, this C'tan. I was once one of them." It said, taking pleasure from the confusion that danced across McKay's face.
"What? C'tan are huge beings of energy that feed on stars. If you're one then why aren't you twisting reality to your every whim, making me dance like a puppet or just blowing everything up?" McKay demanded, ignoring the ever increasing weight of his body and the cold waves that rippled over him.
"I said once." It replied with a sneer. "I'm a shadow, an echo in the night, imprinted on a fragment of my old body after its destruction. I was a bundle of fragmented memories but thank to you I'm whole again." It continued grinning sadistically at McKay.
"Thanks to me?" McKay questioned quietly, dread filling him.
"Of course, as you see your mind proved an adequate structure to re-form myself and fill in the gaps in my psyche." It replied patting its body happily and smiling gently before turning its baleful gaze back on him, its smile turning vicious. "They'll curse your name when I drown worlds in blood!" It shouted into the dark, laughing manically at the terror McKay felt.
McKay stumbled slightly, his leg's insurrection demanding all his concentration to remain upright all the while the thing continued to laugh. "Ah, looks like your, no; our fragile body is finally giving up. Time to get to work." It said, slicing its hand vertically through the air.
Suddenly the darkness was pierced and torn asunder as a bright light burst into life. Opening like the gates of heaven, the pure white light blinded the human physicist; the only blemish the dark form of the C'tan, like some evil guardian, standing between the warm light and McKay.
The copy extended its hand like some divine savor. But still the cruel green fires of its eyes buried into McKay's, as if the wolf was standing before the sheep. And it was a much better, an almost flawless predator.
The only noise McKay could hear was the slowing of his heart. The large muscle surrendering its last unstable efforts to fate. Towering over him was his Necrodermis clone, a demon wrapped in his visage. A being that was old when the Milky Way was formed and ancient before mankind was a dream. This was a being with the power of a god; more terrible than anything that had existed before, merciless unto all who opposed it and now ruler of their flesh tomb.
"Come on inside and lay all your burdens down." It offered in a strangely sincere tone, a hint of McKay's ego surfacing in the being.
And like Michelangelo's Adam as the life drained from him McKay reached towards that soothing light and the outstretched hand of his cruel alternate. The two touched, silver met flesh and everything changed. As his vision faded to black, subtle warmth filled McKay and he embraced it.
"Here's the path to your dreams." The silver McKay said quietly as the darkness was swallowed by the light. "Let's enjoy the feast!" It screamed through mad laughter as every was finally engulfed by the light.
Samuel's eyes widened as McKay's heart finally stopped. He lunged forward to begin resuscitating the wounded human, but before he could even start McKay's right eye snapped open emerald green bleeding into the implant's red rings. The Apothecary, startled by the sudden movement, automatically jumped back slightly; battle honed reflexes springing into action. Samuel narrowed his eyes at the prone body but before he could get closer again a green light illuminated McKay's right arm and his body vanished in a swirl of wind.
"What the fuck just happened?" Sheppard asked Samuel staring wide eyed at the space his friend had previously occupied.
"I have not the slightest idea." Samuel muttered, poking the blood soaked ground with an armored boot.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this. We lost McKay, actually misplaced a person. And the loudest one we had to boot. That's just stupid." Sheppard moaned, running a hand through his hair.
"We will investigate later. Now to battle." The Marine proclaimed, drawing his bolt pistol with liquid grace and firing into the darkness like it was day.
A lone Zerfáron Guard moved silently through the large trees with inborn grace. Keeping an eye on the humans' sporadic fire which constantly shredded the forest around him but did little else. Suddenly an unnatural wind arose behind him, like the world had just sighed. Spinning around ready for battle, his shuriken rifle at the ready; he faced a lone, grinning human.
The C'tan that now controlled McKay's body would have shivered in anticipation if it, had it figured out that series of muscle contractions yet. The separated Zerfàrim soldiers that darted nimbly through the forest were a much easier target than the tight bunch of humans. A quick jaunt out of phase with the battling organics around it and it had located the perfect candidate for its first meal. A sorely needed thing at that, the slip out of phase with reality had burned up almost the last drops of power the C'tan held.
