"Is this it?" Sovaer asked, referring to the door in front of them.
They had made their way down several levels before they had come to this single door, which as it happened was much thicker than the others they had encountered. Clearly the Zarasians didn't want their pet getting loose.
"It's hard to get a clear reading through these walls but there is a large heat signature in the distance," Eir replied.
"Okay then. Todd, you're up."
The Wraith once again hacked the control panel on the wall and opened the heavy door. It revealed a wide corridor and another door. When they were about half way down the corridor a light spray from nozzles mounted on the ceiling rained down on them.
"What was that?" Sovaer asked.
"Nothing harmful as far as I can tell," Eir said. "Possibly a cleaning or decontamination spray for the creature. It could also be a security protocol to dissuade the creature from proceeding."
"What caused it to activate?" Teyla asked.
"I think I did," Todd said. "When I overrode the door controls I tricked it into thinking the doors opened as they should. If that spray was automatic then it was meant to activate."
"Definitely not harmful?" Sovaer asked.
"Definitely."
"Okay we move on."
Todd once again opened the last door, revealing the behemoth. As the door slid open the behemoth turned its large head to look in their direction but couldn't see them. It sniffed the air but still couldn't find them. It stood up on its hind legs and turned and lumbered back into the arena.
"Well this just got a bit more difficult," Ronon noted. "Someone will notice when that thing suddenly dies in the middle of the arena."
"True but if we can sneak up on that thing and stick a bomb on it we can detonate it from a distance and no one will find us," Sovaer said.
"You want to sneak up on that thing and just plant a bomb on its belly?" Todd asked incredulously.
"We're invisible remember," Sovaer pointed out. "Plus if we magnetically attach it to what I presume is a control device on its back hopefully no one will notice it."
"There a plan b?" Ronon asked.
"We go out there and shoot it and hope no one notices."
"Sounds good to me."
"But not very practical if we want to remain undetected," Teyla pointed out.
"So plan a?"
"I think so."
The six SPECTREs moved forwards, with Teyla and Ronon bringing up the rear. Just as the first four crossed the threshold into the arena the door slammed down without any warning, leaving Ronon and Teyla in the holding pen. The two Pegasus natives turned and readied their weapons as the rumble of footsteps echoed off the metal walls. Cyborg reapers poured down the short corridor leading to the holding pen. They had company.
In the arena the other four SPECTREs drew their own weapons as the behemoth turned towards them. This time they were under no illusion. They knew that it knew they were there and exactly where they were.
"Welcome to my little test ground," a high, cackling voice intoned. "It is so nice to meet the SPECTREs in person. Now tell me which one of you is Sovaer?"
The SPECTREs didn't even react to the mocking voice. They simply moved closer together and backed away from the wall. If the behemoth charged at them they didn't want to be backed into a corner. On the observation platform the cloaked figure they had seen before moved in to view.
"No answer? Oh that is such a pity," Azamoth mocked. "I guess I will just have to narrow down the number of candidates then."
He casually tapped his computer and the SPECTREs felt the ground start to fall out from under them as the trap door opened. Sovaer and Eir, thanks to their artificial nervous system, were able to react fast enough to leap away the moment they felt themselves begin to fall. They managed to grab the sides of the pit and haul themselves up while Todd and Jason fell. The trap door swung back into place a moment later.
"Four down one to go," Azamoth cackled gleefully. "Now do announce yourself please Sovaer or I won't be able to make my offer to spare your friends lives."
"Todd, Jason, Ronon, Teyla, what's your status?" Sovaer shouted frantically into the com.
"We're okay for now but we have company," Teyla replied.
"It's those cyborg reapers again," Ronon added.
"We are also okay and have the same problem," Todd said.
"Hold on for now," Sovaer ordered. "They can't see you so you should be alright, just don't draw attention to yourself."
"I know you are there," Azamoth continued when Sovaer didn't answer him. "I also know exactly where your friends are. However I am willing to make a deal for their lives but not if you refuse to reveal yourself or talk."
The behemoth moved closer towards the pair. It definitely knew they were there.
"In case you were wondering it can smell you," Azamoth said. "That spray was what we use to mark its food. You really shouldn't have been so overconfident. Opening a door to a secure area that only a few people have access to and thinking no one would notice, very sloppy. And in case you were wondering I can tell you are there I had you marked with radioactive tags as well so I know exactly where you are."
