"Normal speech"
"Gothic around non-Imperials."
"Mental Links."
"Ship Names."
"#Ancient to everyone#."
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Thrans: Why, thank you very much. A suspicious mind is a healthy mind.
AngelForm: Yeah, sorry about the delay. Thanks, but I was trying to move along the separate stories with the small time I had. Humanity is an ocean: If a few drops of the ocean are polluted, then the ocean is tainted.
Skipper 1337: Okay, I'm not too sure about Stuart's team. I think that I have created too many characters and was considering trimming it down at the time I wrote that. Seen as you're the only person to notice I thought that I had gotten away with it. But if you like them I can put them back in. I have concentrated this down to two story lines for you, one of which is ended. The Replicon war should be seen again soon and Ba'al makes a small appearance. The hint to all this was is in the title of the last chapter. For your knowledge a drone can be stopped by some shielding types (Such as Void or Asgard). When the SG-A ships raid the Asurian home world they are depicted as being able to deflect about five or six drones before their shields had fallen dangerously low. Drones have also been used to stop other drones; I can't remember any other weapons being used in such a manner. The Antarctica chair can fire them in volleys of hundreds. A mind without purpose will wander in dark places.
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He pressed himself to the thick tree. Desperately hoping that, somehow, the bark would open up and swallow him. Tears and sweat streamed down his face. His fingers spasmed uncontrollably. The unnaturally cold air burnt all the way down to the bottom of his lungs. His breath hissed through clenched teeth the cloud of vapour swirling quickly away. A strangled half cry was silenced by the sound of tearing flesh.
He was so near the main force. So close to salvation. He thought he could even hear them through the trees. A whimper escaped his parched lips when heavy footsteps started towards him. He clutched his shattered sword to his chest. He began praying and cursing in equal amounts when the footsteps stopped on the other side of the huge tree.
"Tell me, are you afraid?" The voice was smooth, educated with an undertone of unimaginable power.
The scout whimpered again and nodded his head. The thought that his murderer couldn't see it didn't seem to bother him.
"Good." The scout had enough time to recognise agonising pain in his chest as the silver blade burst through his ribs. He collapsed to the side his eyes wide with terror as he beheld the Lord of Death.
McKay looked down at the last of the scout party with apathy. He had absorbed enough energy for the Necrodermis to start awakening more of its programming. The entire military might of the Necrontyr was now at his disposal. On top of that the living metal had stopped trying to convert him into a Necron shell. The semi-sentient metal now acted to merge with its host on the molecular level. Following genetic, sub-conscious and conscious instructions on how to mould its self and the body it now inhabited. The C'tan was ecstatic, happy to sit back and watch as its unwilling warden gathered more and more energy. McKay's mind was slowly cracking under the strain of his new senses. His humanity retreating further and further while he became more detached from his own mortality.
"Let's go." McKay commanded. Turning back to face the woman he was following.
"Yes!" The woman squeaked, trying not to step into blood. Her child just stared at the carnage with detached interest.
An arrow raced towards McKay but before it got within ten meters its burst into flames and clattered to the ground. Turning to face these new obstacles McKay laid eyes on a small band of Calvary. The leader was mounted in full plate armour, a colourful coat of arms painted on the chest; his steed nervously pawed the ground ears flat to its head. Behind him ten other riders tried to keep their mounts steady. Not that they could blame the animals cold dread and death seemed to radiate from the lone man. They were dressed in the standard uniforms of the Count's army. The armoured head swung back and forth allowing its occupant to see the remains of the scout party through the thin visor.
"So you're the one who's been butchering the scouts." The knight said. His helmet producing a strange echo effect. "Most impressive work for a single man." He continued pulling on his horse's reins as it nervously shuffled away from McKay.
This one was arrogant and cowardly. These were new sensations and not favourable ones. They were heavy and bitter. The fear emanating from the men behind him and to a lesser degree from the animals was much better. McKay still slightly repulsed by the way he was now forced to view the world had still taken a liking to fear and rage above all else. He hated himself for it but the sensation was addictive. Rage and fear stimulated all portions of the brain unlike anything else. Imagination, motor skills, senses, memory, logic and emotion everything was invoked by the two.
"Why do you side with the barbarians?" The knight demanded unnerved by the faint green light that seemed to emanate from his targets right eye.
"He has been sent by the Ancestors to free us!" The boy shouted before his mother could silence him.
"The Ancestors? What nonsense. Our Lords or the only true gods." The knight sneered. The men behind him didn't look as sure as the air grew even colder.
The knight drew a long sword holding it over his head he gestured at McKay. "Extra food rations to whoever brings me that man's head!" He shouted spurring his horse towards the woman and child. The beast let out a loud, high pitched, protest but obeyed nonetheless. The other riders looked at each other hesitantly before charging toward McKay. Every last one of them had just signed their own death warrants.
McKay watched the cowardly knight charging at his defenceless guides. His anger flared at the timid move. Lightning danced across his body and ice grew across the earth and trees. Small animals expired from terror and plants withered and died. He raised his silver hand ignoring the men charging him just before the knight reached his targets the Necrodermis fist closed. With the screech of twisting metal the knight in all his armoured glory imploded. The other riders stared in terrified shock at the sight as the ball of twisted iron and crushed human thudded to the floor in front of the terrified horse. The basketball sized lump of metal and cloth leaked blood and other fluids from every conceivable crevice and crack. The horse reared up onto its hind legs its eyes wide and unfocused, forth gathering at the corners of its mouth, before it bolted away from McKay at top speed.
His eyes swept back over towards the oncoming cavalrymen. The Ancient's device that had been implanted in his right eye socket feed data into his brain. Complex equations and measurements were carried out by the small machine. The Necrodermis infesting the device instantly created hundreds of possible movements based on the information that assured victory. Faster than the chemical impulses could be interpreted by the human brain the Necrodermis had already gauged McKay's reaction. Before biology would, should, have allowed; McKay reacted.