McKay's replacement arm had consumed the jacket covering it and was now alight with emerald green Necron symbols that rolled down the arm, from the shoulder to the tips of the fingers, in seemingly random patterns with spacing every now an then. His fake eye the only one the C'tan had managed to get working had turned almost completely green, its faint light giving McKay's face a demonic look.
The Guard began to raise his shuriken rifle but before he even got it to face McKay's body a single, finger-sized silver spear shot through his helmet, piercing the head without any effort. The C'tan's manic grin widened even further as it basked in its first meal. The sweet subtle energies of the Zerfàrim, a million times richer than the stars it had fed upon for the majority of its existence other than that brief, fleeting, moment of indulgence on Naamah. The Guard never truly stood a chance. Withdrawing the long tip of its index finger from the Zerfàrim the C'tan wriggled as more of McKay's nervous system and musculature was invaded by the newly invigorated Necrodermis.
The C'tan sighed in disappointment; starvation almost to the point of ceasing to exist wouldn't be sated with one life. The Nightbringer had slaughtered millions in sheer gluttony after all, not that this C'tan knew or even dreamed of the things the Nightbringer had done. A tiny fraction of its power restored, it vanished from the world again in search of its next victim.
O'Neil stopped firing altogether as their unseen foes seemingly detached from battle. The continuous lessening of return fire till it had stopped at all was at the same time encouraging and foreboding. Taking the small reprieve to take stock of his forces: two of the five I.G.L. riflemen were wounded, gashed on limbs nothing that Samuel couldn't fix, a third was laying on his back in a pool of blood a large tear in his throat; Sheppard was crouched next to Davidenko sweeping his rifle cautiously over the surroundings; Ommarin was behind him, hawk-like eyes glaring into the night and Carter was beside him. Nodding to himself he switched his radio through several different frequencies until he found the right one for Angelus, sometimes he wished he had armor that would do that at a single mental command.
"Angelus, do you read me?" He whispered into the small black plastic device.
There was a moment's pause and a hiss of static before the Marine-Captain's voice boomed through the speaker over the distinctive barks of bolters. "Of course O'Neill. These filthy Xenos are no match for the Emperor's finest. We're heading back to your location."
O'Neill shook his head slightly and readjusted his cap before cautiously peeking over the log he had been taking cover behind for most of the fight. All normal, the forest seemed empty but he knew, or at least he thought, that it was full of Eldar. Shrugging in acceptance of this good fortune he motioned to Samuel to get ready to move the wounded.
Ghen'Hòar tried to calm herself as another of her squad who had yet to retreat to the main body suddenly fell silent, Zerfàrim were supposed to be masters of ambushes and surprise attacks, not to be on the receiving end of them. What remained of her soldiers had regrouped with her the instant two of their squad had mysteriously vanished and dug in, hopefully their backup on its way. A branch snapped to her left and the air sang with shuriken. An ominous green glow permeated the forest just beyond the effective range of their weapons making the forest seem to come alive and radiate malice. Ghen'Hòar narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the source of the unnatural light but couldn't see anything in the darkness. Shaking her head to clear her vision, as shapes in the darkness seemed to dance and twist, she refocused on the area in front of her.
A rumbling started to approach from the right and her mind instantly linked the sound to the armored warriors that were causing the Zerfàrim so many problems. Unnoticed by her the strange green light vanished. With an unspoken command the Guards around her sprang forward to avoid the danger.
Angelus crashed through the forest at a quick jog, a pace that would have killed a normal man if he was wearing the space Marine's power armor. The hairs on the back of his neck had been standing upward for some time now, and judging by the small scowl on Levi's face something was wrong. Vanem's silence was welcome but a little unnerving as well.