Sovaer swore. Once again they had been tagged without them even realising it, they seemed to be making a bad habit of this.
"Who are you?" Sovaer asked finally.
"Cyber Lord Azamoth, renowned genius and inventor," Azamoth answered smugly.
"What do you want?"
"Cloak off first," Azamoth ordered.
"The cloak stays on."
"We shall see," Azamoth replied before tapping another button on his pad.
From the walls of the arena bumps emerged and began to hum with energy. Before they realised what was happening lightning bolts sprang from them and filled the air around the two SPECTREs. The two of them were knocked off their feet as the bolts struck them. They were protected thanks to the insulation of their amour but the crystals on their cloaks shattered as the raw energy was channelled through them.
"Not good," Sovaer muttered as he realised he was visible again.
"I'm guessing you just got struck by lightning too?" Todd asked.
"You as well?"
"And us," Teyla added.
"Cloaks?" Sovaer asked.
"Destroyed," Ronon answered.
"Same here," Todd said.
"And here," Sovaer said. "I'm going to try talking to him."
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Eir asked.
"At this point it really can't hurt."
"I'm waiting," Azamoth unwittingly added to the conversation he couldn't hear.
"What do you want?" Sovaer demanded.
Azamoth chuckled manically. "Isn't it obvious? I want you young cyborg."
"You want to study him," Eir said.
"Correct Asgardian and I would much rather have living specimens to study than dead ones. Now surrender."
"And if I don't?" Sovaer asked.
"Then your friends die and maybe you too before you are finally captured."
Sovaer scowled at the Cyber Lord.
"No answer? Perhaps this will encourage you to make the right decision."
Without warning the behemoth charged at them and at the same time weapons fire blasted over the com. Sovaer was sent flying backwards as the beast's massive tail smashed into him while Eir was knocked down, the massive clawed hand of the behemoth pressing down on her. As it crushed her chest she desperately clawed at it with her free left hand before firing a burst of her plasma repeater into it. She only managed a brief few shots before it bit into and ripped off her arm, crushing it in her powerful jaw.
"Eir!" Sovaer yelled as he got back to his feet and fired into the side of the beast. "Let her go!"
It was to no avail however as the wounds inflicted by him and Eir healed almost instantly since the behemoth had recently fed. Over the com weapons fire still blazed. The others were in trouble as well.
"Stop this!" he demanded.
"I'll make this simple for you then," Azamoth mocked as a door at the other end of the arena slid open and let in a glimpse of sunlight at the top of the ramp. "There is the door. If you want your friends to walk out of it then drop your weapons and surrender."
"Don't do it," Eir said. "He needs to learn a few lessons about us."
"And what might they be?" Azamoth asked, clearly amused.
"Allow me to answer that," Todd broadcast over Sovaer's suit speakers.
The floor shook before it suddenly exploded, flinging chunks of metal in all directions. Anyone who had been paying attention would note that the section of floor that was now a twisted ruin was the same section where the trap door had been. Two figures sprang from the column of smoke that rose from the hole, causing Azamoth to scowl.
"Lesson one, if you dump any of us down a hole then make sure we stay there!"
With a screech of metal the door to the behemoth pen bent and was ripped open, torn apart by Ronon's powerful hands. Teyla leaped through the gap created and charged at the Wraith. As Ronon stepped into the arena he revealed the pile of dead reapers behind them.
"Lesson two, reapers and locked doors barely even slow us down!"
Teyla leapt forwards and charged at the behemoth. Her glowing plasma rods skewered the control device on its back, ripping it away from the creature but not destroying it. She leapt back as it roared and thrashed around, releasing Eir from its grip. The others followed up with blasts from their weapons, causing it to reel and howl from the blows.
Azamoth scowled. "You really shouldn't have removed the string. Now there is nothing to stop it from killing you all."
The string in question attempted to scuttle away, despite the sparking hole in its side.
"Give up now and maybe I can save you."
"Lesson three, we never give up!" Sovaer yelled.
The SPECTREs began pounding the behemoth with weapons fire. Without the string penning its mind anymore it howled in pain with every hit. Letting out a guttural roar it charged at them angrily, desperate to kill the things that had hurt it.
