A
Tale of Two Moralities
by
Lex
This was first published in the zine Splinters in 2003
Once upon a time... isn't that the way all good fairytales begin?
I think it is, so that's how we shall start this one. Once upon a time,
there was a group of very special people. Each was blessed with gifts
that are infrequently given to us ordinary folk, among them beauty,
courage, intelligence and wisdom. These people had been through many
adventures in the days and months they had been together, yet still
had many more adventures to come before their work would be done. Our
story is about one particular adventure on one particular day... a day
when things are not going as well as could be hoped at Stargate Command.
We begin our tale with the leader of our group of intrepid adventurers.
Colonel Jack O'Neill is wise, rugged, silver-haired and a tad cheeky.
Colonel Jack is also having a good day, all things considered. His reports
are written, his team is safe, and he'd caught the rather charming and
sexy sergeant at the security desk eyeing his butt when he arrived on
base this morning. Ah yes, a good day indeed.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end.
Colonel Jack wandered blithely into the SGC's control room, all prepared
to get another gold star on his report card by handing in his mission
summary. But General George apparently wasn't having a good day at all.
Instead, he was frowning over the complete lack of the fluctuating glow
of an established wormhole.
"How overdue is SG-9?" General George asked.
"Coming up on eleven hours, sir," Sergeant, er... was it Walter? responded.
General George blew out a concerned breath. "That's not like Major Benton.
Dial P2A018. Try to establish radio contact from our end."
"Sir?" Colonel Jack butted in breezily. "What's going on?"
"SG-9 is on an extended mission to re-establish diplomatic relations
with P2A018."
That sounded vaguely familiar. "Zero one eight?"
"Latona -- one of several planets visited by the NID while running their
off-world programme. Major Benton has spent several months trying to
negotiate access to a defensive weapon they call the 'sentinel'. It's
supposed to be capable of defending their entire planet."
Colonel Jack nodded; it was definitely ringing some bells. "Yeah, I
read the report."
"Well, they were scheduled to return early this morning." The watery
flush of the forming wormhole sent speckles of light across the general's
grim face.
"Standing by, sir," Sergeant Walter said. "MALP relay is active."
General George spoke into the microphone. "This is Hammond. SG-9, report."
Silence was his only response. "Major Benton, you are overdue. Please
respond."
A crackling voice stuttered across the loudspeakers. "General... this
is Lieutenant Grogan. Major Benton was... please... the stargate...
Latonans tried to... with the... didn't work."
"Lieutenant, can you make it back to the stargate?"
"Negative. There are too many Jaffa... by a staff... there's no way
I can get back to the stargate. Under fire--" The voice cut off.
General George closed his eyes briefly, not a happy man. "Sergeant,
shut it down."
The wormhole vanished, and Colonel Jack worried that the possibility
of SG-9's survival vanished with it.
Colonel Jack was proud of his team's promptness. Obviously he was proud
of them for a great deal more than that, but that's another story and
not something we have time to discuss here if we're to keep on track.
Where were we? Ah yes, SG-1 were gathered together in the briefing room
a mere twenty minutes later. Doctor Daniel had his hands wrapped around
a steaming coffee mug, Major Sam was making notes on her latest naquada
reactor schematic, and Master Teal'c was creating a rather good sketch
of Oprah.
General George pressed a button on his remote control, and all eyes
focussed on a shaky video recording of an old man.
<Okay, Marul, go ahead,> a disembodied voice said.
<Your friends will see me?> the old man -- Marul -- replied.
<Not right now. I'll send your greeting back with my report.>
<What shall I say?>
<Anything you like.>
Marul shrugged, obviously mystified by the activity.
<How about hello?> the voice suggested rather impatiently.
The old man tottered up to the camera, a bemused smile on his face.
<Hello.>
<That'll be fine.>
General George flicked off the recording and turned back to the table.
"The rat bastard," Colonel Jack growled.
"I thought he came across as very nice," Doctor Daniel pouted.
"The voice behind the camera," Colonel Jack explained. Doctor
Daniel's eyebrows flicked upwards in a dance of comprehension. "Oh,"
he said.
"Colonel Sean Greaves," General George broke in, "Formerly of the NID.
He led an off-world team for Colonel Maybourne and was one of the members
of that organisation convicted of high treason for his actions."
"And what was Greaves' team trying to steal?" Doctor Daniel asked.
