Shanisia knew Layonna had not given up. She may have left the area, but she was no longer true to her kind. Bariasta and the others could do nothing because they could not cross between the realms as Layonna could. She had changed through the decades and as time passed she'd become an outcast amongst her own kind.
"Shanisia, if you go after her now you could die," Bariasta said.
"If we do not stop her she will return."
"If she gets what she wants she may leave. It is worth one man's life to live in peace," another said.
"Colonel Mitchell does not deserve what has happened to him. He is not even a Talosian," Shanisia told him.
"All the more reason we should not interfere," Barista told her.
"I thought you wanted to stop Layonna and the harvesting," Shanisia said and realized there were only two others standing with her.
"We do, Shanisia, but we have grown old and weak since the last harvest. The changes made to your people would help make us strong, but that does not happen anymore. I am not asking that your kind should accept what we have done to you in the past, but you must understand that we are not as strong as we once were. To stop Layonna you must harness the gift of the Chagris and perhaps you will also find the way to help Colonel Mitchell and your people."
"We will find a way to defeat her, Bariasta, even if it means our deaths are on your hands," Shanisia said and turned away. She turned away from the creatures and spread her wings wide before taking flight. She could feel two others do the same and hoped they could defeat Layonna and free her people from the curse they'd lived with all their lives.
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Carolyn Lam looked at the people who seemed to be lost on their own world. Most looked like they'd been put through hell, and the truth was, they probably felt that way. The ones she'd spoken to had family in the other realm and felt sorry for what they'd been put through. She turned back to the entrance to the building and debated whether or not to check with Ryan Thomas, but she didn't want to interrupt if he was in the middle of something.
"Dr. Lam, would you like something to eat?" Janolia asked tiredly.
"Thank you," Lam said and took the plate of food.
"You are welcome," Janolia said and sat down across from her. "Do you believe they will return from the other realm?"
"Colonel Carter and the others will bring them back, Janolia. I've seen them do the impossible many times and believe me there have been a lot of missions categorized as impossible. SG1 helped defeat Goa'uld and the Ori and they're not done yet," Carolyn explained. "We just need to have faith."
"I do not understand this faith you speak of, but if you mean we should believe they will return I will do my best to have it," Janolia vowed sadly. "When Darishik was young he would sit beside me and listen to Shanisia talk about the stars. She would tell him that someday she would fly amongst them. I had heard the legends of the great serpents and I was fearful that someday she might get her wish. I do not want to lose them, Dr. Lam, but I fear what will happen should they return to our realm."
"Believe in the love you have for them and they will return. Colonel Carter and the others will find a way to bring them home."
"You sound so sure."
"That's because I am. As I said they have proven to be far stronger than our enemies and they will not back down from creatures like Layonna. They will fight for what is right…they always have," Carolyn told her and realized many of the other Talosians in earshot were listening to what she had to say. It angered her that beings like Layonna could cause so much pain and not give a damn who they hurt in the process.
"Dr. Lam, can I see you for a minute?" Ryan Thomas called from the nearby building.
"Excuse me, Janolia, I'll be right back," Lam said and hurried toward the structure. "Did you find something, Sergeant?"
"Donitalio and Marisiana found an old program that explains why the two factions of their culture fought and why over the last few centuries there seems to be less and less of it. Layonna's people were extremely violent and when they needed the Talosians in their realm they would make sure the fighting was at its worse. The Talosians secrete some kind of neuro- toxin not unlike what we call adrenaline, but in this case it allows them to see the creatures from the other realm."
"Adrenaline is not exactly a toxin, Sergeant."
"I know that, Doc, but it's the only way I could thin to explain this. If we were able to block this toxin it could make it impossible for Layonna and her kind to cause the Talosians to fight. They wouldn't be able to see the serpents and that would essentially take away the cause of the fighting," Thomas explained.
"We can check into that after we get the others back," Lam told him. "Were you able to find anything that can help us reverse the changes that have already taken place?"
"Not yet, but we're still working on it."
"Good, because getting them back is only part of the solution," Lam said.
"I know, Doc, but I wanted to keep you up to date on our progress," Thomas explained.
"Thank you…I appreciate that," Lam assured him.
"I need to get back to it. If you need me you know where I'll be," Thomas told her.