Suddenly a massive fork of lightning stabbed through the sky and for a brief moment everything was illuminated in stark white. The three Marines stared at the six Zerfàrim who were frozen in some strange tableau by the sudden light source. Before the rumble of the thunder reached them the forest was alight with the muzzle flashes of bolters and the blasts of plasma weapons. Then the rain came.
At first it was a light spray but that almost instantly gave way to a torrential downpour. The three Marines continued to fire, ancient targeting systems in their armor compensating for the merciless horizontal rain, as they placed themselves between O'Neil's position and the Zerfàrim. Two of the Zerfàrim had gone down in the initial volley, fist sized holes from mass reactive rounds and all consuming plasma still smoking in their torsos. The other had leapt behind cover, as inhumanly precise fire whipped around them, tearing huge holes in the unfortunate trees they dodged behind.
A light hiss in his ear alerted Angelus to the activation of his vox. "O'Neill! Head towards the ruins! We'll wait out the storm and regroup with our forces then!"
"What about McKay?" O'Neill's voice hissed back through the rain and gunfire.
"What of him?" Angelus asked his frown deepening slightly.
"He's up and disappeared." O'Neill replied hastily, a edge of worry in his voice.
"We will search for him." Angelus stated, the gold trimming of his armor glinting in the newest flash of lightening.
A grunt was the Marine's only response but he trusted O'Neill and he knew O'Neill trusted him. The distinctive crack of las accompanied the loud barking of the bolters as red beams tore through the night, providing covering fire for the moving humans.
Levi motioned with his hand, the air simmering around it, small sparks leaping up around his psychic hood, even as he continued to take the occasional shot at the Eldar keeping their heads firmly down. With a swift forward motion of his hand a wave of sky blue incandescent warp fire surged forth.
Never before had the Zerfàrim seen anything like this. Tales from the beginning of their race spoke of the Lanteans possessing strange, paranormal abilities; such as healing foresight and telekinesis. But only the half histories, little more than conjecture and final testimonies from dying soldiers spoke of desperate Lanteans or beings wrapped in light burning away the Wraith with powers like this. The warp fire washed over everything, burning insanely, ignoring the torrential rain which would have doused any normal fire. The two foremost Zerfàrim were simply gone, no evidence of their existence other than the swirling ash were they had been. Ghen'Hòar and the remaining Guard crouched wide eyed as the night was once again illuminated by unnatural light. The awe quickly vanished as a high pitched inhuman scream echoed through the forest drowning out the crackling of the blue flames.
The three Marines were halfway through charging forward in the wake of Levi's psychic assault when their enhanced hearing was bombarded by a blood curdling scream. Just meters behind the remaining two Zerfàrim was what looked for all intents and purposes like McKay. There were three things that set Angelus immediately on edge; one as far as he knew McKay was critically injured and then just vanished, two: glowing green lights meant bad things and three: why was he thrashing around in the mud?
The C'tan wailed in agony as a horrible concoction of emotions raged through it: pain, fear, hate, fury, confusion. All these swirled inside the star god's composite psyche. The blue armored one that had set it on edge since he had returned to the herd of humans had, to the C'tan at least, just tore a hole in the world. It was like looking into infinite nothing, yet something indescribable was there staring right back at you. The pain from being near it alone was intense and a primal urge to destroy it, to make it go away, to banish it beyond memory ran through the godlike being. It could tell on some level that whatever had happened would destroy its mind and body if it ever came into direct contact with it.
The miniature battle had ceased as the strange appearance of McKay confused all parties involved. The bionic eye that the C'tan used focused on all the cattle before it, the programming in the machine subtly feeding targeting data and priority targets into McKay's Necrodermis infested brain.
Angelus watched suspiciously as McKay climbed to his feet while his bolt pistol remained trained on one of the trees the last two Eldar were behind. Getting a better look at the normally timid doctor thanks to the still burning warp fire that cast a strange blue hue over everything. He finally understood the magnitude of the situation. McKay's right arm was alive with hieroglyphs that Angelus instantly recognized as Necron in origin which burned in the eerie green light associated with that race. The right side of his face and neck were covered in silver lines ranging from finger thick at the chin to almost hair thin at the temples that crisscrossed in a mad pattern resembling some strange tribal tattoo and finally the bionic eye, whose rings were normally blood red, glowed with the same disturbing shade of green as his arm.
