In the midst of the boundless expanse of the cosmos, the Ha'tak mothership that Philip Coulson and his team were on emerged from the tenebrous depths of subspace. Its immense pyramidal form moved resolutely towards the derelict planet in its sights. The Goa'uld mothership settled into a stable orbit around the ancient celestial body, aligning its hall with the equator of the forgotten world. This planet, a relic of time immemorial, bore the scars of eons etched upon its surface – a tapestry of shifting dunes and windswept wastelands stretching far and wide. Peering at it from the bridge, Phil felt like he could almost sense the secrets hidden on the forgotten world. A part of him wished he could figure out what was concealed within the whispers of the arid winds and the haunting silence of the dead world.
The Goa'uld crew moved with calculated purpose, their gold-adorned attire glinting as they manned their stations. It was impressive how well-trained these people he had heard were called Jaffa were.
Hemera, the Lady of the vessel, sat in what could not be mistaken for anything other than a throne, leaning on one armrest lazily as she watched the scene below. At first glance, the planet did look deserted, but after a few moments, Agent Coulson noticed the faint emerald patches that graced the polar regions – an oasis of life amidst the planet's desolation. These pockets of green almost looked like a disease on a brown globe below.
"Don't do a lot of space travel in your universe?"
Phil glanced to the voice at his left and saw the female major who had spoken a few times before. Samantha Carter wore the green jumpsuit that appeared to be standard issue for their "SG Teams," with an FN P-90 clipped to the black tactical vest she was wearing.
"No," Philip said with a shake of his head and an amused smile on his face as he looked back towards the planet. "My reality only recently discovered the existence of aliens when they tried to invade New York. We've been racing since to get to the stars, but not with much success."
"Really?" Major Carter asked, amused. "We've been working hard here to keep the rest of humanity from knowing about the aliens."
"Why?"
"We don't think they'll react well. Did your people?"
Coulson chuckled. They both knew the answer to that.
"My lady."
The two humans turned to see a heavily armored man stomp in and drop to his knee while he gripped his staff weapon like, well, a staff.
"Our scout ships have located the ruins you have described. It is located in the southern pole of this planet."
"Excellent," Hemera spoke for the first time in a while, her strange voice echoing. "Prepare the drop ships. It is time we stop this monster from returning."
The drop ships descended through the atmosphere of the forgotten world, their sleek forms cutting through the thin veil of clouds that lingered over the surface. Inside one of the ships, Coulson's team gathered together, double-checking their equipment one more time. Their expressions were focused and determined. This was the first step in the direction to stop the being called Sovereign. The turbulence was palpable as the ships approached the surface, and Coulson could see the desolate landscape rushing up to meet them.
The landing was surprisingly smooth, and the team disembarked from the ship, weapons drawn and the dull thud of their boots against the rocky ground echoing in the stillness of the planet. The landscape was even more haunting up close – a desolate expanse of wind-sculpted dunes and ancient rock formations, with seas of green grass somehow surviving. It was as if time itself had forgotten this place.
Agent Coulson looked around at his team. Kitty Pryde was close to Sif, while Volstagg walked with Teal'C and the rest of the SG team. Doctor Jackson was already crouched down, examining the ground where a solid black stone was protruding from the grass. Lady Hemera, the Goa'uld leader, stood regally nearby, her eyes scanning the horizon. Jack, Clint, and Teal'c were already farther ahead – each of them fanned out, weapons at the ready, scouting the surroundings for any signs of danger.
Dominating the area was the massive structure in front of them. The ancient obsidian palace dominated the barren landscape, its towering form carved from the depths of obsidian black. Jutting defiantly from the desolate ground, it bore the weight of ages with an unwavering presence. Etched across its surface were sinuous patterns, catching glimmers of light like veins of precious metal. The monolith's edges were as sharp as forgotten memories, and its surface, though polished by time, retained an air of foreboding. The entrance, a seamless seam in the onyx façade, seemed alien when stared at for too long.
