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Chapter 18: Titanomachy

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Part 3

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Ra's yacht

Abydos

Milky Way Galaxy

Ra was a kriffing bastard of a snake. I wanted to have him in my grasp to kill him again. Preferably more than once. He first nearly blew me up with this ship's self-destruct sequence, and then even with a broken mind and dying… I glowered at the armored panels covering a broken viewport. Ultimately, Ra managed to blow himself up, denying me his secrets. He could have killed me as well. I was too busy imprinting my neural signature in the computer core when his escape ship blew up beside the viewport. That thing had an armored panel ready to cover it for an excellent reason. Transparent metals tended to be weaker than ordinary ones, no matter what kind of alloy.

Shards of Ra's ship came close enough to take off my head that their passage ripped the side of my face, even though I managed to shield myself with the Force in the last moment. If I had to deal with the Dark Side's shenanigans like before, I might have died on this bridge.

It would have been such an idiotic way to die, all because of the stupidity and arrogance of my allies. That I might have done the same in their position did little to soothe my boiling fury.

I sat on the command throne, interfaced with the ship's computer core, and focused on ensuring no more nasty surprises. I had to divide my attention between keeping an eye for any of Ra's warriors who might want to try their luck with killing me, my current work, and trying to get Gorski and the single other Space Wolf still alive on board out of the predicament I left them in. They had retreated into a room with a single entrance and were busy stacking a barricade of corpses in front of them.

It was a simple thing to override the targeting parameters of the remaining internal defenses. They shut down briefly before rebooting and opening fire on Ra's guard.

With that problem solved as well as it could get, I brought more attention to the ships' computer systems. Ra's codes and neural signature with administrative privileges went a long way in ensuring there was nothing immediately problematic. In the long run, I would want the data crystals of the computer core replaced, if not the whole thing, just in case.

Until then, my current efforts have to do.

The next issue was Ra's Al'kesh and Death Gliders buzzing around the pyramid back on the planet. The fighters were of no consequence. The bomber could go into hyperspace; if it did, I would be out of time.

I overrode the safeties of the engines, shunted power to the shields, and guided the Cheops toward the atmosphere. My speed and approach vector would mean that the Al'kesh clearly visible on the sensors couldn't outrun me, get to orbit, and jump away. The weapon and targeting systems came online, and power flowed into them.

The ship shook as it hit the atmosphere and tore through it. The shields glowed as they pushed air away, which ignited from the friction, bathing them in fire.

Plasma cannons locked on each target, though I didn't soot yet. Doing so at this distance meant that they might evade and try to run. Ensuring kills would require enough firepower to kill everyone in the area. I wouldn't wipe out some of my best soldiers as long as I had other options.

The internal sensor showed me a small group of Ra's guards trying to sneak on the bridge from the side I didn't wreck upon my approach. I slowed down the rate of descent and turned my head to look at the door they were about to breach. It slid open, and shock grenades rolled in. I wrapped myself in the Force just in time to absorb the energy blasts that bathed the bridge in light. Ra's loyalists burst inside, aiming my way. For their trouble, I froze them in place with the force and returned most of my attention to the small craft below. They were now close enough that there was no evading my ship's weapons. Ten light plasma cannons opened fire. Four shots hit a Death Glider, and burning metal rained upon the sand.

The Al'kesh were even less fortunate. I was taking no chance with it and struck it with enough firepower to vaporize the damn thing. A single weakened plasma blast tore through the expanding cloud of vapor that used to be a bomber and turned most of a dune into a lake of molten glass.

With the immediate threats gone, I guided the Cheops to land on the pyramid before locking down the computer core with my signature and code words in Mandalorian.

I frowned at the still-frozen warriors, wondering if preserving a few of them for interrogation was worth it. My shredded face stung at the movement, something fierce. I gave them a good look. They appeared to be regular rank and file – no decoration to show a higher status.

Death it was then. I let the stasis go on all but one and fried them with lightning, letting my rage at the situation boil over before it could become overwhelming under the lock and key I kept. The trickle of life force that leaked my way made me feel better.

The last of Ra's loyalists to try and kill me for now wasn't so fortunate. When I dropped the stasis holding him, I grabbed him with the Force and slammed him on the floor. Now that he was disarmed and in no position to be a problem, I drained his life away, rejuvenating and healing myself. Drinking in and enjoying his horror did little to soothe me.