His arm came up in a sweeping motion just before the first two riders swings connected with his face. A spike of stone, as black as space, surfaced in a flurry of earth and dead leaves. The black spike gored the first horse it sharp point passing through the poor animal's ribcage with little resistance. The rider on top suffered a similar fate. The spike, now a deep red, emerged through the rider's saddle and continued on through his diaphragm into his heart and lungs. The second rider was struck by a similar spike. With room to manoeuvre he raised his right arm, sickly green sparks danced between his fingers. Energy fields warped and expanded exciting sub-atomic particles and spewing forth electromagnetic radiation. A pillar of Gauss erupted from McKay's hand engulfing another three riders in its deadly embrace. Molecule by molecule they were torn apart by the technology only the Necrontyr dared to achieve.
The blast trailed off after a second, the wisps of Gauss flaying gouges into the trees and dirt. Skeletal remains bleached an unnatural white, were all that remained. Smoking and raw flesh hung to a few of the more shielded bones. In a sick parody of when they were alive the dead men and animals hung in their poses. The ligaments, cartilage and synovial membranes taking a few micro-seconds too either be flayed away or break under the strain. The bone collapsed in a heap; the momentum of when they were a live ploughing them into the ground.
The five that remained, their horses having stopped by themselves, stared at the scene. Jaws hung open, leather leggings ran with urine and other human waste, a collective feeling of utter terror settling into their hearts. They were doomed, so doomed that their minds could hardly comprehend the fact. So they started to crack. One began to laugh the hysterical, shrieking and hiccups filled the silent forest. A loud crack broke the men out of their reprieve and almost gave the animals heart attacks. Their supposed victim was standing amidst the bones of their dead companions.
"Run or fight. Those are your options." McKay said while he held one of the human skulls in his hand. He ignored the remaining riders, seemingly fixated on his morbid conversation.
Something large, black and moving extremely fast smashed into the side of one of the horses. The animal seemed boneless as it was dragged after the projectile. A sound like thunder followed. A second blur came out of the forest taking a large bite out of a tree before ripping an arm off a second rider. The man's screams were drowned out by the deep rumbling. McKay had finished turning his head towards the source of the black iron balls in time to see another two flashes and plumes of black smoke.
The two cannon balls raced towards McKay far more accurate after the ranging shots. Atlantis's head scientist raised his artificial hand. The living metal jumped into action. Silver strands wrapped around the leading ballistic lump. The strands so thin that they shouldn't have been able to hold up a house of cards shredded the iron ball with ease. The shards raced past McKay shredding the plant life behind him. The second bit of round shot simply stopped in mid-air. If one looked closely enough they would have seen the piece of gunpowder propelled iron moving incredibly slowly. However the three remaining riders were too busy running for their lives while the artillerymen and the army they accompanied were too far away.
His eye zoomed in on the threat. More cannons were being brought up and behind them soldiers. Lots of soldiers. Marching towards him. As large as his ego was and how god-like his new abilities were. He had no illusions that he could fight an army on his own.
His inner contemplation was broken when another cannonade raced towards him. He phased out and dove to the side four of the nine projectiles passing through him or around him. He let out a sigh of relief as another three projectiles soared off into the distance. A scream, a child's scream, ruined his chance for peace. The tree that the mother and child had been hiding behind now had a hole, a very large hole, in it. Phasing back in with a sigh he grabbed hold of the two and tried to phase back out. Unfortunately he had no idea how to change the phase of other objects. Instinct and his ability to search through the information in the Necrodermis only went so far. He placed his silver hand on the ground the tendrils working into the earth even as the last two cannon balls bounced dangerously close to them. The twin black spikes from earlier melted back into the ground. A large onyx coloured half dome emerged around the two crouched people. The black rock shook, a crack appearing near the child's head. Sometimes he hated that other peoples' heroism that had rubbed off on him. Damn them and their nobility.
His plan was simple. Simple was good when working on the fly. Draw their attention then run away. Run very far away. Foolproof. Unfortunately for him and the army he faced; Sod (as in Sod's law)was no fool. Plus he had a cruel and vicious god on his side. One that just really, really didn't like people in general.
He dove out of his hiding spot shouting and waving his arms. The artillery crews could only see a small blue figure flapping around like a maniac. Their target was bouncing around in the open. Either he was an idiot or they were about to fall for a plan so convoluted that it boggled their minds. A communal shrug ran through them before they re-orientated the cannons and let rip. They liked the smell of gunpowder in the morning; or afternoon.
Now a C'tan isn't intrinsically evil. Far from it in fact. When they are corporealized they are as knowledgeable as a new borne baby. They just have an entire races knowledge and desire to kill, murder and exterminate crammed inside their heads for the word go. So as you can imagine they take that as the base of their newfound personality and sentience. Everything else comes after that fact. The Star Vampire that reluctantly co-habited McKay's body was probably the most evil and sadistic ever. Period. All other C'tan may have been seen as cruel or malevolent from a human's perspective. But to them it's just entertainment or a way to pass the time. After all human children torture insects in a similar manner. No, the C'tan inside McKay was pure evil because it hated McKay on a personal level. To Nightbringer he would just be the next meal, to the Deceiver an interesting toy; none of them would actually go out of their way to get at McKay. To this C'tan breaking McKay in the most horrible and gruesome manner possible would be the finest of joys. So it came as no surprise that the C'tan had spent its time wearing down McKay's mental stability as well as learning about all of his fears and worries.
The cannon barrage raced towards the now fleeing McKay. A shift in the world went unnoticed by all. Space was fragile. If you understood its most basic components, with enough energy, it could be moulded to your every whim. Using all the power it had mustered the C'tan, for the lack of a better term, bent the space around the cannon balls. Suddenly the very simple ballistic parabola developed a slight bend. There was a scream. McKay whipped around to face the source of the noise. His bionic eye zoomed in showing him every bloody detail in high definition. The child's stomach was mostly gone. Ripped away by racing iron to be smeared all over the forest. The mother was missing most of her head.
McKay stared in shock as the two still bodies slumped against the remains of the black rock. A voice whispered in his head. "You did this. You killed them."
"No." He whispered unable to take his eyes off the two dead bodies.
"You left them. Ran away to save yourself." The voice continued. Full of spite and loathing.
"No." McKay repeated more forcefully.
"You've done it before." The voice whispered conjuring images of all those who had died so McKay and by proxy others may live. "Cowardly. Selfish. Pathetic."
"Shut up." McKay moaned slumping to his knees.
"You are alone. You will always be. Alone."
"Shut up."
"Unloved and unremembered."
