Here we go...
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Thor's ship came out of hyperspace just as Sam and the rest of SG-1 entered the ship's bridge, and they kept their eyes on the large screen in the room as the ship entered orbit around a small blue planet. There was another Asgard vessel already present, at it appeared to be locked in battle with three smaller Replicator ships. Sam felt a bit helpless, just watching as Thor communicated with the other ship and Jade's fingers ran over one of the control panels in the corner of the room. Everything seemed to be happening too fast, and she struggled to pay attention as Jade went over their next move hurriedly.
"Thor is going to be assisting with the evacuation of his people below. I've got to get down to the control room on the surface before the Replicators can corrupt the data."
Thor stepped up to one of the control panels, moving the round stones across its surface, and the wall in front of them came to life with bright lights and symbols.
"The Replicators have overtaken the research facility. I'm afraid we are too late."
Jade stepped up to the wall and shook her head, pointing up at the screen.
"No, it's okay. This isn't unexpected. See this corridor here? That's where I need you to send me." She turned to leave the room, but Jack reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"What, are you kidding? That place is crawling with bugs! There's no way-"
"Sir," Sam interrupted, looking over the screen. "I think I see what she's getting at. The Replicators will be attracted to the most advanced technology first, which means this corridor…" She reached up and ran her finger over the map displayed on the wall. "…should be free of them for now."
"For now?" Jack raised up his eyebrows, tightening his grip on Jade's arm as she struggled to get free. "How much time are we talking about?"
"Dad, please," Jade said, frustration in her voice. "I don't have time for this. I've been over this plan a thousand times. Trust me!"
Sam shifted her gaze from Jack to Jade and back again, watching the gears turning in his mind. Teal'c stepped forward and gripped his weapon in his hand.
"I shall accompany you, O'Neill."
Daniel looked a bit nervous, but he joined Teal'c and nodded to Jack.
"Dad," Jade said, tugging at her arm. "I have to go."
Jack reluctantly released her, his eyes fixed on Sam. She waited for his nod before she crossed the room and picked up her weapon, slinging the strap over her shoulder.
"Mom, you don't have to come," Jade objected, but Sam shook her head, stepping up beside the Colonel.
"You're going to need all the help you can get."
"I will monitor your positions from here," Thor promised. "But my crew and I must first complete the evacuation of our facility." Jack gave him a nod, and Sam glanced around the empty room, suddenly curious about the other Asgard on board. Before she could think too much about it, there was a bright flash of light, and the team appeared in one of the Asgard hallways on the surface.
The smooth, reddish walls curved out and upward, the ceiling stretching far above their heads, and the hallway seemed to go on infinitely in both directions. Sam raised her eyebrows at the many openings leading off of the main corridor, but Jade didn't hesitate, immediately starting off to take one of the large, round doorways on the left. Sam grabbed the back of her vest to hold her back, signaling the girl to stay behind her, and they headed off as a group, O'Neill taking point.
The hallway was wide and open, and the sound of their boots stepping across the smooth floor echoed throughout the corridor. Sam could hear Jade almost on her heels behind her, the girl's feet tapping loudly as she tried to keep up.
"I think I want a gun," she whispered, and Colonel O'Neill turned his head to answer her with a scowl. Jade continued to huddle up to Sam as they walked, pointing the Colonel in the right direction when they reached the first fork.
It was only a couple of minutes before the familiar mechanical sounds of the Replicators could be heard behind the walls, and Jade's eyes went wide, her hands clinging to Sam's vest tightly.
"I'm really wishing I had a gun right about now," she whispered.
Jack signaled for the group to stop, and Sam pressed her back against the wall, one hand gripping Jade's shoulder as she watched the Colonel peek around the corner ahead of them.
"Carter," he whispered with a jerk of his head, and she scooted over carefully to take his place, gesturing for Jade to stay put and peeking into the room that opened into the hallway in front of them.
The entire space was crawling with Replicators, their mechanical limbs whirring as they devoured the computer panels within. There were hundreds of them, and she ducked her head back to lean against the wall, trying to keep her fear under control. She turned to look over the Colonel's shoulder and gave Jade a questioning look, but the girl shook her head.