This time though they were ready for it, and even if they hadn't been an animal blinded by rage and crippled by pain is much less quick on its feet than one that is someone else's puppet. They easily avoided its wild swings and continued firing on it.
"Eir, grab that thing," Sovaer ordered, indicating the string slowly scuttling away. "We're taking souvenirs."
Eir darted away and snatched up the string with her remaining hand. The string struggled in her grasp but couldn't escape her grip.
"Got it," she said, just as the behemoth gave one final cry and collapsed to the ground, its body pot marked and burned.
Finishing the job Teyla leaped up and rammed her plasma rods into its skull, killing it for good.
"Thanks for showing us the door Azamoth," Sovaer said as he and the other SPECTREs bolted for the open door.
Before they could make it through though a large figure strode down the ramp and blocked their way, it was another behemoth. This one though was different. Unlike the one lying dead over there it was clad in thick armour plating, wielding plasma weapons on its wrists and its eyes were covered by cybernetic eyepieces. Stalking down the ramp on all fours its metallic gauntlets and flicking bladed tail clicked away. This was certainly a much more powerful creature than the one they had just killed, and it didn't have a string clamped to its back. When it reached the base of the ramp and entered the arena it stood on its hind legs, towering over them.
"No doubt while poking through the databanks you discovered references to the type two prototype," Azamoth said conversationally. "This is the result and the reason I am even here. Oh and you should know that your virus has been discovered and neutralised, along with the charges you planted. Now tell me, what do you think of my latest masterpiece?"
"Don't tell me," Todd spat. "You're the one who mutilated by brethren and made them into the cyborg creatures that they are now."
Beside him Jason let out a low growl.
Azamoth smirked. "Yes it was."
Todd and Jason's response was to fire at the Cyber Lord, engulfing the platform in flame. When the blast from the explosion cleared Azamoth was still standing there, completely unharmed. Around him a personal shield glowed orange, having protected him from the two Wraiths rage fuelled attacks.
"Nice try," Azamoth gloated. "But like your friend over there I am much more than I appear to be."
"Jason," Todd said. "The platform."
Jason immediately changed targets and shot at the platform beneath Azamoth's feet. The platform shook before the support struts twisted and buckled, bring the entire structure down in a pile of twisted and broken metal. As Azamoth fell to the ground the robe that garbed him caught on the jagged edges of the remains of the platform and was torn away as he fell. When the smoke finally cleared Azamoth was kneeling on the floor, having landed in a controlled manner. As he rose to his feet he ripped away the tattered remains of his robe, revealing his true form. Cybernetic implants and wires were present across his entire body. His legs ended in clawed robotic feet. His left eye was covered by a cybernetic eyepiece that was rimmed by glowing red lights while the rest of his head was capped by an armoured helmet. His right hand was partially covered in a cybernetic gauntlet with wires linking into his upper arm, while the left was completely replaced by a whirring and sparking stump that ended in numerous implements. His torso was covered by an armoured chest piece and there was the hint of robotic arms protruding from his back.
"As you can see," he sneered, revealing metallic teeth. "I am much more than I first appear to be."
"Why would you do such a thing to yourself?" Eir asked, shocked by his appearance.
Azamoth shrugged. "It is the price one must pay for immortality, until I can find something better of course. Your friend over there should be able to help with that."
"I didn't choose to be the way I am so that I could live forever," Sovaer retorted.
"No? A happy coincidence for you then. I, on the other hand, am grateful for such an opportunity. Now will you hand him over to me or fight futilely before you die."
Eir took a step towards the Cyber Lord, looking like a vengeful demon and causing Azamoth to nervously take a step back.
"I told you that have lessons to learn about us," she said in a voice so low it was almost a growl. "Lesson four, we're a team you idiot!"
Sovaer chuckled and turned to face the behemoth. "You heard her. That thing is mine."
Todd took a step forwards and fell into line with him. "No it's mine."
Ronon joined them. "It's mine."
Jason stepped forwards. "Mine."
Teyla joined them. "Why not together? We are a team after all."
"Alright together then," Sovaer agreed. "On three."
"One."
