Disclaimer: All recognisable characters are the property of MGM/Amazon. No copyright infringement intended. I am simply taking my favourite two Gaters for a walk in an Alternate Universe.
Rating: Still T...
Episode Tags: Takes place in Season 7 after 7.16 Death Knell.
TRIGGERS: Unlawful killing, assisted suicide.
A/N: If you or anyone you know suffers from the Black Dog, encourage them to seek help. Ask them R U OK? Contains mild bad language. I have no beta, so all mistakes are my own.
Chapter 10: Retribution
"Amazing." I muttered as I wiped the remnants of the frost from my face.
"What?" Doctor Jackson asked as wiped his face with a green bandana before wrapping it around his head. I looked at him, bewildered at his actions.
"Oh, nothing just the ice. I have gotten used to it yet." I replied. Well, to be honest, I didn't relish the feeling of being sucked through a wormhole and covered in frost but standing on another planet at the end of it made the discomfort worth it.
"Oh, you will Jennifer, give it a few more times and you'll not even notice it." Doctor Jackson replied. I arched my brow at his use of my forename. I looked over to Colonel O'Neill. He was looking through me like I wasn't there. I had barely had a word out of him that wasn't an order. I remembered him as this typical no nonsense commander who didn't mince words during my training two years ago, but this time, he was cold and detached and part of me couldn't help but think that it was because of Major Carter. She had been on the team for 7 years. I guess the bonds formed after working together for so long were hard to let go.
"You mean I won't notice the ice, or I won't notice the compression of my molecules during the reconstitution process, Doctor Jackson." I responded drily.
He chuckled, "Yeah that, and please, call me Daniel." He said smiling at me.
"Thanks, you can call me Captain or Halley." I responded sharply, not letting his unabashed confusion bother me. I wasn't here to form lifelong interpersonal relationships.
"Enough chit chat Captain – which way are we heading?" The Colonel asked. I straightened slightly at his command.
"Of course, Sir, sorry." I pulled out my radar tracker to pinpoint the location of the radio beacon dropped by the UAV. "That way Sir, about ten kilometres."
"Klicks Captain – 10 klicks that way." The Colonel responded, pointing with his P-90, then turning his dark eyes on me as he slipped his even darker glasses on, before turning and walking swiftly in the direction I had indicated with Daniel and Teal'c hot on his heels.
"Of course, Sir." I replied, tucking my device away and jogging to catch up. The walk to the ruins took us just on two hours. There were a series of columns placed in a rough circle, with one side of the area nestled in a grouping of trees in completely flat grasslands that stretched on for miles. There were several smaller blocks dotted around and half a rock wall running from the trees in a semi-circle that would make good cover if we needed it. In the distance, a purple haze indicating mountains rose to meet the blue sky that had nothing but the shadowed outline of the planet's sizable moon.
"Wow, this is amazing, these steles are so well preserved." Daniel called out. I walked over to see a bunch of rectangle shaped markings on one of the columns. Apparently, this was some form of writing. I was surprised how excited Daniel was about a bunch of block letters, mind you, I tended to get the same with complex math and physics, I just didn't show it since anyone I tried to explain things to just didn't get it. He had immediately taken out his charcoal and paper to take rubbings.
"Halley, with me. Teal'c, you watch Daniel, make sure he doesn't touch anything."
"Yes Sir." I jogged toward him holding my hat down. "What do you need Sir?" I asked.
"Perimeter check Captain. Keep your eyes peeled, you take point." He replied.
"Me Sir?" I countered. Since it was my first mission with SG-1, I surprised he was putting me on point. Every other team leader had treated me as a greenie straight out of the Academy.
"Yes Captain, first time for everything, best you learn sooner rather than later." He replied, his face stony and without so much as a lick of emotion. I liked his no nonsense approach. We'd get along just fine.
"Yes Sir." I responded and started in the direction he was pointing. We spent the better part of an hour walking around the exterior of the ruins, paying special attention to the tree covered area and had just returned when an odd sound piqued my interest. "Do you hear that Sir?" I asked as I spun around to face him.
"Shit! Daniel, Teal'c – we've got company!" He yelled, grabbing my tac vest, and dragging me in the direction of cover as the Tel'tak screamed overhead. I had seen pictures before, but nothing prepared me for the sight and sound of a real one. I ran and skidded to a halt behind the rock wall I found earlier as the bomber circled back and fired a warning shot before disappearing again.
"We are too far from the Gate and too exposed to make a run for it. This place is as defensible as we are going to get." The Colonel ordered.
"Indeed." Teal'c replied as he hunkered down a few metres from me.
"Jack, we can't let them damage this place. This is the most intact Ancient writing we have found since that machine on P4X-639." Daniel yelled as he slid in behind me.
"Sir!" I said tapping the Colonel on the shoulder and pointing in the direction of the landed Tel'tak. The door opened and five Jaffa exited.