The bolt pistol moved faster than human eyes could follow, set firmly towards the middle of McKay's chest. "Doctor McKay! What are you doing?" Angelus shouted, his eyes narrowing at the man.
"Angelus." The high pitched reply, like McKay had forgotten how to speak, drifted to the Marine, almost inaudible over the rain.
McKay's body seemed to twitch and the hieroglyphs on his arm melted into different shapes. The silver arm began to raise, a superior smirk on McKay's face. Angelus squeezed the trigger without hesitation, the three round burst screaming through the air towards the C'tan. A mass of tendrils burst forth from the outstretched arm aimed palm first at the Marines. The tendrils caught the first two rounds the explosions leaving blackened dents in the Necrodermis, the third round found its fleshy mark and blew apart the front of McKay's chest. Underneath his shirt a layer of Necrodermis that bore an uncomfortable resemblance to the chest armor of a Necron Warrior absorbed most of the deadly blast, leaving the flesh beneath little more than scorched and lightly cut.
It was enough though to throw his arm slightly to the side, landing the last remaining Guard right in the path of whatever McKay had tried to pull. The world seemed to inhale and suddenly everything was rippling strangely, while the rain seemed to fly away from McKay. The distorted air washed over the stunned Zerfàrim for a few seconds; all around them trees simply shattered, rocks crumbled to dust and the leaf litter covering the forest floor sporadically melted into mush. The sonic assault ended and the Zerfàrim remained in his crouched position for a second before the body fell lifeless to the ground, blood leaking out of every crevice of the armor. The three Marines were doing little better, the Lyman's ear prevented them from ever being dizzy and allowed for selective blocking of sound but it hadn't been exactly designed to stop this. Angelus fell to his knees his sword impaling the ground. Somehow he knew that several of his major organs were damaged, Vanem remained standing, his helmet adding to his level of protection but he wasn't in much a better condition than Angelus if his limp grip on his bolter was any indication. Levi was breathing heavily supporting himself on his force sword, possibly due to a lung collapse but he had another, he would survive. Marines were built to fight in all conditions.
A grunt to his left and a blue blur flashing past him signaled Levi's charge. The Librarian closed the twenty meter gap between him and McKay seemingly instantaneous, leaving his sword sticking straight up where he had previously stood, the halo of flickering sparks around his head meant he actually might have. Beta level Psykers, like most Marine Librarians were, could step outside of time for short periods if the situation called for it, although it was almost as dangerous as tearing open a warp rift.
The C'tan was semi-recovered from the bolt to the chest when a blue blur suddenly appeared in front of it. An armored gauntlet collided with McKay's midriff, doubling him over as plasteel and cremate plowed through his gut. A second hand wrapped around McKay's right shoulder forcing him into a tree.
McKay's face twisted into an image of extreme fury. "Get away from me!" He screamed with his disturbing, high pitched voice.
Levi tightened his grip on the struggling figure in his grasp before he began to pull at the warp around them. A flare of power circled the Librarian's head for a second before the C'tan he had pinned began to spasm. The C'tan writhed in pain as the Immaterium, totally beyond its realm of comprehension, tore at it. The sensation could be compared to an organic being that was dumped into a vacuum without any form of protection. So it did the only thing it could as the warp power washed over it. Threatening with every agonizing second to consume it; it fled, fled back into McKay's subconscious were it was partially shielded from the terrible realm that was the Warp.
Levi let up on his psychic assault as the body in his grasp stopped thrashing and hung limply, the silver markings on his face receding slightly. The Marine stepped back and the body slumped to the wet forest ground, McKay's breathing shallow but steady. Only now did Levi let his injuries catch up with him. Steadying himself against a tree he looked down at the peacefully sleeping McKay and shook his head. Terrans gave him the worst headaches.