Eir fell back behind them while Azamoth watched on, amused by the interesting turn of events. Against his creation they wouldn't stand a chance but it would be amusing to watch them try and fight against it. It would be a pity though if the cyborg was damaged. He had been very much looking forward to studying him intact but study of the remains could still be promising.
"Two."
The five SPECTREs settled into a running stance, their right arms pulled back and curled into fists. Eir moved closer to them. Azamoth's eyes, even the covered one, widened in surprise. He had expected them to fight but not like this. They couldn't possibly be planning to…
"Three."
The five SPECTREs leaped forwards at the behemoth, moving at superhuman speeds. With perfect timing and group co-ordination they lashed out with their right fists, striking the behemoth in the midriff. The high speed that they had been moving at when combined with their enhanced strength generated enough force to knock the behemoth off its feet and send it flying backwards. Eir was right behind them as the behemoth landed in a heap on the ground, down but not out.
"Time for the old SPECTRE standby," Sovaer said.
And with that the six of them started running up the ramp and hopefully to freedom.
"After them!" Azamoth screamed.
The behemoth let out a guttural roar and rolled over onto all fours, charging after the fleeing SPECTREs.
Sovaer smirked. "I think we made him mad."
"Azamoth or the behemoth?" Todd asked jokingly.
"I'd say both," Ronon said with a grin.
"Less talk and more running," Teyla said.
The six SPECTREs were already running flat out but the behemoth was already gaining on them. No matter how fast they were it was faster, and if it caught them it would literally eat them alive. They were getting close to the electric fence however, unfortunately if they could jump over it then it was a safe bet the behemoth could as well.
"We're not going to make it out of the disruption field before those things catch us," Todd said.
They thought their situation couldn't get any worse, apparently they were wrong. The first armour clad behemoth had been joined by another two and there were at least a dozen un-armoured ones behind them. There could be more or maybe less but they hadn't felt like slowing down to count them.
"We could call in the ship," Ronon suggested.
"That thing's too close," Sovaer replied. "Any weapons fire would get us too and if we stopped for the rings they would catch us."
"I have an idea," Eir said. "ISIS I need you to make a delivery."
"That's crazy Eir," Sovaer argued. "You won't last a minute against those things."
"It'll provide a distraction," she argued. "Now take the string and go. ISIS, lock onto the string outside the field and beam it into a containment field. Oh and make it the heavy weapons load out."
With that she threw the string as far as she could. With her enhanced strength it travelled far enough to go across the fence and just about land outside the containment field before being beamed away.
Overhead the transport shuttle briefly reappeared and dropped a large metallic shape in front of them. The back of the heavy weapons Titan opened like the Vanir exoskeletons to reveal the open interior and Eir leapt inside. As the back sealed shut and the Titan connected to her android mind the Titan came online. In a moment the Titan was powered up and ready to fight. Eir quickly emptied the rocket pods on the Titans shoulders at the behemoths, not bothering to aim. The air lit up with explosions as the creatures were engulfed by the blasts, some even being hit directly. The behemoths howled as their flesh was scorched by the explosions but none of them fell, they just kept coming. She was forced to use the boosters in the Titans feet to hop backwards while firing odd bursts into the charging behemoths nipping at their heels.
Overhead speakers throughout the base blared into life and annoyingly allowed the SPECTREs to hear Azamoth.
"I warned you," he mocked. "Now you will die alone on this world and I will get to perform an autopsy on your remains."
"This guy really needs to learn a lesson about how we do things," Sovaer said. "How many times do we have to tell him we're a team?"
"Sheppard you better be here already," Ronon yelled into the com.
"Keep your hair on chewie," Sheppard replied. "We're settling into orbit now."
When the SPECTREs had registered the presence of the base they had immediately informed the higher powers. Sheppard and Thor had immediately decided that a little pay back was in order after the fiasco on Calium. If anything it would provide a moral boost, something they were in desperate need of once word got around about the twenty kilometre monster they were facing. However a fleet as large as the Alliance offensive arm couldn't simply exit hyperspace over the planet, or even in the system, without being noticed, unlike the stealthy transport shuttle. As a result they had been forced to arrive far outside of the system and then approach cloaked using their sublight engines, something that took a lot of time.
"About damn time," Todd snapped. "We need help and the shuttles weapons are likely to take us out if we use them."