"Shut up."
"Murderer."
"Shut! Up!" McKay roared clutching his head to silence the voice. All his fears played out in his mind. All his doubts danced in front of his eyes. Was he like that? Was he so selfish and cruel? His heartbeat pounded in his ears as his mind reeled from the sudden burst of new sensations. The universe spun on its axis and McKay could feel the planet shift beneath him. The answer floated into his crumbling mind. The C'tan danced as the fracturing human psyche pounced on it. Everything in this world existed to harm him. So he was just defending himself. His humanity screamed at him that he was wrong. But the voice in his head drowned it out. In some twisted way that made sense. Yes; everything seemed clearer now. Everything would be alright. Nothing could ever hurt him again.
Alone in a forest clearing, surrounded by death and a C'tan's laughter, McKay finally snapped.
A ball of metal travelling faster than sound approached him. The being that had once been Rodney McKay turned his head towards it. His body demanded energy. Darkness swirled around the kneeling figure as space bent to his will. The artillery crew gaped in terror as a ball of swirling darkness appeared in between the cannons. A silver hand covered in dancing emerald green symbols emerged from the ball and grabbed hold of the closest man. An invisible spark jumped across the powder kegs and the area was engulfed in flames setting the forest alight. All this transpired in less than a second.
As the darkness faded an image that would be associated with pure terror for the remainder of his short life was engraved into the man's head. While he was held aloft by the silver appendage, somehow, untouched by the firestorm around him. A man in a blue uniform and black vest held him. His eyes bore into him; one normal the other black with rings of luminescent green. The look was the same as a man staring down at an ant. Silver lines ran across his face twisting like snakes. A small grin adorned the man's lips.
The army looked on it stunned terror at the frightening image framed by fire. "You are my food. I'm going to eat you." The quiet voice miraculously drifted across to every man in the several thousand strong force. Each and every one of them felt it was addressed to him personally.
A silver tendril pierced through the man's chest. The army collectively sucked in a breath as the air cooled, static crackled in the air, light and sound assaulted their senses. Then the screaming began and the world was bathed in sickly green light.
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Angelus was worried. This man with the appearance of Daniel Jackson was weird. Beyond weird. He had woken up not long after his rescue, muttered a short thanks to them and continued on his way. Then he did a double take. A double take of all things. Before shouting incoherently, while pointing at O'Neill then Angelus. A small lunge latter had the startled O'Neill wrapped in a hug that threatened to shatter most of his ribs. Daniel had continued to ramble while dragging them, actually only O'Neill everyone else seemed to be spared his affections, off somewhere. The man had yet to let go of O'Neill, seemingly terrified that if he did the General would vanish. From the few words he could catch Angelus had formed a very sound opinion; that Daniel was both working on something important and that he was quite, quite mad.
"Home!" Daniel bellowed throwing open a rusted door. The thick slab of iron screeched at the hinges.
Inside was a large cavernous space. Lining the walls were huge computer terminals that wouldn't have looked out of place on a Battleship's bridge. The screens constantly flickered through short segments of film or pictures. One wall showed Replicon ships and forces overrunning their Imperial counterparts. A large dog-eared picture of a semi-dissected Pariah was hung in between a pair of computers. The opposite wall consisted mainly of a montage of Wraith attacks mixed in with glimpses of smaller, sleeker vessels. The centre was a huge table that had piles upon piles of data slates, paper and other media. However dominating the room at the far wall was a disturbingly familiar floating black object.
"What the hell is that doing here?" O'Neill shouted pointing at the Dodecahedron.
"I'm studying it." Daniel hissed rummaging through his table. He grinned while pulling out a large sheet of plastic. "See." He said gesturing at the transparent map. "This energy spike was detected at the same point we found this." He said enthusiastically, while gesturing offhandedly at the black object.
"Okay. How'd you get it to... wherever here is, so fast?" O'Neill asked; somewhere in the back of his mind a part of him prepared for the utter insanity that the Stargate had brought to his life.
"Oh, a team retrieved it after the Zerfàrim and Wraith moved off." Daniel said happily. He threw down the map and dove into the piles once again.
"What's a Zerfàrim?" Ommarin asked, throwing irritated looks between O'Neill and Daniel.
"Well she is. Right?" Daniel answered gesturing at the bound Ghen'Hòar.
Angelus rounded on his captive. A look of hatred on his face. "I knew you Eldar were dishonourable. But to align yourself with such... Creatures." The Astartes let out a deep growl.
Ghen'Hòar glared at the Marine. The very insinuation that Zerfàrim, who were born and raised to fight the Wraith, would ally with them was the highest of insults. It was humans that actually worshiped the malevolent beings. It took all her pride to not snap back at the arrogant human. So she settled on sharply turning her head away.
"Huh? No one's allied with the Wraith, both sides just use them as cat's-paws." Daniel supplied.
A pin dropping would have sounded like a small nuclear detonation in the ensuing silence. O'Neill was doing a impressive impersonation of a fish, Ommarin eyes had lost all focus, Ghen'Hòar was doing her best to stop the impulse to scream and Angelus, well Angelus looked all too eager to start torturing Daniel.
"Daniel Jackson. Sit down and explain what you are talking about." It was his deceptively calm voice. O'Neill started to slowly back away, he still remembered the long gone event where he had heard that tone from the Marine, a move mirrored quickly by Ghen'Hòar and Ommarin.
Daniel looked extremely confused as an armoured hand all but threw him into one of his rickety chairs. "Well the war of course." The Archaeologist stated like that would clarify everything.
"The Replicons?" O'Neill queried. If they had made it to Pegasus then what had happened to the Milky Way. To Earth.
"No." Daniel said with a grin. He seemed to be enjoying himself despite the threatening atmosphere. "The Zerfàrim."
"Okay. I'm officially confused now. Didn't you people only run into each other like a day ago?" Ommarin questioned.
"Yes." Both O'Neill and Ghen'Hòar answered together.
"Yesterday? It's been over four years since the Ortus Veriumas Incident." Daniel said looking confused. Suddenly a light came on in his eyes. He began laughing. Not just small chuckles but full blown cackling that echoed through the room. "I was right! All this time and I was right!" He shouted in between laughs.
"Daniel, come on buddy help me out here." O'Neill pleaded as his friend's body convulsed with laughter.