"The Latonans possess a planetary defence they call the sentinel, which
has apparently kept them safe from the Goa'uld for generations."
"I can see why the NID would want to get their hands on it," Major Sam
said, her eyes already sparkling with possibilities.
Colonel Jack jumped in before she had a chance to wax lyrical about
what miracles the technology might perform once she got her talented
hands on it. "We put them all away before they could," he said.
"Frankly," General George said, "I'm afraid Colonel Greaves' team may
have done something to the sentinel device they haven't admitted to."
"Fiddling around with it, was he?"
"According to his report," Major Sam said, "The Latonans never granted
Greaves' team access to the sentinel device before they were recalled
and arrested."
"You don't think it's possible for an NID operative to lie?" Doctor
Daniel asked, plastering an innocent expression on his face in an attempt
to disguise his sarcasm.
Apparently, he failed.
"I believe it is, Doctor Daniel Jackson."
Doctor Daniel glanced at Master Teal'c, unsure whether he was joking.
"Right. Um. So if Greaves' team disabled the Latonans' only means of
self defence..."
"We're responsible," Major Sam finished his sentence, as was frequently
the way of those two.
"Greaves is responsible, thank you," Colonel Jack snapped, determined
not to get blamed for anything he hadn't done.
"I doubt the Latonans would appreciate that distinction, Colonel."
"Time will be of the essence," Master Teal'c said. "The Goa'uld forces
SG-9 encountered on Latona were most likely sent through the stargate
as a test."
"To determine if the sentinel was operational?"
"And by now they'll have reported back," Doctor Daniel said, his forehead
wrinkling in a frown.
"A Goa'uld mothership is most likely not far off if the Goa'uld believe
that Latona may now be conquered."
Colonel Jack considered Master Teal'c's assessment. "Might be a good
time to try out that new guidance system on the UAV, sir."
"I think that can be arranged."
"Sir," Major Sam said, "Before we go anywhere we need to talk to Greaves."
Colonel Jack was incredulous. "Why?"
"Well, whether we like it or not, sir, Colonel Greaves and Lieutenant
Kershaw may be the only people qualified to fix it."
Colonel Jack really didn't want to go. In fact, he'd rather have hot,
pointy spikes driven through his eyeballs than have to spend one minute
in the company of the malicious and treasonous Colonel Sean. But in
spite of the disgust coiling in his gut at the very idea, Colonel Jack
was a hero through and through. He knew they needed the information
if his team were to save the world again (even if it wasn't his world
he was saving this time).
He sighed. "I'll go."
As is the habit with drama, once the heroes have been introduced
and the challenge set, it is time to meet the enemy. And as is the habit
with all good drama, things aren't necessarily as they seem.
Colonel Jack sat back in the bare metal chair and drummed his fingers
on the stark metal table. If he had his way he'd only have to talk to
the little sneak for ten minutes, get the information he needed and
get out. This place gave him the willies.
With a rattle of chains, Colonel Sean was led into the room.
"You're dismissed," Colonel Jack said to the looming guard. The man
didn't move. Maybe he was deaf. Or stupid.
"He's worried I might try to kill you," Colonel Sean drawled. The guard
loomed closer.
"In that case, I insist." Colonel Jack waved the guard away, then gave
in to his urge to poke fun at the bad colonel. "Had many visitors lately?
Maybourne stop by to see how the old team's doing?"
"What do you want, O'Neill?"
Colonel Jack was tempted to sulk at Colonel Sean's unwillingness to
rise to the bait. He restrained himself, however. He was the good guy,
after all. "P2A018. A device called the sentinel."
"What about it?"
"I need to know what you did to screw it up and what I need to do to
fix it."
"I'm more inclined to tell you where to shove it."
"As we speak, SG-9 is either pinned down by the Goa'uld or dead. So
let's just cut the crap, okay?"
"How is this my problem?"
"Zero one eight is defenceless because of you."
"Earth is defenceless because of you. You don't seem to have a problem
with that."
Colonel Jack gritted his teeth, clamping down on his frustration. "You
stole technology from our allies. If I hadn't shut you down, they would
have."
"Do you really think the Asgaard or the Tok'ra will really rush to our
defence when the Goa'uld finally decide to stomp on us? That day is
coming, Colonel. Don't kid yourself."