"I do," Lam said and went back to the others. She quickly explained what the trio had found so far and that there was still no sign of the missing people. She moved to check on the injured Talosians, although injured was not really the right word. The results of the blood work she'd requested should be back the next day and hopefully she would have some answers as to how to help these people.
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Karberis knew what he'd done was wrong, but the promised freedom controlled his emotions. There was very little left of the man he once was, and deep down he wanted to fight her, but he was weak. He wanted, and craved release from the servitude he was trapped in, but wasn't sure he could trust Layonna.
Layonna looked at the now unrecognizable body whose skin was shredded and torn and felt the power of his death flow through her veins. She reached out and touched Karberis' head and smiled when he trembled and tried to pull away. "You have done well so far, My Pet, but there is more for you to do before I release you."
Karberis shied away from her touch, but it did no good as she used her elongated fingers to grab onto his rippling flesh. There was only one way for him to be free of her hated touch, and nothing he could do would change that.
"Come, My Pet, if you finish this for me you can have your fill of their blood," Layonna told him.
Karberis stepped over what was left of the body that had once been a man and continued along the tunnel. With each step his clawed feet scraped against the stone floor while his wings cut through the walls and widened the cavern. There were times when his own humanity came through, but those times were few and far between. He was nothing, but a monster now, one that killed for his own good and that made him just as bad as Layonna. This was who…no this was what he was now and there was no going back.
Layonna watched as the creature's head came up and knew he'd caught the scent of the humans racing ahead of them. She could smell the fear and helplessness and her body began to change in anticipation of what was to come. She would kill Carter and Jackson herself, and enjoy watching Mitchell's face when he realized his fate was sealed. His life would be hers to do with as she wished and the smell of blood goaded her on.
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Teal'c knew Malone was dead and could sense the creature closing the distance between them as he reached the others. He motioned for them to keep going, and replaced Carter at Mitchell's side. He knew she could handle herself and he could take more of Mitchell's weight as they tried to escape the creatures following them.
"Malone?" Mitchell managed.
"He did not make it," Teal'c answered.
"Damn it…leave me!" Mitchell ordered.
"Been through that already…no!" Jackson said and continued along the tunnel.
"Colonel Carter, I think we're getting close to the other side," Tucker called.
"Keep moving!" Carter ordered and fired when she saw movement behind them. She heard a sound that grated on her nerves, but kept moving as Tucker joined her and fired at the creatures following them. "Daniel, you and Teal'c get him out of here!"
"No…they need…need to help you stop Layonna," Mitchell ordered, not surprised when they ignored him and kept moving.
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Ryan Thomas wasn't surprised at the skills of the two Talosians. Donitalio and Marisiana worked quickly and efficiently as they tore down wall after wall of computer codes. They uncovered several documents written in an ancient language, but neither one could read or understand it.
"Is there anyone who can translate this for us?" Thomas asked.
"I am not sure. There were several people, but they were all taken during the last harvest and I did not see them amongst those that have returned," Marisiana answered.
"Could you ask your people if they can help?" Thomas asked.
"I will do it. Marisiana is much better at this than I am," Donitalio said and kissed the woman. "I will return shortly."
Maybe we can figure out some of this," the SG1 officer suggested.
"There are some symbols that are familiar to me, Sergeant Thomas, but I cannot translate it correctly," Marisiana told him.
"Hopefully there's someone who can help," Thomas said and turned his attention back to the console. He stopped when he heard movement from down the tunnel and heard the Talosian gasp.
"They're coming back!" Marisiana told him.
"Hold on a minute, Marisiana, we don't know who it is and…"
"But, they may need our help!"
"I know, and if it's our people then we'll help them," Thomas vowed, surprised when more than a dozen Talosians rushed through the opening.
"Marisiana, where are the soldiers from earth?" a male asked.
"They are here, Darishik," the woman answered.
"My name is Ryan Thomas…can you tell me where my people are?"
"They're behind us. We got separated when Layonna came for Colonel Mitchell! Colonel Carter told us to go for help," Darishik told him. "You need to get your people and help them. Layonna has something with her and it will tear them apart if she doesn't get what she wants."
"Marisiana, take your people outside and tell Dr. Lam what's happening. Tell her I need help in here," Thomas ordered as shots were fired further down the tunnel. He wanted to help, but he had no idea what he'd be dealing with and knew he had to wait for reinforcements. He reached for his P90 and aimed it toward the darkened corridor while the Talosians hurried outside.
