Chapter 5

Collaborations

Thor explained that in one of their recent battles to destroy the replicators, one of their vessels crash landed on a planet inhabited by humans, maybe slightly less advanced than they are on Earth and under the Asgard's protection. The ships signal was lost soon after it crashed but it confirmed that there were survivors and he needed their help to discover the whereabouts of the vessel and its crew so they can be retrieved before they are detected.

"Ahhhh, Roswell all over again!" exclaimed Jack getting a mental picture of the situation.

"Indeed!" replied Thor. "The co-ordinates are in place and we are about to enter hyperspace, I suggest you both get some sleep while I attend to your injured companion."

Jack was about to speak when Daniel took the words right of his mouth. "Is there anything we can do to help?" he asked.

"Your presence will only be a hindrance" added the Asgard bowing his head.

"You're probably right, Ok then, sleep it is!" Jack replied, knowing full well that he probably wouldn't get a wink of sleep that night, no matter how much he tried.

…..

Once in the Othala galaxy, Thor allowed Jack and Daniel to remain asleep for several hours before beaming them down to the planet surface and to the last known source of the stricken vessels signal.

The two of them were quite relieved when they were beamed close to a farmhouse surrounded by several outbuildings, where they conveniently borrowed some clothes from a nearby washing line before deciding to blend in with the locals.

Drawn by what smelled like sizzling bacon and sausages they came across a small tavern with a VERY friendly landlady, who fed them a hearty breakfast and took quite a shining to Daniel, which helped considerably when it came to paying the bill. After several hours of finding nothing of relevance they proceeded to the next village.

The surveillance of the district continued and Jack reported back to the "Daniel Jackson" every evening as they settled down for the night, but after several days of searching and still no clues, they wondered whether the ship had crashed there at all.

On the third day, Jack became concerned when Thor didn't reply to his hails and as he stared up at the night sky from the barn they had decided to settle in for the night he thought of Kate and wondered how she was.

…

On board the Asgard ship Kate blinked and slowly opened her eyes. She had no idea she had been out cold for the past three days but breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she realised she could feel movement in her finger and toes. She took a deeper breath and wretched at the smell of rot and decay then shuffling around in the dark she wondered why she was on a cold metal floor. As she became accustomed to the dark she realised she was inside a large metal cage inside an even larger metal clad room. She ached as she tried to move but managed to stand and wobbled over to the bars which she grabbed hold of and shook, making the cage rattle.

"It would be wise not to attract their attention" the Asgard by her side added softly

Kate looked down, she jumped slightly as he was somewhat of an alarming sight crouched in the darkness. She looked closer and saw that the alien creature was badly bruised and had several scratches and grazes on his body. "What happened to me, where are we?"

The Asgard spoke in a soft voice "What is your last recollection?" he asked.

Kate told him what she remembered "I was in the domed garden, I was up a ladder pulling down some vines, I turned and lost my footing and I was on the floor and this bright light… Kate paused "Oh Jesus," she cried.

"You are quite alive I assure you, although I cannot guarantee for how long," answered the Asgard. "I beamed you aboard my vessel 'the Daniel Jackson' you have been unconscious for three days while I operated on the injuries you sustained from the fall."

Kate interrupted him, "Daniel, Jack were they also beamed on board your spaceship?"

The Asgard continued "Yes, they are on the planet surface to which we are orbiting and they are now probably wondering why we are not answering their communications.

It was during their last transmission that there seemed to be a "glitch" as O'Neill had referred to it in my vessels systems and unbeknown to me my vessel was boarded by these creatures who have perpetrated the ship and are locked on to it with their own vessel.

"Creatures?" Kate turned from the Asgard and looked around the dank space for signs of the creatures.

"It seems they were interested only in commandeering my vessel and not as much in us, that is until they are hungry. Fortunately, your AROMA was abhorrent to them and they forced me to drag you here perhaps it was the antiseptic I used in the operation."

She realised how difficult it must have been for the Asgard to have carried her no matter how far. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed.

"If that's the case we need to get out of here before they come back. I'm not going to hang around, waiting to be served up on some creatures plate." said Kate as she took his hand gently and pulled him to his feet. "I suppose I have you and my odour to thank for my still being alive."

"You remind me of General O'Neill." the Asgard replied unexpectedly.

Kate could hardly believe what she was hearing. "General' Jack O'Neill?" Kate asked with nervous with anticipation. "I guess he must have rubbed off on me pretty badly."

"He has succeeded where many have failed and he will no doubt continue to do so in his new role." Kate was relieved as the Asgard revealed how he had brought Jack out of stasis and returned him to earth whereupon he had been offered the post of Brigadier General but getting out of their present situation was much more of a priority.

…..

The bars of the cage were much too close together for even the Asgard to squeeze through. Kate shook the bars again "This is useless!" she cried.

Kate had already determined as there were no key holes and that the locks must be activated from elsewhere. She lifted the Asgard onto her shoulders and steadied him as he reached up but even with arms outstretched he still had several inches to go.

Suddenly the floor quaked and there was a grinding noise, as if a large door had opened.

Kate held her breath at the sound of heavy footsteps trudging towards them and she stood terrified and frozen in fear. She quickly flipped the Asgard down beside her and stepped back. Several warrior type man-beasts, at least 8 ft tall, with shoulders to match their frame and very hairy, approached the cage. The creatures growled as they stared into the cage, snarling like dogs they barred their sharp, pointed, yellow teeth. Kate's chest heaved as she gently shielded the Asgard and waited as the beast-like warriors communicated more in grunts and growls than any language she recognised.

Kate nudged the Asgard behind her and stepped slowly forward. Her hunch proved right, the stench of the antiseptic still lingering on her body made the creatures suddenly recoil, grunting and growling in disgust, they left the cage.

There was a clatter of metal as the doors slid open and Kate and the Asgard held their breaths to listen as the creatures departed.

Kate sighed and shaking violently she took the Asgard by the hand "There's nothing else for it, I'm going to have to throw you, how are you at bouncing? " she whispered.

The Asgard looked at her quite dismayed but realising he had no other choice he gracefully complied as she removed the coat she had found herself dressed in and wrapped it around him. Securing it tightly around his head she positioned herself back from the bars.

Composing herself as much as she could she began to swing the Asgard back and forth in order to get the momentum she needed and with one great heave she launched him over the bars. She ran to the edge of the cage and watched with anticipation as the bundle rolled and stopped several yards away.

At first she was afraid she may have injured the tiny alien but then the bundle began to move and the Asgard wriggled free. Limping slightly he went over to the door which opened automatically and led into a long corridor. The Asgard found the controls that opened the cage door and Kate joined him in the corridor.