"Ah, okay. From the beginning?" The scientist asked wiping his eyes clear of the tears that had formed during his rampaging attack of laughter.
Receiving rounds of nods he jumped into his collection of data. "Okay. In the beginning there was the Second Imperium of Man and it was at war with the Replicons."
"Daniel Jackson we know this." Angelus ground out.
"I know." Daniel chirped cheerily. "But they don't." He said motioning towards Ommarin and the very confused Ghen'Hòar. "Anyway. The Replicons were slowly defeating the Imperium." Ghen'Hòar perked up at that. As obviously unhinged as this human was he was spilling the history of the Imperials for her benefit. However a part of her mind registered that her musings about the humans' strange tactics had been dead on precise. A fact that pleased and frightened her at the same time.
"Daniel." O'Neill growled, noticing Ghen'Hòar obviously sparked interest.
"Right. So three Battleships came to Atlantis. We kicked some ass. The Yggdrasill was damaged. I was injured. The Fenrir and Ragnarok went off to Ortus Veriumas. There we were attacked by or we attacked the Zerfàrim. You." He said pointing at Angelus with barely disguised rage. "You started some insane campaign to capture the downed Zerfàrim Frigate. You got everyone killed!" Daniel roared. He threw himself at Angelus. A badly aimed punch smashed into the Space Marine's Power Armour. A sickening sound of cracking bone made even Angelus wince. O'Neill pulled the raging scientist off the Angel of Death before he could hurt himself even more. A kick smashed into Angelus's armoured groin. The Brother-Captain frowned while Daniel screamed bloody murder over his broken ankle.
"Daniel! Daniel, calm down!" O'Neill shouted drowning out the smaller man.
"No! It's his fault! It's his fault everyone's dead! Him and that bastard Goa'uld!" Daniel screamed fighting against the much stronger O'Neill.
"A Gou'uld?" Ommarin muttered, looking just as lost as Ghen'Hòar.
Suddenly O'Neill's face was set in stone. He punched Daniel in the face before grabbing him by the shoulders. "What about a Snake?" He growled.
Daniel's eyes flickered between O'Neill and Ghen'Hòar. "Ask her about their precious hero Sàdo'Kel." He spat the name with such hatred that it took O'Neill by surprise. He had only over spoken about Apophis with such venom.
All eyes turned towards the female Zerfàrim. Her survival instincts kicked in and she no longer felt the need to withhold information. "He's my second in command aboard the Kaerathaì Baermon." She said.
"Really? Because he's a Cadre leader in the forces of the Heavenly Depths of Zerfáron." Daniel said. "Due to his experience opposing overwhelming human aggression on Ortus Veriumas." He continued his voice taking on a bitter tone.
"So how do you know he's a Goa'uld?" Angelus demanded. He had never pegged the pacifist Archaeologist to hold so much rage.
"Here." Daniel got up from his seat and wandered over to a seemingly random computer.
Ghen'Hòar leaned closer to Ommarin. The person who seemed most unlikely to kill her. "Do you know what a Goold is?" She asked.
"Not a clue." Was the ex-Master of Blades curt answer.
One of the many screens that had been displaying Imperial, Wraith and the occasional Zerfàrim ship locked in battle or spilling their crew into the void flickered and changed to the face of a rather impressive and stern looking middle aged man. "This is a live ship to ship recording." Daniel stated.
"Humans of the Second Imperium. You have caused much grief to us these last few months. You senseless aggression must be curved. The war has begun. Our vengeance will be had. Those who stand against us shall be destroyed." The man spoke perfect Gothic. A hint of a smirk appeared at the last statement. A flash of golden light appeared in his eyes just as the image died.
O'Neill was angry; he knew what the eye flash meant. But it was Angelus who understood the message. Ghen'Hòar almost squeaked when the Marine and General rounded on her. She, in all her life, had never seen such anger. "What is that doing here?" O'Neill hissed.
"What?" Ghen'Hòar asked. She was getting scared now. The mad one was looking around dreamily, the black one was glaring with such intent she could almost feel his hands around her neck, the female seemed just as confused as her and the grey haired leader was almost as angry as the black one.
"They don't know what a Goa'uld is." Daniel muttered running his hand over the computer's keyboard. "You think dealing with the Wraith would leave them open to new ideas." He said with a sigh.
"Daniel just what the hell is going on?" O'Neill moaned. Suddenly looking very old and tired now that his anger had faltered.
"The abridged version is that the Ortus Veriumas Incident led to a series of skirmishes between the expeditionary force and the Zerfàrim. They have this net of sensors all over the galaxy. So they intercepted us every time we tried to go anywhere. The Fenrir was heavily damaged in a battle with one of their Capital ships before it could escape. The Yggdrasill's Machine Spirit shut itself down, so we turned it into a space fortress. All this time the Replicons were being held back by the new Nova cannons. It looked like we were actually winning." He sighed in sadness at the hopeful expressions on Angelus and O'Neill's faces.
"You think the Pariahs are all dead. Don't you? They're not. After Smith they infiltrated deeper and always stayed away from Marines before activating. Over a third of the ship yards were sabotaged in a single day. In a single night of murder and explosions they tore the Imperium into little chucks. Running battles ensued as old factions blamed one another; Jaffa attacked Tok'ra, human factions assaulted each other, War-Lords that had all but been exterminated built massive armies out of the disconcerted populace and plundered the undermanned East. The entire Galaxy imploded as the Replicon agents tore our industry apart. Our empire died in a single day." He paused at the terrified looks on both Ghen'Hòar's and O'Neill's face. Although for different reasons.
"And what happened to Earth?" O'Neill dreaded the question. He already knew the answer but he needed to hear it.
"The Replicons were breaking through the thin line of ships that didn't desert or simply charge to their deaths. The fleets were slowly worn down buying useless time for the Expedition. IOA decided to try and evacuate." Daniel paused, a look of sorrow and anger flashing across his face. "Over two billion people were sent through the Stargate. While the other four and a half billion were loaded onto ships. The Pariahs had gotten onto the ships somehow. When they were in the atmosphere the hyperdrives were detonated. Earth was scorched of life across sixty percent of its surface and all four and a half billion died in a single white flash." Everyone just stared. O'Neill and Angelus because they couldn't believe how many people had died. Ommarin and Ghen'Hòar were equally stunned by the death toll but the fact that human populations existed in such numbers. And on one planet! The idea terrified Ghen'Hòar.