"Okay. I guess I should just go have a chat with Kershaw." Colonel Jack
stood up and headed for the door. But before he reached it Colonel Sean
fell for his blatant ploy, speaking up in a rather desperate tone.
"The Latonans didn't want to show us the sentinel. We found it ourselves
not far from the city. There was a force field guarding the device itself.
Kershaw and I took almost two weeks to get in, take it apart and put
it back together good as new."
Colonel Jack turned back to face him. "Not good as new. You did something
wrong."
"The only thing we did wrong was come back to base to meet our new CO.
It's funny, at the time I was looking forward to meeting you."
"I need you to write down exactly how you got in and exactly what I
need to do to fix this."
"If I do anything at all, I want my sentence commuted."
"I think that's understood going in."
"And you'll need to take us with you. Kershaw and me."
"SG-1 can handle it."
"Who do you think you are?" Colonel Sean sneered. "We were good, O'Neill,
every bit as good as you. We believed what we were doing was for the
good of the country. And if you hadn't put me in here we might have
had our own sentinel by now."
Colonel Jack was already bored with Colonel Sean's whining. "You done?"
"I don't care how good Carter thinks she is or how cocky you are. The
device is way too complicated for you to try to repair without us. You
already know that or you wouldn't be here."
Which was true, and Colonel Jack knew it.
Rats.
Colonel Jack kept one eye on the shifty Colonel Sean and watched the
monitors in the control room with the other eye while Major Sam worked
her techy magic.
"Receiving telemetry," Major Sam reported. "Confirming two staff canon
emplacements concealed twenty metres or so from the gate. We got lucky,
sir. The canons weren't able to down the UAV before it was out of their
range."
"Begin painting the targets as soon as the UAV reaches altitude," General
George instructed. "Close the blast doors and prepare to launch."
"Prepare to launch."
The UAV in the gate room flared impressively into life and vanished
through the gate at high speed. Several Jaffa appeared on the monitors,
mere specks of soon-to-be blood and bone splattered mess.
"Target sierra one has been acquired."
"Sergeant, launch when ready."
Two totally cool missiles were rapidly lowered into place in front of
the gate. The first missile fired, vanishing in an instant on its deadly
mission. A Jaffa on the monitor stared dumbly into the missile's camera,
then twisted around to see a green dot dancing on his staff canon. Puzzlement
was the last expression to cross his face before the picture went to
static. Damn, thought Colonel Jack, we never get to see the really good
bits.
"Sierra one has been destroyed. Attempting to acquire sierra two."
Colonel Sean spoke up. "How do you know those are the only emplacements
guarding the gate?"
"We don't," Colonel Jack said.
"Sierra two has been acquired by UAV."
"Launch when ready."
The second missile fled through the gate. The camera caught the remaining
Jaffa turning tail and running from their canon emplacement as if they'd
finally grown a brain. Too late.
"Sierra two has been destroyed. But I can't confirm casualties. UAV
switching to recon mode for stage 2."
"That's us," Colonel Jack said.
"Colonel," General George said, "SG-3 will take point."
"Yes, sir."
Colonel Jack led Major Sam and Colonel Sean to the gate room just as
Master Teal'c, Doctor Daniel and Lieutenant Maggie Kershaw walked through
the opposite door. Lieutenant Maggie was even smaller than her erstwhile
commanding officer, but rumour had it she had been pretty ruthless while
running loose around the galaxy. Not that it was smart to believe in
rumours, but Colonel Jack had made damn sure that his team wouldn't
let their guard down for a second around these mean and nasty people.
"Kershaw," Colonel Sean greeted her.
She nodded to him but didn't answer; her sullen face spoke volumes without
need for words.
"Major Lawrence," Colonel Jack said, "Make it a clean sweep."
"Yes, sir."
Colonel Jack turned to Master Teal'c, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Why don't you go with them? Keep 'em out of trouble. We'll be on your
six in sixty seconds."
Major Do Or Die Lawrence rallied his team. "SG-3, let's go!" They charged
up the ramp and through the wormhole, all keen and eager to get into
the fight. Colonel Jack rolled his eyes -- you never could beat Marines
for pure, unadulterated showmanship.
"I'll say it again," Colonel Sean said, "I don't like the thought of
going into this unarmed."
Colonel Jack glared at the man. There was always someone who had to
spoil everyone else's fun. "I don't care."