"Keep going," she mouthed, and Sam cringed. Jack looked thoughtful for a moment before turning back to face Teal'c and Daniel.
"Keep your weapons down," he whispered. Sam liked this plan. Hopefully, the bugs wouldn't see them as a threat, and they could pass by unnoticed.
She went first, holding her breath as she walked slowly past the doorway, her weapon slung behind her back. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched the bugs skittering over the computer panels, occasionally spitting out a spray of liquid to break down the metals in their path. They didn't seem to pay her any attention, and she reached the other side quickly, turning to nod to O'Neill.
Jade was next, stepping as far from the opening as she could and running her hands across the back wall as she tip-toed past the doorway. Once she was across, she raced back to the other side of the corridor, squeezing her eyes shut and pressing her face to Sam's shoulder.
Daniel and Teal'c crossed carefully, followed by the Colonel, who kept his eyes on the Replicators and one hand on his gun the entire time. Once everyone was across, Teal'c took the lead as they continued down the corridor.
Sam kept a hand protectively on Jade's vest as she walked, and before long, the girl pointed to a closed door towards the end of the hallway. She stepped past Teal'c and ran her fingers over the control panel, the door sliding open smoothly.
"We don't have much time," Jade said nervously, hurrying into the room and up to the computer panel on the far wall. She pulled her pack off of her shoulders and dug out several alien devices, connecting one of them to the panel in front of her. As soon as the rest of the team was inside, Sam closed the door behind them and stepped up beside Jade. The girl's fingers were flying over the panel's surface, and Sam tried to keep up with what she was doing as Jade slid the crystal into a small slot to her right and watched the symbols appear on the screen.
"I was afraid of this," she said quietly.
"Oh, for crying out loud, what now?" Jack asked in irritation, leaving his place by the door to step up next to Sam. Jade continued to run her fingers over the computer panel as she spoke.
"The Replicators have already gotten into the computers. The research will have to download manually. It's going to take a while."
Daniel looked back over at the door and repositioned the weapon in his hands.
"Uh…how long is a while?"
Everyone looked over at Jade, and her eyes shone as she spoke.
"Too long for all of us to stay here. I'm really, really sorry. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this. Please don't be angry."
Sam shared a confused look with Jack. "Jade, what-"
The next few seconds all happened so fast, Sam hardly had time to blink. Jade jumped away from the computer panel and rushed up to Daniel, swiping his pistol from its place against his thigh. Before Daniel could react, she reached down at hit something on the strange device on her wrist, and Jade's sorrowful expression was the last thing Sam saw before the bright light that took them all back up to Thor's bridge far above.
As soon as they realized what had happened, Sam heard Jack curse under his breath as he stepped up to Thor, who was standing with a small group of his Asgard crew, all of them looking at SG-1 in surprise.
"O'Neill, what has-"
"Send us back down," the Colonel demanded.
Thor fiddled with the controls in front of him for a moment and slowly shook his head.
"I cannot. It appears I have been locked out of transport controls."
"What?" Jack hissed. "Well, fix it. We've got to get back down there."
Daniel looked concerned, and he ran his eyes over the symbols on Thor's computer panel.
"What about the evacuation on the planet?"
"It is complete," Thor replied. "We must soon retreat from this position."
"No, wait!" Sam scanned the room in a panic, trying to think. Noticing the hologram platform in the corner, she pointed to it eagerly and reached out to grab Jack's arm. "Colonel, he can project us down. Maybe we can get her to release the controls."
He nodded and hurried up onto the platform, pulling Sam up by her vest to stand beside him.
"How long before you have to leave?" he asked sharply.
Thor scanned the screen in front of him.
"One of our ships has been damaged. It will take a short time to repair. We will use my ship to protect it until the repairs are complete." He blinked his eyes and turned his head sideways. "Perhaps twenty of your Earth minutes."
Jack nodded and stood up straight on the hologram platform.
"Twenty minutes. Terrific," he mumbled. "Alright, then. Send us down."