By the time I was done, there was little more than a dead husk inside the armor.

I took out my lightsaber and ignited it, using it to take the arm of the corpse at my feet. His armguard had a built-in remote for the ring system, which should work. I wouldn't necessarily say the same for those on the corpses I left in my wake making my way to the bridge.

Instead of having more fun with Ra's warriors, I headed for the transporter. I had to get more of my Jaffa up in the ship so they could secure it and deal with any stragglers, and then I had to begin dealing with the utter mess my allies created. They would be making it up to me even if it killed them all.

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Part 4

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Ra's Temple

Abydos

Milky Way Galaxy

A shot of adrenaline and a stimulant with potential side effects Carter didn't want to think about got her to her feet. However, her nervous system still wasn't cooperating properly. At least she could move and talk if she ambled and was careful not to speak too fast. She was one of the first people the surviving medics focused on because she was the highest-ranking officer left in the expedition who had a chance to rapidly recover and take charge of the utter mess.

Captain Price was the only other officer of Carter's rank who was reasonably well – he only lost his right arm just about the elbow and suffered nasty burns that combined were enough to put him into shock he was likely to pull out of.

Major Kowalski was nowhere to be found, possibly taken on board the alien ship that briefly landed on the pyramid. Major Ferretti was a mess of burns and wouldn't be in charge of anything anytime soon. However, he was out of immediate danger.

Colonel O'Neill would survive if they could get him into a trauma center in the next hour or two, though his career was over.

"Junior officers?" Carter rasped.

The Sergeant briefing her was the highest-ranked survivor from the German contingent. His left arm was shredded and burned, then hastily bound to his side. The left side of his face was scorched. He was holding an antiseptic pad to his cheek.

Sergeant Verner was still one of the few NCOs who were on their feet, doing their best to organize the survivors.

"Lieutenant Leoben, ma'am. She's a doctor and is currently arms-deep in some poor bastard trying to keep them alive. We are out of Lieutenants otherwise," Verner's voice sounded like Carter felt, which wasn't a point in their favor.

The pyramid shook again, just like it had shaken soon after the attack had begun. Carter stiffened and looked around, searching for a weapon. To her surprise, the Jaffa, which pulled them out of the fire, just glanced at the ceiling and continued to mind their business. Their commander was nearby, issuing orders. He saw how the survivors of the expedition reached and shook his head.

"Humans, if our God lost, the enemy wouldn't be landing again. They will be smiting this location from orbit," the Jaffa said loudly, yet slowly and clearly, so everyone familiar with the Goa'uld language would understand him.

Despite that reassurance, Carter noticed how more than a few of the Jaffa ceased policing the alien casualties and helping their wounded and moved towards the breach beside the Stargate.

"If they're back, we grab one of the alien rifles, and we kill as many of them as we can," Verner shrugged, then groaned when the motion made his wounds flare in pain.

Carter nodded slowly. There really wasn't anything else to be done. Still, while Verner reported everything else he knew, Samantha ensured they were near a stack of recovered alien weapons, just in case. She heard the distinct sound of whatever transport device the enemy used to surprise them. Moments later, cheers echoed throughout the pyramid.

Carter looked towards the ruined wall and the Jaffa visible through the holes. They parted, each saluting by slamming an armored fist over their hearts, making Samantha's abused ears ring. The golden armored figure who came through the Stargate first was walking through. His eagle-shaped helmet was gone, revealing a half-ruined face with angry, red scars.

The Captain saw something descending through the ceiling around Jaffa behind Perun. A bright light shone through what looked like rings, and then the soldiers vanished, and the construct pulled back into the ceiling. Then, another group took their place.

Perun walked around the blown-up wall. Cheering Jaffa heralded his arrival in the larger chamber.

"Vasil, take charge of securing the ship. I want Ra's remaining honor guard dead. Capture anyone else and bring them out for interrogation. Gorski and one of my Space Wolves are still alive up there. Get them healed and revive our recoverable dead," Perun ordered.

Carter was fluent enough in Goa'uld to understand him. She could also hear the barely contained anger in his tone.