"I feel better just knowing there's an archaeologist watching our back,"
Lieutenant Sulky muttered.
Doctor Daniel held up his knife, inspecting it closely. "Yeah, which
end do the bullets go in again?" Colonel Jack forced down the smirk
that desperately wanted to get out.
"I'd be happy to show you," Colonel Sean said.
Colonel Jack threw Colonel Sean a glance that just flowed off his back
like slime off a rat. "Our mission objective is to fix whatever you
screwed up. If you get any ideas other than that, I'll shoot you. Understood?"
"Yeah."
"Move out."
Colonel Jack turned for one last long-suffering look at General George
before heading through the gate after his team.
At last we're away -- our heroes' journey into danger begins. The players
are in place and the task is set. It is destined to be far harder than
Colonel Jack expected. But then, isn't that always the way?
Colonel Jack took in the scene in his first few seconds through the
gate. Latona was your everyday planet with your everyday trees, your
everyday overcast skies, and your everyday power-hungry Goa'uld plus
minions out to cause trouble. Naturally there wasn't time to kick back
and relax, which was fine considering the lack of good fishing spots
in the vicinity.
"No sign of SG-3," Major Sam reported.
Colonel Jack thumbed his radio. "SG-3, this is SG-1 Niner. Report."
Master Teal'c jogged up to the gate from beyond a low ridge. "Three
Jaffa warriors survived the missile attack. SG-3 is in pursuit to prevent
them from reporting our arrival. Major Lawrence suggests we continue
on."
Colonel Jack turned to Colonel Sean. "Well?"
"You want me to take point without a weapon?"
"I want you to point Teal'c in the right direction."
Colonel Sean pointed north, and the team set out at a rapid pace. Doctor
Daniel hung back with Colonel Jack, something obviously on his very
clever mind.
"Just out of curiosity, how many years did you promise to take off their
sentence if they manage to fix this?"
"Actually, they'll get a few more years out of this."
"More?"
"They were on death row."
Our happy band of explorers had travelled maybe three kilometres from
the gate when Major Sam finally gave in to her overwhelming curiosity.
"So how did you manage to find the sentinel if the Latonans didn't want
to show it to you?"
"Maybe we're good?" Lieutenant Sulky said.
"Bribed the locals, eh?" Colonel Jack chuckled.
Colonel Sean glanced at him. "I see you've done your homework."
Doctor Daniel held up a finger because he just knew Colonel Sean was
erring on the side of bullshit. "Major Benton's preliminary report said
the Latonans were egalitarian. They don't use currency of any kind.
They don't care about material things."
"Everybody's got their price," Colonel Jack muttered.
Master Teal'c halted, raising his hand to motion everyone down. Colonel
Jack crept forward with him, scanning the land for any signs of danger.
He discovered just the opposite. Lieutenant Will Grogan was leaning
up against a rock, his arms wrapped around his P-90 as if it were a
teddy bear, snoring gently.
Colonel Jack reached down and tugged Lieutenant Will's weapon from his
cold fingers. Lieutenant Will snapped awake, fear flashing across his
face. "Colonel?"
"Grogan." He handed the P-90 back.
"There was a Jaffa patrol on my six most of the day," Lieutenant Will
said in an attempt to explain away his sleeping on the job. He scrubbed
a hand over his face a couple of times, trying to kick-start his brain.
"I decided to stop running and fight it out."
"How long ago?" Master Teal'c asked.
"Last night. I guess I passed out and they went right by me. They'll
be long gone."
"Where's the rest of your team?" Colonel Jack asked, concerned for the
fate of yet another red-shirt SGC team.
"Major Benton took a staff hit in the chest on our way back to the gate.
Tartman and Winters got away with me at first, but I'm the only one
left, sir."
Major Sam pulled a water bottle out and passed it over. Lieutenant Will
took it gratefully, and slugged back some much needed refreshment.
"This isn't supposed to be happening, sir. The Latonans have this device--"
"We know, Lieutenant."
"We're here to fix it," Major Sam said, a little bit smugly. Not that
her confidence was unwarranted: there was nothing she couldn't fix if
she put her mind to it. She really was awfully clever. "Sir, should
I radio SG-3 and let them know Grogan's coming back to the gate?"
"Negative Major. Teal'c, how soon should we expect the mothership here?"