"I have a solution to that," Sheppard replied. "Oh by the way don't slow down."
"What are you planning to…"
Ronon found himself cut off as streams of yellow light descended from the sky. The precision railgun fire smothered the behemoths with their heavy shells. The solid chunks of metal may have thrown up dust and dirt when they impacted but they didn't explode, and as a result were safe for close fire situations like this.
"Eir, watch out!" Teyla yelled.
From the dust sprang an armoured behemoth, maybe using the shockwave from the impacts to propel itself forwards just a little further or maybe in a last ditch effort to claim its prey. The snarling behemoth collided with the Titan, sending both to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The savage beast clawed at the armoured hide of the Titan, its glowing clawed gauntlets leaving deep gashes as it scraped its claws across the dark metal. Inside the Titan Eir tried to ignore the blaring warning alarms as the internal computer registered more and more mechanisms failing as the behemoth tore them apart.
"Even your mechanized warriors are no match for my creations," Azamoth mocked.
"Eir, download and self destruct now!" Sovaer ordered.
Seeing she had no other option Eir downloaded her mind to one of the ships in orbit shortly after triggering a delayed self destruct. As the behemoth ripped away the chest plating to expose the android body beneath the naquadah generator that powered the Titan overloaded and detonated, destroying both the Titan and the behemoth.
The rest of the SPECTREs eventually made their way outside of the jamming field that was preventing them from being beamed out. They hadn't even bothered to go over the fence since there were still behemoths chasing after them, not to mention the hulks, vehicles and other reapers closing in on them from the flanks. Instead Jason simply opened fire with his energy cannon and made a hole big enough for them to run through in just a few shots. In a flash of light they were beamed back to their shuttle, leaving the fleet free to exact some retribution.
By now the base had raised a shield in response to the presence of the glaring visible fleet in orbit. The allied fleet stopped holding back and pounded the base with everything they had. Even with all the generators on the base feeding power into the shield capacitors, including those that powered weapons, the shield wasn't going to be able to hold for long against the relentless bombardment. Plasma beams and ions bolts tore through the atmosphere to continually strike the shield, creating a kaleidoscope of colours in the sky. It wouldn't be long now before the shield. Another minute maybe and it would fail and the base would be consumed in fire. At least it would have if the unexpected didn't happen.
In orbit of the planet, between the planet and the allied fleet, a massive hyperspace window opened and deposited a knife shaped ship they had come to fear. The Doom Bringer had arrived.
Descending into the atmosphere the massive ship physically shielded the base from harm. Naturally Zarin couldn't resist gloating and it wasn't long before his voice sounded over subspace.
"Colonel Sheppard, Supreme Commander Thor, we meet again and so soon too. It seems that my last lesson about challenging me wasn't well learned so perhaps a refresher course in order."
The allies weren't about to stick around though. Despite Zarins gloating they had learned very well that facing that thing in battle was tantamount to suicide. With the SPECTREs safe and out of harms way the fleet jumped to hyperspace and headed for home.
Weir – Bridge
Colonel Sheppard sat slumped in his chair absorbing the news from the SPECTREs. Across the bridge Rodney just stood there and watched his friend, knowing that there were some troubles that kind words couldn't fix. The behemoth was not news that he welcomed since it meant that the Zarasians had yet another advantage in their corner. The Zarasians just seemed to keep getting stronger and stronger every time they faced off against them while the allies could only react in response.
They needed an edge. They desperately needed an edge, if they were going to turn this war around. Lately Zarin had been going at them with kid gloves on, completely confident in his supremacy over them. What made it worse what that confidence wasn't arrogance but actual fact. The Zarasians had who knows how many forces at their disposal and those forces kept on growing, becoming even more diverse. Those behemoths were proof of that, being the Zarasians answer to the Titans, and a good one at that. Those things would rip their soldiers to pieces in close combat and were even capable of doing tremendous damage to vehicles.
"If you are finished mopping there we have a task for you," an unfamiliar male voice said, rousing him from his thoughts. "The outcome of which will decide the outcome of your war."
In the middle of the bridge stood three beings in white robes that definitely hadn't been there a moment ago. Security forces quickly reacted by raising their weapons at the intruders and calling for reinforcements.
Janus glanced at his companions with a wry grin. "I knew this would happen."
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