"Daniel, any idea where this ancient structure is?" Coulson asked, his eyes roaming over the building's surface.
Jackson stood up, brushing the dust off his hands. "No. I've never seen anything like this before. The stone feels like obsidian, but there is a different quality to it. I don't think this material exists anywhere else in our galaxy."
Hemera approached, her eyes narrowing as she studied the landscape. "The entrance to this structure – it is well-hidden. Lumos told me that even when we come here, it would not be easy to find. They only wanted someone worthy to enter and take its secret."
Coulson nodded. "Alright, let's move in teams. Daniel, Sam, Hemera, and I will work on finding a way to open that entrance. Jack, Sif, Clint, Teal'c, see if you can find an alternative route in."
The SG team glanced at Colonel O'Neill, who just gave a small nod. The Air Force airmen immediately began their assignments. The teams split up, each heading in their designated direction. Coulson, Jackson, and Hemera walked together, their eyes scanning the building for any anomalies that would give away its entrance. The desert wind whistled through the barren landscape, carrying with it a sense of solitude.
Doctor Jackson climbed the two large steps to get close to one of the fat pillars holding up the open roof above them, much like the old Grecian buildings of old. He leaned to examine the symbols that seemed to circle the pillar.
"Do you recognize any of these symbols?" Philip asked, stepping up beside the bookworm who pushed his glasses back up his nose again.
"No. I've never seen this language before. None of these symbols make any-"
Jackson broke off as his eyes locked onto one of them. The closest Philip could think to describe it was an abstract being with wings outstretched, sitting off-center in a hexagon shape.
"Doctor-"
Daniel immediately turned to see Samantha coming up, and he stepped to block her, but it appeared to be too late. When her blue eyes fell on the symbol, the gamut of emotions that ran across her face were unknown. He did recognize startled, pain, and then exhaustion.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Sam," Jackson said. "I was going to try and warn you."
Major Carter put her hand on her friend's shoulder and leaned there for a moment, trying to regain her mental bearings.
"Doctor," Coulson started again while Hemera watched them all keenly from the bottom of the tall steps. Daniel gave him a look that he translated as 'Don't ask, I'll explain later.'
Sif's voice crackled over the radio clipped to Phil's tactical vest, interrupting the emotional moment. "Coulson, we've scouted around the perimeter. No luck on finding any way in."
"Understood," Phil said clicking the button with a pop. "Make your way back. I'm pretty sure it's here. We just can't find a way to open it."
"On our way."
By the time the conversation was over, Phil looked back and found that Carter had retreated down the steps and was planning to meet up with the team coming back, while Jackson went back to the symbols, this time with his leather-bound journal out.
"Daniel," Phil said, stepping closer, and the archaeologist glanced at him for a second, considered not saying anything, and then sighed.
"It's a long story, but there was someone we knew who we thought was our friend and turned out to be... something. We were trying to discover a new weapon that the System Lords were scared of, and in the end, he turned on us. Sam was hurt the most. I think she grew close to him and he used her to get the device. That symbol was associated with him. We didn't expect to see it out here."
Phil nodded. It sounded like this team had been through the wringer, and that explained the shock. He gave the archaeologist a pat on the shoulder before returning down where Hemera was waiting.
"Any thoughts?"
"No," the alien parasite responded with the human woman's body. "My knowledge ends at these steps, for these steps I saw in my visions given by Lumos. Nothing else."
Jack and the rest of the team returned, and the Colonel seemed to pick up on Carter's emotional mood change. The leader of the team looked to Coulson, expecting a response.
"Something to do with a symbol they found up on the pillar," Coulson said, thumbing over his shoulder to the site. Jackson had returned and spoke.
"It's the Traveler's Ward."
"Ah," Jack growled, his mouth becoming a thin line. "Jordan Stone."
Major Carter winced at the name, even though she was trying not to.