"Of that I am unsure, O'Neill. It could be hours, perhaps even days."
Colonel Jack considered the options. "Grogan, can you get me into the
city?"
"There are Jaffa patrols all over the damn place making sure the Latonans
keep their curfew. But yeah, I can take you straight to Marul if you
want."
"That's a waste of time," Lieutenant Sulky muttered, all crabby-faced
and moody.
"Why do you say that?"
Lieutenant Sulky's expression twisted into disdain. "The sentinel was
built hundreds of years ago by Marul's ancestors. He has no clue how
to use it."
"None of 'em do," Colonel Sean added.
Colonel Jack held out a hand to shut them all up. "We're here to help
these people."
"What the hell do you think you can do?" Colonel Sean asked.
"Maybe give them an option other than being wiped out?" Colonel Jack
deliberately turned his back on Colonel Sean before the itching in his
fingers grew into a full-blown fist in Colonel Sean's face, which as
we all know would be terribly un-officer-like behaviour. "Grogan, you
good to go?"
"Uh huh."
"Good. Major Carter, you're in charge."
"Yes, sir."
"Fix it."
It was another forty minutes before Colonel Sean and Lieutenant Sulky
finally slowed to a halt. Doctor Daniel wasn't sure whether the two
of them were just leading the team on a merry chase across the strangely
familiar-looking countryside. All he knew was that Colonel Sean set
his teeth on edge, and Lieutenant Sulky was about the crabbiest person
he'd ever met. Of course, Doctor Daniel well understood why she might
be in a permanent bad temper considering how she'd been treated for
what she'd thought was doing her job. But honestly, what was so hard
about forgiving and forgetting?
"This is it," Colonel Sean said.
Doctor Daniel scanned the small clearing with its twenty foot high pile
of cut down tree trunks and dead wood. He couldn't see anything resembling
a weapon. "What is?"
"You've got to know it's there," Colonel Sean said. "We went right by
it the first time."
Doctor Daniel moved closer; sure enough there was an entrance hidden
among the mess of wood. He nodded at Major Sam.
"All right," Major Sam said, "You're on."
Master Teal'c spoke up. "Major Carter, it would be wise if we were to
remain in a concealed position guarding the entrance."
"Absolutely. At least until the force field's down."
"And how long will that take?" Doctor Daniel asked.
Lieutenant Sulky headed inside. "Last time, it took just over 48 hours,"
she threw back over her shoulder.
"Maybe Daniel can help you shave a couple of days off that estimate,"
Major Sam called after her.
Doctor Daniel raised his eyebrows at the suggestion, then shrugged.
Nobody could say he wasn't up for a challenge. He squared his shoulders
and ventured forth into the shadowed interior.
While the rest of his team were hopefully busy fixing the broken gadget,
our courageous Colonel Jack was hiding rather un-heroically behind a
wall with Lieutenant Will, listening in on a private conversation. The
conversation in question involved a hulking Jaffa apparently threatening
the little old man from the video.
"You are not preparing for his arrival as I instructed," the Jaffa bellowed.
"Your people ignore the curfew."
"Because they do not understand it," Old Man Marul protested.
"It is a simple matter. Lord Svarog has claimed Latona as part of his
domain. Your conquest will happen as sure as the sun will rise. Accept
that, and you may live to serve him."
"My people have no desire to serve anyone."
"When Svarog rains fire from the sky they will beg for his mercy and
offer him their devotion."
"No they will not."
"They will when those around them begin to die. This is my last warning."
"Your Lord Svarog should not come. The sentinel will send him away.
You will all be sent away."
"So you have said for three days, yet here I stand. The sentinel is
nothing more than a legend."
"It is very real," Old Man Marul whined.
"Then my patrols will find it and destroy it."
Oh, that's what all the bullies say, Colonel Jack thought, and they're
always brought down in the end. But he still waited for all the Jaffa
to leave before he popped out from his hiding place.
Old Man Marul, nattily clothed in black linen trousers and a brilliant
red shirt, was rather startled by Colonel Jack's sudden appearance.
"It's all right, Marul," Lieutenant Will said. "He's a friend."
"From your world?"
"That's right. He's come all the way from Earth just to see you."
Colonel Jack held out his hand. "I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill. We need to
talk."