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Carter knew they had to keep moving, but if the others were as exhausted as she was they wouldn't be able to keep up the frantic pace much longer. Mitchell seemed to be losing the use of his legs and she could see that Teal'c and Jackson were taking more and more of his weight. She heard the creature behind her and fired into the darkness.
"Colonel, the opening isn't far now," Tucker said.
"Thank God," Carter said and fired again when she saw the creature's crimson eyes. This time she didn't miss and heard a sound that sent chills down her spine. She heard the sound of Tucker's P90 on her left and kept backing up in an effort to stay between Layonna and Mitchell.
"Leave him and I will let you all live!" Layonna ordered.
"Go to hell!" Carter shot back and aimed toward the sound of the voice. She didn't think she hit anything, but when she glanced over her shoulder she realized Teal'c and Jackson had already carried Mitchell out of the tunnel.
"Colonel, go, I'll cover you!" Tucker said and fired several rounds as the SG1 colonel hurried toward the exit.
"Come on, Major!" Carter said and laid down cover fire for the man, relieved when Ryan Thomas also joined her on the opposite side. "Can you shut down the tunnel?"
"We haven't got that far!" Thomas answered as Tucker joined them.
"Why don't we just bring the whole thing down on top of her?" Tucker asked and pointed to the weakest points further down the tunnel. They fired several times, but the tunnel walls and ceiling proved to be stronger than they thought.
"Colonel, if you and Thomas can hold them off I might be able to set a couple of C4 charges," Tucker told her, and saw her nod before she fired toward the creature that seemed to take up every inch of space in the corridor.
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Carolyn Lam looked up at the sound of gunfire and looked at the Talosians when some of them cried out. Donitalio had come out asking for anyone who might be able to translate the symbols, but there didn't seem to be anyone who could help. She hurried toward the building just as a large group of terrified Talosians exited through the main entrance.
"Dr. Lam, Major Tucker needs help!" Marisiana called as she guided two people toward them.
"Darishik!"
"Mother!" the young Talosian male called and hurried toward her.
"Where is Shanisia?"
"She wants to stay in the other realm, Mother. You should have seen her face Layonna! You would have been proud of her!" Darishik said as the others gathered round and recounted the story of his sister's heroism.
Carolyn wanted to listen, but right now she needed to get word to the other SG teams and send them inside. She spotted Major Ken Wallace speaking with Lieutenant Myra Hollander and hurried toward them as they gathered their teams.
"Doc, stay out!" Wallace ordered.
"They may need medical attention," Lam said.
"Then we'll send them out to you!" Hollander said and motioned for the rest of her team to follow Wallace into the building as more gunfire reached their ears.
Carolyn knew there was nothing she could do inside, but her eyes grew wide when she spotted the trio exiting the building and hurried toward them. Teal'c and Jackson were all, but carrying Mitchell between them and she hid the surprise at just barely recognizing the SG1 colonel. "Bring him over here!"
Teal'c and Jackson did as she said and eased the man onto the blankets spread on the ground. They took one last look at him before hurrying back into the building to help the others.
"Colonel, I need to take a look at you," Lam said and wished she knew what she was doing. The problem was she didn't know what the physical changes were doing to his vital organs and needed to figure that out pretty fast if she was going to reverse the effects.
"Doc…"
"I'm here, Colonel, just stay put while I get the things I need," the doctor ordered and hurried to grab the equipment she would need.
"Dr. Lam, this is Resandie. He is a very well-known scientist in my city. He says he may be able to help…he was also a surgeon at the main hospital," Janolia said of the older man standing beside her.
"I could use all the help I can get," Lam said and shook the man's hand before returning her attention to the colonel. "Resandie, would you see if you can find a vein in his arm and take some blood samples for me?"
"Certainly," the Talosian said and reached for the items he would need.
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Carter fired at the creature as she backed away from Layonna who was now standing to the serpent's right side. Teal'c and Jackson were also fighting to bring down the structure, but it was a lot stronger than it appeared and the ceiling remained intact. She briefly wondered if it was because of Layonna, but had no chance to debate the issue as a scream burst from the form rushing toward her.
"Sam! Watch out!" Jackson yelled.