A whirring behind him alerted the Librarian to the Tech-Marine's movements. Looking over his shoulder he saw Vanem lifting the last of the Eldar, a female judging by the figure and long silver hair, though with Eldar you could never be sure, onto his shoulder, his servo arm clamped around her thigh to prevent escape. Angelus was mumbling to himself, probably checking up on O'Neill who seemed to have escaped remarkably quickly. Either from the battle or the rain Levi wasn't entirely sure.
Angelus nodded before turning to the two Marines. "Levi, grab your passenger and follow me. Vanem bring that along as well." The Marine-Captain commanded before walking towards the ruined castle.
The Librarian bent down and picked up the sleeping McKay, keeping an eye on the now plain silver of his arm. "Sometimes I wish I'd stayed back on Terra." Levi mused to himself. "But then I would miss all the fun." He concluded, smiling lightly into the night as more lightning stabbed the sky overhead.
Levi took a few steps after his Brothers and snatched up his force sword from its standing position before turning around to face the small battlefield. He focused his mind for a second and exhaled, immediately all the remaining crackling blue flames died, plunging the area back into natural darkness.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
O'Neill wiped the rain from his face and pushed his matted hair off his forehead before replacing his beloved cap. The old castle was proving to be a less than adequate shelter. Most of the roof had collapsed, leaving the stone building exposed to the worsening rain, not the ideal situation. Carter and Sheppard had quickly found their way into a large cellar or dungeon, at this point O'Neill didn't care. The cavernous sub-terrainian hall was mostly dry aside a small puddle here and the, but it was barely tall enough to fit the Marines if they ducked a little. Scattered around were several rotting barrels and a few old tables, placing torches at strategic locations to illuminate the place he got the first good look at their hideout. Not much to look at. With a sigh O'Neill started searching for something to keep himself occupied other than shooting rocks, by the sound of the weather they were going to be here a while.
"I dislike this." Levis mumbled pacing back and forth in the small pool of light.
"Relax." O'Neill replied candidly. "What are you claustrophobic?"
"No!" The Wraith roared drawing a few whines of powering las rifles. "I simply dislike such… underground chambers." Levis said before continuing his pacing.
"Levis calm down." Ommarin said, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Xeno lover." One of the I.G.L. riflemen muttered, making two others grimace at the idea.
"Now's not the time for that." Sheppard hissed at the man, frowning.
"Why not? Why do we keep that thing around when it is an abomination?" The soldier demanded, standing up and pointing at Levis.
"Because he's our ally." Sheppard said internally wincing at defending a Wraith.
"But it's a Xeno! Sub-human! To be purged with fire and sword! As it is written!" The rifleman continued, thumping his fist on the twin headed eagle on his uniform as his voice got steadily louder.
"Yes and that's what we're going to do to the Wraith; but just not this one." Sheppard replied, hoping to calm the man.
"But there are no exceptions." The man countered before turning to face Samuel. "What say you? You, who is the right hand of the Emperor?" He asked the Marine with a small but respectful bow of his head.
Samuel looked at the man's bowed head and then the expectant look on Sheppard's face before he considered his answer. "All Xenos are below humanity. None can stand equal with us; but they have their uses. The Asgard and this Wraith have been accepted as part of His divine plan. The trials of the Chaplin Ishmael have assured us of this. Our faith will be tested at every turn but that is the way of things. So that the weak may be cast aside and the pure led to salvation. Or do you profess that you alone understand the Emperor's will?"
"Of course not! I am but His lowly servant!" The rifleman shouted, a look of terror passing across his face.
"Good, for if you believe in nothing else believe this. If I or any Astartes didn't truly believe that this Xeno or any other that has been graced with His light, had a part to play then they would be dead before they even knew it." Samuel said, a glint of the burning fanaticism that all Marine's shared flickered in his eyes.