Doctor Daniel stood around like a Klingon at a Star Wars convention
while Colonel Sean and Lieutenant Sulky fiddled with the pretty machines
that were emitting a rather unmelodious set of tones. According to Colonel
Sean, the machines were controlling the force-field that protected the
sentinel itself. Doctor Daniel's suspicions were pretty high (having
had that long talk with Colonel Jack before the mission) so he decided
to make sure these guys weren't just fooling him. He reached out a hand
and touched the force-field.
Ouch.
"Please don't do that."
"Doesn't really look much like a weapon, does it?" Doctor Daniel said,
peering at the sentinel itself. It just sat there, like the useless
lump of machinery it apparently was right now.
"Why don't you make yourself useful, Doctor Jackson, and go watch the
front door with your friends?"
Doctor Daniel wasn't daft -- he wasn't going to fall for that one. "Well
I'd rather be trying to help you but your approach looks completely
random."
"The patterns change randomly," Lieutenant Sulky said. "We're trying
to keep ahead."
"The sounds?"
"The code to shut off the field is always changing relative to the harmonics
between the tones in each pattern."
"And how many different patterns are there?"
"We've recorded over a hundred."
Oh dear. "Oh. So I should probably..."
"Shut up."
Well, that was a little rude, but... "Yeah." Doctor Daniel stepped back
and began whistling along with the tuneless tune. Colonel Sean threw
him a nasty look, and even though Doctor Daniel was the one with the
gun, he shut up.
Colonel Jack wasn't having much luck with his task either.
"Your offer is kind but not necessary," Old Man Marul said.
"I think it is."
"The sentinel has not failed us in centuries. It will not fail us now."
"What's taking it so long?"
"I've sent a messenger to the sentinel to seek the answers to that question.
Perhaps it is waiting. You will see. Our enemy will be sent away."
Colonel Jack didn't believe a word of it. "How, exactly?"
"One moment they are there. The next there is a white light and they
are gone."
"Gone where?"
"To the place our ancestors divined. We are simply grateful that our
enemies are gone."
"And that's it?"
Old Man Marul looked terribly confused at the question. Lieutenant Will
jumped in. "Their civilisation's technologically regressed, sir. No
one knows or cares how anything works just so long as it keeps working."
"And you've seen this thing working?"
"Oh yes," Old Man Marul said, his eyes taking on a dreamy quality. "As
a child. An enemy of our people came in a great ship, but it was sent
away."
"That's the story we get from just about everybody, sir."
"Marul, do you remember a team of guys who came here from Earth about
two years ago?"
"Colonel Greaves, of course. He asked that he might see the sentinel
to learn its mysteries so that one day your people might be protected
as we are. But to do that... that would be against our highest law.
No one may see the sentinel except its caretaker."
"Yeah, well they did anyway. They worked at night so no one would know.
Somehow they got in, they took it apart, put it back together again.
But something's wrong. They're there right now trying to fix it but
we might be running out of time."
"What you say cannot be so. This flame burns to tell us the sentinel
is watching over us and in turn is being watched over. As long as this
flame burns we may rest assured that we are safe from harm."
Oh yes, the old "eternal flame" trick. Colonel Jack wanted to mention
the gas line that was bound to be running up from somewhere beneath
the building to feed the fire, but he couldn't summon up the energy.
"There's a battalion of Jaffa in your city right now just waiting to
harm you."
"There is an impenetrable barrier to the chamber."
"They got past it!"
"Colonel Greaves gave me his word."
Oh for crying out loud! "He lied."
"Yet you speak the truth?"
Well, duh.
"He does, Marul."
But it was obvious Old Man Marul didn't believe them. Colonel Jack peered
through the window that overlooked the city, and tried to figure out
a way to convince him. Because they were running out of time, and things
were bound to get much worse before they got better.
As if to prove Colonel Jack right, Major Sam spotted something bad through
her binoculars at just that very moment. She spoke into her radio. "Teal'c,
come in."
"A Jaffa patrol," Master Teal'c pointed out unnecessarily.
"I count ten, maybe more. With luck, they'll pass right by us."
"It is more likely they followed our tracks to this location," Master
Teal'c said.
That wasn't good news. Not good news at all.
Doctor Daniel was sitting against the cave wall, watching and listening
while the two sneaky Bad Guys™ (okay, a Bad Guy and a Bad Gal, if you
want to be all prim and proper about it) pressed random combinations
of little perspex discs. All they had managed so far was to make the
random noises even more discordant than they were before.