"With Terra gone. Well." Daniel just shrugged. Angelus could picture the devastation. Terra was the birth place of humanity, the seat of the Emperor. Only Horus, he cursed to even think of the name, had even come close. "The already fracturing galactic stage went nova. Everyone fell upon each other; entire fleets just left their posts to evacuate their home worlds, armies pillaged all they could and left for some of the more distant planets in the East. However Landry managed to impose some form of control. He slaughtered the traitors with a fervour that would make Ishmael proud. Somehow he gathered the scattered remains of the Imperium and took them to, what he assumed was the 'safe haven' of Pegasus. When the refugees and escaping fleets arrived in Atlantis they found a city under siege. The Zerfàrim, after almost of year of constant battle, had established a blockade around Atlantis. That shouldn't have been such a problem but they had also convinced several planets to deny trade. As you can imagine a hungry, scared and desperate remnant of the Imperium didn't take that too well. They fell upon the startled Zerfàrim. They were unprepared for fleets of such magnitude; the entire Zerfàrim blockade was either slaughtered or fled for their lives. That galvanised them against us. Landry relieved Weir, she was at the end of her tether by this point anyway, and he set about re-establishing Atlantis's place in Pegasus. He had brought at least fifty percent of the entire Imperium's fighting force. Initially the Zerfàrim tried to oppose us directly like before but through sheer numbers they lost, both sides butchered each other but while overall superior regarding technology, they had nowhere the same number of ships. Then, at the behest of Sàdo'Kel, human worlds started to rise against their 'Imperial oppressors'. Then some nearly insane diplomat had the idea of dropping subtle hints to the Wraith about which planet was 'open season' and which wasn't." Everyone just stared at Daniel. "Of course the very thought was opposed with extreme vehemence. But after several Wraith attacks on important military bases and one civilian convoy. Well let's just say it became no-holds-bar. The newly formed People's Republic of Pegasus, backed by the Zerfàrim of course, declared war on the Imperium in Exile and here we find ourselves. The Zerfàrim are bloodied and have retreated from centre stage to direct from behind, the human's of Pegasus are divided into for and against us, we're living in squalid refugee camps taking what we need from the locals and the Wraith are being subtly fed by both sides. No one has any idea where the Replicons are and the Zerfàrim are far too engrossed in their lust for vengeance over the 'unprovoked human attack' and following massacres to even listen to our warnings about the world eaters. So here we are awaiting emerald green death to find us again." Daniel finished with a slight shrug
"Wait! How do we know this is real?" Angelus demanded, drawing his Power Sword and aiming it at Daniel.
"Umm, I don't know. Pinch yourself?" Daniel offered meekly earning him an annoyed glance from O'Neill.
"What are you talking about?" Ommarin asked, as Angelus swung his sword around while O'Neill was deep in thought.
"We're trying to think of a way to prove that this isn't an illusion." O'Neill said to her while trying to stop Angelus from attacking the walls.
"An illusion?" Ghen'Hòar was very confused. Where had that idea come from? They had just learned that their entire civilisation had crumbled, and hers was locked in some bizarre form of vengeance-driven bloodlust, but they were mucking around about illusions or some other piece of madness.
"It wouldn't be the first time. Virtual reality, mental powers, dream states, Replicator assaults lots of other weird stuff. It happens more than I would care to admit." O'Neill replied.
"This is all a lie. There is now way we could have failed so horribly." Angelus growled. He was staring at Ghen'Hòar with absolute hatred.
"Look, there's nothing we can do." O'Neill sighed and a small smile grew on his face. "So we'll just have to go on faith."
The Space Marine growled at the veiled reference to the Imperial Cult but relented with a nod. The one called Daniel had been watching the proceedings with such joy that is was beginning to freak Ommarin out a little. There was a level of joy you could get from watching two men argue before it got weird. And that line in the sand was long gone.
She coughed into her hand to get every ones attention. "If we could get back on track."
"Right. So what now?" O'Neill groused turning on Daniel.
"Well..." There was a disturbingly happy glint in the Archaeologist's eyes. "I could try and send you back."
"Back?" Ommarin asked.
"Yep! I've just got to activate that." Daniel said waving at the large Furling object.
"Okay. So get to it." O'Neill ordered.
"Not yet!" Daniel almost screamed. He jumped out of the seat and flew into the pile of data. "See this! When it arrives you." He said pointing forcefully at Ghen'Hòar. "Have to convince them to ally with us against the Wraith!" He finished holding up a fuzzy picture of a large ship. The vessel was long and thin. The front ended in a rounded shout, it bulged in the middle were a four small fins extended out, two on the keel and two at the sides. Towards the ends it thinned again ending in a group of large engines. It looked decidedly like a ridiculously enlarged Tiger shark just with guns, lots of guns. The rounded front was pockmarked with many larger weapons. Small Zerfàrim ships, marked by the blurred areas floated around it; at least one was in the throes of death.
"Giirathar`Jetai." Ghen'Hòar whispered. Shocked that the Imperials had such a detailed picture of their strongest offensive ship.
"Oh! So that's what it's called." Daniel shouted, seemingly pleased as he scribbled on the picture.
"Daniel Jackson. The Wraith, why are they there?" Angelus asked. A worried look flashed across his face when Daniel started to whisper to the picture in his hands.
"No one knows. But my theory was that the energy spike attracts them." Daniel replied flying over to another computer. He hissed at the machine before typing frantically.
"You, Eldar come here." Angelus ordered.
Ghen'Hòar looked very worried, her eyes flickered between the grey haired one and the black armoured one. The female took her by one of her, numb, arms and led her towards the two others.
"Play nice." O'Neill muttered, earning him a frown from Astarte.
"Do you agree to this?" Angelus demanded. He towered over the smaller silver haired woman, his eyes demanded an answer.
"Yes." Ghen'Hòar conceded after a long pause. She would do anything to avoid this future. Her duty and consciousness demanded it.