"Mister Coulson."
Phil turned to the voice he had not heard for most of the trip. She was slightly shorter than him, but Kitty Pryde seemed to be able to handle herself. Her brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she wore the subtle yellow outfit with black trimming like the rest of her X-Men team used as a uniform.
"I can get in there," Kitty said, nodding towards the door. "I have the ability to phase through."
"No," Jack stepped in quickly. "We don't know what's on the other side. You could walk right into a trap and get killed."
Hemera shook her head, causing the luscious dark curls to bounce. "If this Tau'ri has the ability to phase through materials, it is something we have to risk. We do not have time to dally. Our foe is going to know we are planning something. He is very clever."
"Plus," Kitty continued, holding out her hand. "If I am holding onto someone, they can phase with me. I can go in. I just need to know who."
No one had a chance to volunteer as the giant of a man, Volstagg, stepped forward, holding the hilt of his sword still in the sheath.
"I shall go with you, fair lady. I have not had a chance to assist in this quest. It is time that I do."
"This is extremely risky," Clint offered. "You could get trapped."
"I don't see any other solution to this," Teal'c finally spoke. "This may be our only chance to stop the demon before it destroys more."
Agent Coulson was not happy with the choice he had to make, but he looked at the young woman and gave a nod. A smile spread across her face, and she held her hand out to Volstagg.
"Ready for a wild ride, big guy?"
Volstagg managed a hearty grin. "Fear not, fair lady, for even the most daunting adventures are but steps on the path of valor."
Jack O'Neill rolled his eyes.
The bravery that Kitty had shown was for everyone's benefit. Inside, she had been quaking. The young member of the X-Men had realized earlier on that the only way to get in was going to be with her mutant powers. Honestly, she was glad to feel the strong hand of the Asgardian warrior gripping her own.
To say it was disorienting would have been an understatement, but it was something that Kitty had grown used to. Passing through the wall was much harder than she had thought, the molecules of the alien material dense enough that she felt as if she was swimming through mud. When they emerged from the other side, Volstagg stumbled before gripping her shoulder and steadying himself.
"Are you sure Loki did not grant you these powers?" he said, trying to calm his breathing. "They feel like something he would curse an individual with."
Kitty was going to protest, but she saw the mirth in his eyes. The two turned to look at what they were facing.
Beyond the antechamber's threshold, Kitty Pryde and Volstagg found themselves in an inner sanctum that defied the boundaries of their known reality. The chamber before them radiated an otherworldly luminescence, casting intricate shadows that seemed to dance across every surface. Kitty was sure that time did not have any meaning here. There was something strange in the way the air hugged her exposed skin.
The walls of the inner chamber were a convergence of contrasting elements – a fusion of ancient craftsmanship and futuristic design. Carvings etched into the obsidian surface depicted scenes that spanned epochs, intertwining the past, present, and future. The obsidian itself seemed to pulse with an inner light, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the entire chamber.
Above, an expansive dome of iridescent crystal spanned the chamber's apex, revealing a celestial panorama that was both breathtaking and surreal. Floating in the chamber's center, suspended by an unseen force, were colossal crystals that emanated a harmonious hum. Their surfaces were adorned with shimmering patterns that seemed to shift randomly but with a hint of unknown design.
"Now what?" Kitty finally said as she took in their surroundings.
That answer came sooner than they thought. The crystals seemed to shimmer and pulse at the sound of their voices. The air filled with the chorus of millions of voices that blended together in a loud roar. They spoke out in a language that they had never heard.
"Fin tiid do al los ahst hal. Fin Kruziik Rah lost bo ahst laat. Ahst yol fin lein ag. Rok bo voth yu-von kun. Pah fen dir."
As abruptly as it started, the sound ended. Kitty pulled herself back to her feet, but the panic returned as a beam of green light lanced out from the crystal in the center, struck her in the chest, and began to tear her body apart at the DNA level!