"This is impossible." Colonel Sean threw his hands up in disgust.
Doctor Daniel glanced up, worried by Colonel Sean's eagerness to admit
defeat.
"We haven't been at it that long," Lieutenant Sulky pointed out in an
unexpected show of optimism.
Colonel Sean's narrow-eyed glare would have sent a lesser mortal through
the floor in embarrassment.
Doctor Daniel pushed himself to his feet. "Let me try."
"Do you have any idea how complicated this code is?" Colonel Sean asked,
completely unimpressed by the offer.
"Yes I think so. Just let me try."
"This is a lot more complicated than it looks," Lieutenant Sulky said
rather self-importantly. "Do you know what you're listening for?"
Doctor Daniel began pressing the little perspex discs. "The mathematical
progression and harmonic in each given pattern relative to its spectral
equivalent."
"Oh," said Colonel Sean, rather impressed.
Doctor Daniel unleashed a heretofore unknown skill with music and clever
mathematical thingamajigs, and concentrated jolly hard.
Only a few minutes later, the sudden stutter of gunfire rattled in from
outside the cave.
"It's hit the fan already," Colonel Sean muttered. He turned to Doctor
Daniel. "Give me your Berretta. You think you can help in here; well
I can help out there."
Doctor Daniel vacillated, knowing that he'd been warned about precisely
this kind of potential scam. But for once Colonel Sean looked utterly
sincere, glancing back to the cave's entrance as staff weapon blasts
joined in the cacophony. The sound pushed Doctor Daniel into action.
His friends were outside, most likely outnumbered and surrounded. He
relented and handed the gun over.
Colonel Sean met his gaze, before nodding and spinning around to head
outside. Doctor Daniel turned back to the perspex and -- genius that
he was -- had a blinding flash of insight. He had the force-field down
five seconds later. He grinned proudly, but his satisfaction was short-lived.
Cold steel touched the back of his neck.
"That was pretty stupid, Jackson."
Doctor Daniel's shoulders fell. It seemed he was just too trusting.
He sighed and closed his eyes, pressing his lips together to stop himself
from responding.
Colonel Sean -- henceforth known as Colonel Mean And Nasty -- turned
him around to take his radio. "What's going on out there, Major?"
"A Jaffa patrol must have tracked us here. We have to take all of them
out so they can't report back. We can hold them off for now but get
that force field down!"
Doctor Daniel pleaded with the Bad Guys™. "Look, just leave me here.
We can fix the sentinel ourselves. I'll make sure the SGC teams don't
try to stop you."
"I don't think so," Colonel Mean And Nasty snorted. "Maybe they'll let
us go, maybe not. But if we have you with us then they'll have to leave
us alone."
Doctor Daniel couldn't argue with that logic, no matter how much he
wanted to.
"We're leaving now," Colonel Mean And Nasty said. "And you have two
choices. You can come quietly, or you can stay here."
That seemed like a simple choice. Doctor Daniel was about to open his
mouth when Colonel Mean And Nasty added the catch. "Be silent or be
dead, Jackson. Which is it?"
Suddenly it was no choice at all.
Things have gone rather downhill for our heroes, what with Doctor
Daniel now a captive, Colonel Jack having to deal with someone who has
a masters degree in stupidity, Major Sam and Master Teal'c under attack,
and nobody around to switch on the sentinel. Things can't possibly get
any worse. Or can they?
There were some days when it wasn't worth the effort of getting out
of bed, and this day was fast heading in that direction. Colonel Jack
felt like he'd spent the past half hour using his head to make a sizeable
dent in the wall of Old Man Marul's chambers. Sadly, he hadn't managed
to make a similar dent in Old Man Marul's stubborn nature.
"My people have depended on the sentinel for three hundred years. It
was created to be there always. So that we may feel free to pursue matters
of the mind and spirit without fear of what is happening now. If what
you say is true..."
"I didn't come all this way to lie to you," Colonel Jack said.
"How many will die?"
"I don't know. And I can't undo what's already been done. But we can
still save hundreds of your people maybe all of them."
"How?"
Finally they were making progress. "We're prepared to evacuate as many
people as possible and military support to get them to the gate."
"Leave our world?"
"I'm afraid so. As we speak a Goa'uld mothership could be on its way
here."