"Emperor help me." Angelus muttered before moving around and behind the Zerfàrim. She flinched when the bindings were suddenly ripped off by the superhuman. "We're trusting you. I know you have no reason to believe us but if all this is the work of a Goa'uld. Then I will rend its soul in half!" Angelus roared the iron in his hand screeching in protest as it was mercilessly crushed. Ghen'Hòar swallowed heavily at the display of strength. "Don't make me regret it."
"Just what is a Goold?" Ghen'Hòar asked rubbing her bloody wrists to get some feeling back into them; wincing as she ran her hands over the cuts.
"Goa'uld. They were, are a race of parasites that infect a host body and take it over. Doing this they gain all the host's memories and abilities." O'Neill rattled off. He'd been dealing with them for so long the description just rolled off his tongue.
The words of her brother smashed into the youngest of the Ghen'Hòar family and she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. "I see and how... how does this happen?"
"Normally through the back of the neck. But sometimes through the mouth or even lower back." O'Neill replied. The aged General frowned as the Zerfàrim in front of him seemed to be lost in her thoughts.
"Sounds like the perfect infiltrator." Ommarin stated, she was repulsed by the idea of such a creature almost as much as the Wraith.
"Yup they are. Ruled over two thirds of our Galaxy while posing as gods. And apparently one got into the Expedition force." O'Neill muttered, the long and laborious process of screening for Goa'uld was skipped in the haste to assemble the force and the, apparently wrong, understanding that the parasitic menace was eradicated.
"Okay! Let's rock!" Daniel suddenly shouted slamming his fist down on his computer.
"Oh Fuck! Daniel what have you done!" O'Neill shouted over the high pitched humming from the machine.
"I am sending you home!" Daniel shouted back gleefully.
The scientist waved happily as a blinding white light was reviled in the centre of the spinning device. Daniel pulled something, a black something, off the computer terminal and put it against his head.
"Daniel don't!" O'Neill roared. Charging his friend.
There was a loud bang just as the white ball expanded out of the spinning machine. The last thing O'Neill saw was the ruins of Daniel's grinning face. Then darkness.
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Levi crashed through the underbrush. He had long lost the others that had followed him and Ronon Dex towards the explosion. If the situation hadn't been so dire he would have been impressed by the man's ability to keep up with him. For now he was just glad that there was another set of hands.
Terrifying thoughts ran through the Space Marine's head. If the C'tan was somehow on the loose; again. Emperor help them, and everyone else on the planet. On the other hand McKay might just be using some unknown function of the Necrodermis. So he did what any good Imperial citizen did when faced with danger. He prayed.
Ronon ran as fast as he could. His men long forgotten behind him. The stranger than ran beside him shook the ground with every thunderous step but he paid it no mind. No, he was more focused on the growing coldness in his stomach. Faintly he could here screaming and the sound of battle ahead of him. There was a sudden surge of green light and, much to his shock, the stranger increased his speed. With a frown the Runner pushed his muscles to match the inhuman pace.
They ran in to a scene that would have been more at home in an artistic depiction of hell. Bodies. Lots and lots of bodies. Hundreds maybe more beyond the trees. Torn apart, mutilated, some missing entire chunks of flesh others twisted into horrendous tableaus of pain and suffering. Marine and man watched in horror as circle of men swayed in front of them. Hysterical shouting and stabbing as they tramped over each other to jab at something unseen. The circle ignored them entirely, far more interested in trying to kill whatever was in the middle of it.
An inhuman screech rolled over the two before the centre of the circle simply exploded. Men went flying, smashing into trees with bone shattering force. Others were blown to the ground by the concussive force. Then Levi saw it. Perched in the middle. On top of a pile of corpses. A severed arm clutched in one taloned hand. Was McKay.
"By the Emperor." Levi whispered; all Ronon could do was to nod in agreement.
The creature was the epitome of death. The entirety of the creature's visible skin was deep silver that shifted into other colours and patterns that resembled the things around it, much like a chameleon, before returning to silver. The fingers were just long blades, the arms bulged with muscles Levi didn't remember McKay having. The tattered remains of McKay's combat vest and blue shirt hung from the creature's torso. The garment covered in so many slashes and holes that it was a miracle it stayed together. His trousers were in a similar state ending in ragged hems just below his knees. Of the one foot Levi could see, the other was imbedded in a man torso, were similar to the hands. Long curved blades for toes, a deadly looking talon on the heel, while most of his weight being placed on the ball of the foot. Sickle-like blades emerged from its back, larger ones running the length of the spine. The face was different from the rest of the body. Instead of a silver version of McKay it was the death mask of the Necrons. Rather that was its general shape, the left eye was closed, blood running from the socket, the other was the deep obsidian black of McKay's implant with its burning green rings. The mouth, rather than the stern thin line of the walking dead, was large open maw filled with row upon row of tiny needle sharp teeth. The rest of the head was silvered similar to the body asides from the, now rather long, hair which swirled in the unnatural wind.
The creature turned its single baleful eye upon the newcomers. For a terrible moment Levi though that there was a spark of recognition in the McKay-beast's eye. With a snarl the creature turned back to its meal. Talons dug into the cooling flesh and needle like teeth tore a great chunk out of the arm. Levi stared in morbid wonder as the human flesh was liquefied by the Necrodermis teeth and then swallowed by its human host.
By this time the army that was now making a rather nice snack for the Star God-man-amalgam was preparing for its next attempt to kill the beast. With a mighty bellow from a man who was suspiciously far away from McKay. The suicidal troops charged again. The McKay-beast growled in annoyance before flinging the severed arm away. The stray appendage smashed into an older soldier's face breaking his nose and felling him with a harsh curse. The creature leapt forward, legs outstretched like a bird of prey. Faster than the poor human in the way of the attack could react McKay landed. The blood soaked talons sunk into his chest, cutting through bone and flesh with equal impunity. The man died without even a startled cry. A mili-second later another soldier was cut down by a speeding claw, literally falling to pieces.
"What is that?" Ronon asked watching with barely concealed wonder and horror as the silver creature in front of him literally tore through the Count's army.
"That is McKay." Levi said drawing his Force Sword. A muttered prayer of activation and the deadly weapon sprang into life. "He is my companion."
Ronon glanced at the shimmering Force Sword and then back at McKay. "Aren't you somehow controlling him?" He asked a hint of terror coming into his eyes.