O'Neill shivered slightly. He had seen that look many times before, on the faces of Jaffa as they charged relentlessly at the Imperial lines only to be cut down or on the Marines' as they ruthlessly bombarded a planet from orbit, not even bothering to answer the pleas for mercy or the unconditional surrenders. No matter how friendly he got with them or how strange their personality quirks he was always uncomfortably reminded in one way or another that they were killing machines. Implacable, unrelenting, ruthless, oddly funny men; who had been altered and trained in uncountable ways to create the greatest warriors to ever walk the Earth, ah, more precise many planets.
"I understand, I trust in His will alone." The rifleman said, before returning to the others his head still bowed.
"Anyone brought a pack of cards?" O'Neill asked the assembled people, trying to lighten the mood after Samuel's little talk.
"No." Was the unanimous response from the humans and a quizzical look from their resident Wraith.
O'Neill sighed heavily resigning him self. "Fine, guess its nap time for me."
Samuel tilted his head slightly as O'Neill pulled his sodden cap over his eyes and sat propped up against a wall cradling his gun almost lovingly. Most of the I.G.L. riflemen followed their Supreme Commander's exemplar trusting the near legendary SG-1 to look over them except the loud mouthed one who continued to hang his head obviously deep in thought or prayer. Strange, strange people he traveled with.
The tinkle of a pebble falling down stone stairs had the Apothecary's bolt pistol leveled at the door's head height instantly. A black gauntlet clamped onto the side of the doorframe pulling the dripping form of Angelus followed by equally wet Vanem and Levi. On closer inspection both Levi and Vanem had baggage; on the Librarians shoulder hung a sleeping McKay and slung over the Tech-Marine was one of the Eldar they had been fighting.
"I hate this planet." Angelus growled, flicking his armored hands to clear them of water.
"I see you found my wayward patient." Samuel said, nodding at McKay.
Levi and Angelus glanced at each other before the Librarian spoke. "Yes, but I suggest we restrain him."
"Why?" Samuel asked watching as the oddly silent Vanem placed the unconscious female Eldar on one of the rickety tables.
"I'll explain later. For now we need to interrogate the prisoner." Levi said, placing McKay down against a wall and flopping down next to him. Samuel didn't miss the strain in the Marines' voices.
A loud gasp and several muttered curses alerted the Marines to Vanem's reacquired voice. The red armored Marine turned his helmet over several times before muttering a prayer and placing the helmet down on one of the tables. Not even bothering to look at his Brother-Marines he answered the unasked question. "The vocalizer is broken. I must appease the machine spirit and then attempt a repair. Other than that I have avoided major injury." He said, tools starting to appear at his side, his hands moving them in ways passed down among the Tech-Marines for centuries.
"And what about you two?" Samuel asked, turning to the other two Marines.
"Collapsed multi-lung." Levi muttered quietly fixing plastic restraints around the sleeping McKay's wrists.
"I am fine. These injuries will pass." Angelus stated, removing one of the water logged seals from his armor.
"Very well. I'll patch you up after we deal with your guest." Samuel stated with authority only a doctor could wield, as he shifted through the many stimulants he carried for a suitable one to wake their captive.
After waking O'Neill with a power armored nudge in the ribs so he could help in the interrogation; Angelus, Samuel O'Neill, Sheppard and Davidenko gathered round the table, a quick injection later and the Eldar began to stir.
Ghen'Hòar's eyes fluttered open to see a stone ceiling lit by multiple sources of light. Her eyes shot wide open as the memory of the strange silver human and the Imperials flashed through her mind. She immediately tried to sit up but found that an unknown but strong force was pinning her to whatever she was laying on. Turning her head slightly to the right she saw a large black gauntlet holding her shoulder down, attached to a scowling human. On the left a white variant of the same armored hand was holding her down whose younger owner was watching her intently. Looking around she saw three humans two of which bore the twin headed eagle on their uniform.
A grey haired one leaned in closer, his face an unreadable blank. "Now, Hello there! I'm going to ask you some questions and you're going to answer. Okay?" His manner totally different to what she had been expecting.