"Heads down!" He ordered gruffly, pulling my head below the wall. "Teal'c! You and I will circle around to the other side of those trees. Halley and Daniel stay here, don't shoot until we are in position." The Colonel commanded, then moved out.
Watching from our position, the Jaffa continued their loping gait towards us and the ruins. I held my P-90 with a tight grip waiting for the double click on the radio telling me that the Colonel and Teal'c were in position. They got closer and closer, still no confirmation.
"Tau'ri hasshak! Aray kree! We serve the one true God!" I heard one of the Jaffa call out. I looked to Doctor Jackson and shrugged.
"Ah, 'human weaklings, stay where you are – one true God' blah blah blah yada yada." He responded with a wave of his fingers.
"Thanks." I responded. A few seconds later, I heard the double click of the radio.
"Nope! I don't think so Jim!" The Colonel bellowed at the Jaffa. I rolled my eyes at the old Star Trek line that I had grown up hearing my dad utter frequently. Then I heard the tell-tale sounds of zats, P-90's and staff weapons start up.
"C'mon, that's our cue!" Daniel said as he jumped up and followed suit. I lifted my P-90, then ran to the next pillar taking cover behind it just as the ground in front of it erupted in a dirt shower from a staff blast, Daniel slid behind the next one over. I heard the pinging of P-90 rounds hitting armour, thumps as targets dropped to the ground, the whoosh bang of what I assumed was Teal'c's staff weapon and zap pings of zat fire. Daniel moved forward taking another Jaffa down at the same time as the Colonel zatted the fourth. Moving out from my position to take my shot. "Arrhh!" I cried out, looking down to see blue electricity arc across my body. Dammit! Then everything went black.
I watched Captain Halley drop like a sack of potatoes when the Jaffa's shot hit her. Shit! Taking aim at the final Jaffa, I was just about to fire when Jack shot him once, twice, three times, his body disappearing into nothing. Holy shit! "Jack!" I called out, then noticed him running over to the fallen Captain Halley.
"Sam… Sam… come on honey, don't you leave me!" He was muttering. I ran over to him while Teal'c relieved the downed Jaffa of their weapons and tied them up, one of them sporting a bloodied shoulder from a P-90.
"Jack... Jack..." I said, trying to pull him back from the unconscious woman. "Jack, stop!"
"NO!" He yelled before turning back to our prone team member, his hands pressing on her chest. I cursed inwardly, he was in a flashback – he thought Captain Halley was Sam and that he was losing her all over again.
"Jack, she's not Sam. Jack!" I said, pulling him back just as her eyes fluttered open and her hand went to her head.
"Errr…" She moaned as she sat up. "That was not pleasant." She griped.
"Oh, thank God honey, I thought I lost you!" Jack choked out, roughly pulling the startled soldier into a hug. She looked wild eyed toward me, surprised by his behaviour. I shook my head and winced.
"Just go with it. You kinda look like her." I whispered, hoping it would be enough to get him out of his head. I knew sending him out here was a bad idea. Why on Earth Hammond thought he was ready was beyond me. He had never been the sort of commander that dismissed the needs of his soldiers. Halley nodded stiffly before awkwardly patting him on the back.
"It's OK, Sir. I'm fine now." She said, her startled eyes still on mine. I nodded just as Jack pulled back from her. She looked at him. "Sir? Are you all right?" She asked. I saw the exact moment he snapped out of it, jerking himself away from her.
"Yes Captain, completely." He replied stiffly as if he hadn't just been hanging onto her for dear life, then stood and made his way back to Teal'c and the four remaining Jaffa who were now on their knees.
"What was that about?" Halley asked. I shook my head, now was not the place to get into this. I motioned her to follow. We had to talk about the fact that Jack had just disintegrated a Jaffa. I could hear Jack barking at the captives as we approached.
"We serve the one true God, Anubis. Your world is forfeit; we will take everything from you." The biggest Jaffa sprouted. Too late I thought. I watched as Jack lifted his zat and placed it mere millimetres from the tattoo on the Jaffa's forehead.
"Too late. You already have." He verbally mirrored my thought in a voice completely devoid of emotion.
"Jack, what are you doing?" I asked cautiously. He pulled the trigger once, twice and the Jaffa slumped down into a pile. "Jack dammit, he was unarmed!" I yelled as I quickly crouched and put my fingers to his neck. Nothing. Shit, he had just summarily executed an unarmed man. I knew he was capable of this, but never thought I would ever see him become that person. He didn't say a word, just moved onto the next Jaffa. "Jack, stop!" I yelled, putting my hand on his shoulder to get his attention, just before the second Jaffa hit the dirt. He shrugged my hand off and ignored me, taking aim at the third and pulling his trigger twice, each one almost point blank.
"Colonel?" I heard Captain Halley question. "Sir, this is…" She started but stopped when he levelled his dark gaze on her. Bringing his zat to the forehead of the last Jaffa.
"Shel kek nem ron." The injured Jaffa murmured from his kneeled position.