"At the moment, sadly, I have to say no." The Librarian answered before charging into the fray. "I suggest you stop you people before they arrive here!" He shouted back at the stunned Ronon.
The Runner turned General stared incredulously for a moment at the charging blue behemoth before turning round and running back towards his followers. It would not be good to have them caught up in this blood bath.
Levi forced down the feeling of dread and armour soiling terror that assaulted him as he drew closer to the C'tan-human hybrid. "Through the destruction of our enemies do we earn our salvation!" Levi's battle cry scared the already terrified troops the next couple of steps closer to nervous heart attacks.
The silver McKay ripped a chunk out of a screaming mans shoulder before kicking the unfortunate male away, disembowelling him in the process. McKay whirled round to face the new opponent. Levi stood his ground Force Sword poised to strike down McKay if he charged. Drool poured from the Necrodermis covered human's mouth as it regarded the Psyker. With a screech it lunged.
Levi swung his Force Sword, knocking the extended claw off its path. Using the momentum of the parry McKay kicked out with his taloned foot. An armoured hand caught the deadly limb before it hit. With a grunt Levi swung McKay around him before sending him careering through the air into some of the foolish solders that had once again closed into a circle to watch the battle. The blades on his back sliced and diced the unlucky fools that broke the flying humanoids fall. With a screech of anger the creature flipped back onto its feet. Wisely the gathered remnants of the army McKay had been butchering moved back but still stayed to watch.
McKay crouched low and hissed as blood squirted out of his ruined left eye. A second later the shredded remains of the eye popped out. Levi blinked in surprise when two identical black orbs with green rings stared at him. A tingle in the back of his mind warned him of incoming danger. Diving to the side he was not surprised to hear agonised screaming. Chancing a quick glance as he rolled into a crouch he saw several men on their knees or rolling on the floor. Blood poured from the steaming holes that had once housed their eyes. He had no time to contemplate the power of making eye contact with McKay as the man was upon him once again. Needle like teeth glanced off Auto-Responsive Shoulder Plates, his left claw sailed wide but the right caught the Librarian in the chest. Levi took the blow and rolled back with it planting a foot in McKay's gut once again used the momentum of the metal covered man to toss him away. The claws that had pierced his chest armour were ripped out leaving five long and deep gashes in his blue power armour. McKay thudded to the ground, the added weight of the Necrodermis preventing him from rolling further. The creature screeched in pain when a lightning bolt grounded itself through its leg.
The now twin Ancient devices tracked the charging Marine. The strange glow of a disruption field surged into life around McKay's right hand. Disruption met Destruction in a blast of heat and light; the hand and sword battled for a moment before both parties retreated. Levi conjured a gout of blue flame that arced from his outstretch hand. McKay instinctively ducked under the wave of Warp power. Levi caught the scent of ozone before twin bolts of electricity smashed into the same area as the five slashes. The Power Armour, already weakened, crumbled under the assault. The Librarian fell backwards a blackened, smoking hole in his chest. Only centuries of training saved him from the claw that sliced through the air. Leaning his head back as far a possible Levi dodge the attack, however the tip of the pinkie nicked his nose. His Force Sword sung in retaliation, the Warp empowered blade smashing into the exposed ribs of McKay. Necrodermis and Warp power met and the metal twisted and burned under the Immaterium's influence. The two were thrown apart by the resulting explosion.
The crowd that had gathered to watch stared slack-jawed as the smoke began to clear. This was more like a fight between gods than mortals. And that was a very disconcerting thought for the followers of the Wraith. Although they had been keeping in almost the same time frame both combatants had been fighting outside of what humans perceive as normal time for a while now. Blows were being parried before the attack even started, wounds were appearing seconds after the hit landed, entire combinations of blows were exchanged with the slightest flicker. There were even multiple copies of the two at times. Truly a fight more fit for epic tales around the camp fire. Somewhere an eagle screeched. Before anyone could react the smoke was blown away by the fiery wings of a twin headed eagle that was diving straight at McKay. The creature's eyes widened at the sight before it vanished from sight. That didn't stop the fiery effigy, it continued on unabated. The poor souls in its path got to admire how beautiful it was before they were incinerated by the Warp spawned figure. The fiery beast continued on in a straight line until it was lost amongst the trees.
Levi conjured another wave of Warp fire, this time wrapping it around himself. A high pitched scream echoed throughout the battlefield. McKay reappeared rolling on the ground in the foetal position. Seizing his chance Levi lunged forward, the Warp flames dispelling. The shivering McKay turned its head towards the charging Space Marine. Levi saw the blank face of McKay; he noticed boiling blood seeping from both eyes. His danger senses when haywire and faster than he thought he could move; he ducked. The area behind him became a maelstrom of green energy. The creature sprung into action as the green mist cleared.
The soldiers stared wide eyed at the hole in the ground that had been a good hundred or so men a few seconds ago. As the latest casualties from simply being near such a battle sunk in a unanimous decision was made. Almost as one the reaming army turned and fled as fast as possible back towards where, what they hoped, was the safe refuge of the Count's castle.
A claw sank into the Auto-Responsive Shoulder Plates on both sides. Before the dripping maw of the McKay-beast could close around Levi's exposed head. An armoured fist smacked into the Necrodermis covered gut. McKay made a wheezing noise as the air was forcefully ejected from his lungs. A second fist smacked into the same spot, this time forcing up blood form the creature's mouth. A third punch got the claws to loosen their hold. Before Levi could deliver the fourth, and hopefully, last punch a bladed foot pierced through his right greave. The Astartes winced as he felt the blades slide along his shin bone. That small pause was all McKay needed to release the Librarian and jump back.
Levi glared at the man who was now crouching down all fours watching him. He could feel the blood coagulating around his shin but the muscles were fairly shredded. As one they both threw lightening at each other. The electrical discharges battle for a moment. Before the magnetic fields exerted enough force to push the bolts up and out. Somewhere something dropped to the ground but both were too busy to notice.