Ghen'Hòar turned her head away from the human schooling her face into an impassive mask even as she took notes on her captors. The two armored males were far stronger and larger than her, their armor was covered in scars indicating a long history of battle, a blazing sun was intricately painted onto their massive shoulder guards, parchment covered in their strange language hung from them, possibly having some military or, more worryingly, religious meaning. The black armored one was glaring at her, a deep scowl on his face. The white armored male was impassive and calculating. The two in green uniform were the red-haired female who had a look of worry and stood slightly back. The grey haired leader wore the same uniform, also emitting an air of confidence only gained by a seasoned warrior. The final male was dressed in a uniform similar to the other two but it was a deep blue rather than their dull green and lacked the twin headed eagle on the shoulder. Strangely enough he was standing over her almost protectively constantly glancing out the side of his eye at the human in black armor. She couldn't see any other people that had been in the human's group.
"We could use more force." Samuel said, his eyes flickering from his Narthecium and its assortment of drugs and tools down to the defiant woman clad in seamless, formfitting dark green armor.
"I doubt she'd crack." Sheppard muttered, trying to avoid the Eldar having her limbs sawn off by a group of over enthusiastic Imperials. "Can she even understand us?" He added as an afterthought.
"I know something she understands." Angelus whispered drawing his bolt pistol from its holster, his face marred with a cruel smirk that frightened Sheppard a little.
Ghen'Hòar's eyes widened as she felt the cold metal of a gun pressed against her temple. Turning her head back around to see the man in the black armor holding one of the human's projectile weapons, more importantly the type that fired explosive rounds. Closing her eyes she waited for the click of the weapon's hammer and her immediate gory death.
"Now you will answer our questions Eldar scum." Angelus said, his voice level and calm, pushing the barrel of his bolt pistol a little harder into the Eldar's temple.
The female Zerfàrim opened her cold eyes and again stared defiantly at the imposing human that seemed to radiate hatred before looking back towards the blank stone wall beyond Samuel.
"She's not going to answer. Look Angelus, once the storm passes, we'll clear the interference zone and get her back to the Ragnarok and have a proper interrogation there." O'Neill said with a shrug, trying to placate the angered superhuman.
Angelus slowly holstered his bolt pistol, his eyes betraying a slight disappointment but he gave Ghen'Hòar one final withering glare. "Very well O'Neill. Samuel put her under again."
Samuel looked down at the Eldar on the table and then back up at Angelus. "I don't think I can. Not safely anyway. A prisoner in a coma is no use whatsoever."
"Fine, just bind her hands and feet and put her in a corner." Angelus grunted, his frustration with this insufferable situation rising.
"Vanem, could I borrow your servo-arm for a second, and bring some of those iron rings from those old barrels." Samuel said to the working Tech-Marine. Vanem grumbled slightly, but complied.
Ghen'Hòar suddenly found herself weightless as the white armored one flipped her over. Before she could even think of escaping or fighting an iron ring was twisted around her angles and clamped shut by Vanem's servo-arm binding her legs together. Her wrists quickly underwent a similar treatment and no matter how hard she struggled against the metal bands, they wouldn't budge.
Vanem sighed as Samuel picked up the struggling Eldar and deposited her in a corner. So this is what he was reduced to, forging makeshift hand cuffs for prisoners. He missed working on the Emperors Light, the big warp engines he had tended to for so long seemed so far away now. Even working on a Predator or a Land Raider again would have been better than this. With another quiet sigh and a small prayer he returned to working on his helmet. He almost jumped when a spark sent a jolt down his arm; a third sigh escaped his lips. Now the Machine Spirit was pissed at him. Today had been a mediocre day. Little did the Tech-Marine know he would soon miss days like this. Just below them slept a device modified by the Ancients to aid them in their attempts to ascend. It was originally a weapon, a remnant of a long forgotten war, millions of years past. Its true purpose forgotten in the annuals of time.