The alien Warlord turned her way and fixed her with eyes that glowed in a manner vastly different than Lady Lyda's.

"Who is in charge of this disaster, human?" Perun demanded of her.

He spoke English in the odd accent Samantha recognized from the recordings she had seen.

"I am Captain Samantha Carter, the ranking officer left, Lord Perun. We are grateful for your timely assistance," Carter paused, wondering if a bow was customary or required.

Perun looked around. His burning eyes went over the wounded, and he frowned, walking past her. Samantha followed, and Verner immediately followed.

"Colonel, O'Neill," Perun concluded when he reached a couple of medics trying to keep Carter's CO alive. "He is one of the few humans I like," Perun explained. He turned to his soldiers and pointed at one of them. "Get this warrior to the Sarcophagus in the ship after reviving your fallen brothers."

"We will, Lord Perun!" The Jaffa saluted while staring at Perun as if he were the second coming of Christ.

Before Carter could say anything, she looked up at Perun, towering above her in his armor. His glowing eyes stared into her very soul, or so it felt.

"Make a list of your recoverable dead and their skill sets. I will see the most useful of them revived for a price."

That offer and its sheer implication made Carter forget whatever she was about to say. She intellectually knew that the Goa'uld might be able to bring back the recent dead. Technically, modern medical science could do the same – it wasn't that long ago when someone whose heart stopped would be considered dead for good, though that was no longer the case. It wasn't surprising that doctors could do more with technology that was advanced enough. Brain damage, if healed, would significantly mitigate the effects of a brain left without oxygen for too long after the heart ceased beating. In that regard, permanent memory loss would be the most significant issue.

Skills like walking and talking could be learned again. The sheer possibilities…

"Ah, a scientist. I've seen that glean in the eyes of many," Perun smirked before his scarred face twisted into a frown. "Get me that list, Captain Carter, before more of your people become unrecoverable casualties. Then, if you can, explain why you are here."

"Opportunity to see another world?" Carter blurted out before she could think things through. "Orders too…"

"It doesn't matter. I will discuss this foolishness with your superiors and how war is now inevitable," Perun growled.

"War, Lord Perun?" Carter inquired. She had been too busy grasping the situation to consider the long-term fallout.

"I just killed Ra to keep our alliance secret. Otherwise, we would all be dead in short order. With him gone, it is only a matter of time before the galaxy burns in a civil war. Your superiors have much to answer for!" Perun declared and walked away, leaving Carter speechless.

Instead of leaving, he went to the wall of the chamber and began examining it. He raised his hands, and crates with supplies, equipment, and weaponry moved aside, dragging across the stone floor. He made a grasping motion, just like back in the Stargate chamber. This time, instead of Jaffa flying into his grasp, a section of the wall shattered, and large chunks flew at Perun until they were before him, where the debris simply floated for a moment. He waved his hands and the rest of the fake wall shattered and crumbled to the floor.

Carter numbly walked forward to see what the Warlord found. More than a few of his Jaffa did the same.

After a gesture from Perun, a chemical light lying forgotten on the floor flew into the hidden room, illuminating chests chock-full of gold and jewelry. That was a literal king's ransom in there!

Instead of being happy at his find, Perun scoffed. He floated the chests, then dumped them into the chamber. The old wood shattered at the impact, spilling millions in gold and gems.

"Gather the treasure and divide it among yourselves. The family of anyone who is unrecoverably dead will receive a larger share," Perun declared.

Well, that wasn't what she expected, though it did fit Perun's profile as a successful and cunning Warlord who took care of his people to keep them loyal.

Carter heard shattering stones again before the Warlord returned, carrying a very big dusty crystal encased in gold. He raised his prize to look at it better. Samantha watched with fascination how the dust parted away as if brushed aside with a cloth. The gold encasing tore asunder and floated away before dropping to the stone floor with a dull clang.

"So this is why Ra came here for his vacation," Perun spoke to himself in Goa'uld, before looking back at Samantha. "It appears you were extremely unlucky, Captain Carter. If Ra didn't have hidden caches for rainy days to check upon on this world, he wouldn't have chosen this backwater as his vacation spot," He looked at her. "That you were so unfortunate makes your choice to come here no less foolish."