Levi stared at McKay waiting for the man to make the next move. He was in no condition to charge such a fast moving target. Levi narrowed his eyes at McKay, still making sure not to actually make eye contact, while the man just sat on all fours and stared back at him. Suddenly the Necrodermis took on a lighter hew. Levi look confused for a second before a blindingly white light exploded off of McKay. The Librarian screamed in pain as his vision became a series of deep blue and black shapes. He heard the crackle of leaves under foot as McKay lunged at him. Spreading his Warp sense as finely as possible he caught the faint glimmer of McKay. Swinging his Force Sword with all the power he could muster, he tried one last ditch attack. The Brother-Librarian was rewarded with a high pitched scream.
Following the noise Levin dove forward. The tip of the Force Sword penetrated through the Necrodermis and into McKay's chest. The blade missed his heart by a few inches. Levi, sensing that he had hit his target, poured the last of his power into the blade. The scream would have been ear shattering. But the Lyman's ear did its job and McKay soon lost consciousness.
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McKay had long withdrawn into himself. The primal instincts of the C'tan driving his body. Now the C'tan had come forth to gloat as the life of its captor faded away. The silver copy of McKay walked closer to the huddled, scared and down trodden consciousness of its jailer.
"I told you this was a temporary thing." It sneered, rattling the few golden chains that remained attached to it. Even now more and more of them disintegrated into dust. It spread its arms wide in a mock crucifixion. "I am the way. (John 14:6)" It whispered taking great pleasure in the whimper that escaped McKay.
The C'tan then extended its hand towards the broken man. As McKay's life faded so did his connection with the Warp and so less energy was required from the C'tan to escape it. Using its new boost of energy it once again spread out into the Necrodermis. A silver line shimmered into view surrounding the C'tan's feet.
"There is a secret song at the heart of the Universe." The C'tan stated. The silver line expanded and began to crawl up the body of McKay's double. "It is the sound of a blade tearing through flesh." The energy being whispered with malicious glee. "I'm going to enjoy singing until the end of days."
Suddenly the C'tan's face twisted into a mask of rage and fear. "What is this!? What have you done!?" The Star Vampire roared. McKay's head shot up at the scream.
The C'tan's body was turning black from the feet up. The angry god turned on the startled human. McKay stared into his dark mirror as the thing slowly died. The darkness moved faster up the C'tan's body as it tried to reach out and throttle McKay. Suddenly McKay felt better hell, he felt great. The C'tan glanced down at the invisible floor; a thin silver line connected him and McKay.
"How did you?" It asked as its arm turned to onyx.
McKay just looked stunned as the coldness that was spreading from his chest was beaten back.
The C'tan snorted at the dumbfounded look on McKay's face. "Of course. Useless to the end. Eh, Meredith?"
All that remained of the Star God was its head, the rest of its body frozen as black stone. The Necrodermis line pulled back to McKay, several green Necrontyr hieroglyphs floated on the tail end.
"I fucking hate you." The C'tan hissed. Suddenly a ridiculously thin pillar of pink flames burst into life behind the C'tan. "I really fucking hate you." It muttered as the few remaining golden chains tightened up dragging it towards the pillar of flame.
Unable to resist, the C'tan was dragged closer and closer to the mental representation of McKay's pitifully small Warp connection. With one last tug the creature was pulled into the flames. The black body instantly started to dissolve. To say the scream was world ending was not even close. It would have roused the Emperor. But it was all to no avail, McKay just watched as his tormentor was slowly dissolved by the pink light. As the last vestiges of the black body crumbled to nothingness the silver head began its decomposition. The screaming stepped up a notch and McKay covered his ears in fear they would melt from the sonic assault.
"Meredith!" The head screeched. Suddenly green flames sprung up around the C'tan's head which had been reduced to little more than a skull. "Look upon you burning soul! If this dream of yours can come true, what of your nightmares?" If a skull could smile the C'tan would be grinning from ear to ear. "But it is still too early for you to believe." It whispered, mostly to itself, as the green flames died and the silver bone was consumed by endless sea of energy that was the Warp.
McKay just stared at the fading pillar of pink light. He was alone. No laughter. No mocking. Jut silence. Endless silence. But the damage was done. He could feel a part of his humanity had died. Taken by the C'tan's cruel machinations and his need to reconcile his cannibalistic actions. But for now he was free!
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"Levi?" The Librarian flinched at the voice. He looked down, blinking several times to clear the spots.
"Yes." He answered, making no move to remove the sword impaling McKay.
"You okay?" The tone was sincere enough. Even around the rasp caused by the punctured lung. The cold dread had dissipated and at least their errant doctor was talking again. So with a sigh the Marine decided to just accept this newest twist.
"Not particularly." Levi answered. Slumping down against a tree, he would later wonder how McKay was awake; never mind talking with a Force Sword through his chest.
"Oh." There was the sound of a blade being pulled through flesh as Levi's Force Sword levitated out of McKay. The Librarian quirked an eyebrow as the ancient blade floated over to him. "That's better." McKay muttered. Levi noted with detached interest that fine silver strands pulled the two sides of the wound together, closing it up pretty fast.
"Help will arrive shortly." Levi stated, his armour was in no condition to even fight off a small band of solders and McKay looked ready to die on his feet.
"That's good. I'm hungry." McKay muttered drifting in and out of sleep.
"After feeding on all those people?" Levi asked. He was genuinely surprised.
McKay cracked open an eyelid. "Not for that. Normal food. Anyway, you did kill me." He said without any malice. Levi was a bit annoyed at the world. Sometimes it was hard to be him. Several running battles, a couple of mind walks, one C'tan exorcism, some weird black ball thing, then a battle against a super-powered ultra-predator. Life was hard. He dismissed the morose thoughts as his rescue party drew closer. Seemed Ronon wasn't very good at listening to advice. Ah whatever, all's well that ends well.
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A long finger ran over the still image. The darkened room was illuminated by the yellowish glow from the huge screen. A smirk adorned the finger's owner as he watched the battle again. A glass of the finest wine sat ignored as the two figures tore at each other ignoring the laws of physics as he knew them. A silver hunter with the power of absolute terror and a blue guardian with the ability to command the elements. Most worthy prizes.
It seemed letting his Runner have his little rebellion had gotten more than experience for his human slave-soldiers. What a wonderful life it was. Maliciously intelligent yellow eyes focused on the screen as two streams of lightening battled in the air before shooting up wards and destroying the recon device. A truly splendid display of power.
"I simply must have them." The Wraith whispered to the darkened air. His smirk widened as the video looped again.