"O'Neill." Teal'c said. Jack turned to face him, zat still poised. "These deaths are without honour. This warrior wishes for freedom. The rebel jaffa could do with a member of Anubis' ranks." He said calmly, like Jack hadn't just killed four other Jaffa in cold blood.
"Do you think I care about their honour Teal'c? They serve a monster. A monster that took everything from me." Jack ground out. I took the opportunity to get in behind the Jaffa and cut through his bindings. Jack levelled his gaze back at the man. "Get out of here, tell your 'God' I am coming for him." Jack said, then shoved the Jaffa violently away from his fallen comrades. The Jaffa stood, turned, and started jogging toward the landed Tel'tak. I watched Jack watch him. I bent down to check the other Jaffa, but I knew they were already dead. The sound of a staff weapon engaging made me look up from my place.
"O'Neill!" "Jack!" Teal'c and I called in tandem just as he fired a shot into the back of the retreating Jaffa. "Oh God, Jack, what have you done?" I breathed and looked down at the dead man. Seeing Jack whirl around in my peripheral vision just as I heard Teal'c armed his own weapon. I looked back to find Jack and Teal'c in a standoff.
"Do it Teal'c! Do it!" Jack yelled.
"I will not O'Neill." Teal'c replied.
"Then why pull your weapon?"
"You kill without honour, but you do not deserve death." Teal'c replied calmly, despite still bearing down on Jack.
"Oh, so killing thousands of innocents in the name of a false God is honourable! Hunting an unarmed woman is honourable!"
"It was not Jaffa who killed Major Carter." Teal'c replied.
"No, but they would have if He told them too!"
"Jack, Teal'c… c'mon let's put down the weapons." I said calmly. Neither man moved. I knew appealing to Jack right now was not going to work. Wherever he was, it was a dark and bitter place. I looked over to Captain Halley to find her standing straight, her eyes showing no hint of revulsion at what her Commanding Officer had just done. She lifted her chin and regarded me. "Think you can help me out here?" I asked. She looked from me, to Teal'c then Jack and finally the dead Jaffa.
"They are the enemy Doctor Jackson." She said stoically.
"They were unarmed, they had surrendered. One of them was injured." I reminded her.
She huffed, and took her hat off, stowing it in her pocket. "I better not get court martialled over this Doctor Jackson." She said as she walked over to her Commanding Officer. She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "Sir, I'm fine, you don't need to do this."
"I know that! – Captain. This isn't about you." He bit back with a scowl. She quickly removed her hand.
"Of course, it's not. It's about Major Carter, and I know that she wouldn't want you to do this, Sir." She tried another tactic.
"Oh, you know do you." He replied through gritted teeth, his weapon still levelled on Teal'c.
I sighed, knowing what I had to do. I walked over and stepped between them, placing myself in the firing line facing toward Jack. His dark eyes showed no emotion, no hint of the man he had become over the last 7 years. He was as stiff and unyielding as the day I met him. I heard Teal'c disengage his staff weapon immediately, though Jack still had his firmly aimed squarely at my chest.
"Jack." I said, levelling my gaze on him, my hands held up in the universal sign of surrender. I said nothing more since there were no words I could give him at a time like this. I hoped my silent please would break through. Either it would work, or one less member of SG-1 would be walking through that Gate today. I only hoped it was not the latter.
"Get out of the way Daniel!" I yelled at the man standing between me and my salvation. "I will shoot you if you don't." I threatened, advancing a step, the staff weapon touching his chest. I could hear the desperation in my voice.
"Jack, no one is going to shoot you." Daniel replied. "This is not the way. We want to help you, please let us help you."
"NO!" I barked, tears springing to my eyes. "Can you bring her back? Can you? No, then you can't help me, Daniel." My hands started to tremble as I held the enemy's weapon on my best friend.
"Jack, I want to help you. But this… this is not the way."
I gritted my teeth in an attempt to stop the emotion bursting forth. "It is the only way, Daniel."
"There was a time that I thought that as well Jack. After Sha're, all I wanted was for Teal'c to do the same to me - to take away the pain of her loss. But then I remembered that she begged me to live, to save her child." Daniel said.
"What do I have to live for Daniel… I have no child, I have no Sam… all I have is an empty house, broken dreams, and a dead heart." I growled.
"You're wrong Jack. You have friends, you have me and Teal'c, you have Cassie. We've lost Sam as well, don't make us bury two friends Jack!" Daniel pleaded; his emotion written clearly across his face.
My hands shook even more, until I could barely hold the staff weapon up. It was too hard, I couldn't do it, I couldn't hold it back. I choked out a shattered breath. Then, in one swift movement, Daniel moved in to grab the live weapon as I crumbled to the ground. I vaguely heard it being disarmed, then he was on my level grabbing my face and forcing me to look at him. He was saying… words… but I couldn't make them out. Couldn't hear anything other than her gasps, laboured breathing and cries from the pain that flashed through her dying body as my vision faded. The last thing I remember were memories of her impossible request - to live for us both.