"What will I tell them? The very people who doomed our world now ask
us to trust our lives to them?"
It was a perfectly valid question, but thankfully Colonel Jack was rescued
from having to answer due to the massive explosions that began across
the city. A booming voice echoed from the skies.
"I am Svarog. From this day forth you will serve me!"
Colonel Jack rolled his eyes. Would these snakes never learn the definition
of subtlety?
Outside the sentinel cave, the fight was still raging between our heroes
and the nasty Jaffa hordes. Master Teal'c fired on the approaching Jaffa
with searing accuracy. But he didn't spot another of the vile enemy
approaching until it was almost too late. Luckily, Major Sam blasted
the sneaky so-and-so into oblivion, for which Master Teal'c was rather
grateful.
"Daniel!" Major Sam yelled into her radio. "A mothership just opened
up on the city. You need to get that force field down."
There was no answer from the radio. Not a word, not a crackle. Perhaps
it was broken.
"Teal'c, I wanna see what's taking so long. Keep an eye out." Master
Teal'c waved his acknowledgement and returned his attention to the advancing
mob. Major Sam scrabbled to her feet and ducked low, running as fast
as she could for the protection of the cave.
Old Man Marul's eyes were so wide that Colonel Jack thought they might
pop out of his head. "That voice!"
"All part of the show," Colonel Jack reassured him. Old Man Marul wasn't
reassured in the slightest.
"The sky rained fire."
"It's from a ship in orbit. One with really big speakers."
A woman came rushing into the chambers, all panicky and girly. "Marul?
Marul?"
"Has the messenger returned with any news?"
Panicking Girly Woman shook her head, incapable of uttering another
word.
Lieutenant Will sidled closer to Colonel Jack. "There are Jaffa patrols
all over the place, sir. If Marul's sent someone to the sentinel, I
doubt they made it very far."
"Go home," Marul said to Panicking Girly Woman. She rushed out, her
robes billowing behind her.
Colonel Jack stared after her, watching her rather shapely backside
vanish into the corridor. He shook himself and returned to the matter
at hand. "Do you have any other way of defending yourself?"
Marul shook his head. This wordless panicking thing was obviously contagious.
Colonel Jack thumbed his radio. "Major Carter, come in."
"Yes, sir."
"The mothership's here. Some guy named Svarog."
"He's one of the system lords, sir. You should get out of there."
"Yeah, what's your progress?"
"Colonel Greaves, Lieutenant Kershaw and Daniel have vanished, sir.
They're not in the cave."
"What do you mean, vanished? Major, people are starting to die here!"
"Teal'c and I were fighting off a Jaffa patrol and they went into the
cave. Now they're gone."
Colonel Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You find them! And
when you do you tell Colonel Greaves that if he doesn't fix that thing,
I'll shoot him anyway."
Colonel Jack turned on Old Man Marul, his frustration manifesting as
pure pissiness. "Marul, you have to make an announcement. Tell your
people to evacuate the city and head to the stargate."
"Many of your people could survive," Lieutenant Will added, his tone
a tad more gentle.
The thundering crash of explosions rattled the windows as the attack
engulfed the city.
"You've got two options," Colonel Jack snapped. "Sit here and watch
your city burn to the ground or surrender. If you surrender, they'll
enslave your people. And they'll take some of them as hosts."
"The Goa'uld are parasites," Lieutenant Will explained. "They take over
people's bodies."
"My people are innocent. They have done nothing to deserve this."
"We can't stay here much longer," Colonel Jack said. "You have to make
a decision."
"But your friends may yet be able to repair the damage they have done?"
"This Goa'uld is not gonna wait for that. It's time to go. With or without
you."
Master Teal'c was feeling smug. He'd almost single-handedly blasted
a platoon of Jaffa warriors off the face of whatever backward little
planet this was, without breaking a sweat. Single-handedly? The thought
brought him up short. Where was Major Sam?
He thrust to his feet and reached for his radio. "Major Carter?"
"Teal'c, I'm in the cave. Greaves, Kershaw and Daniel are gone."
"Gone?" Master Teal'c added speed to his pace.
"They're not here, Teal'c. But the force field is down. I'm hoping there
wasn't some kind of defence mechanism that, er...." She floundered with
the images her mind was sending her.
"I will investigate the area." Master Teal'c stopped at the entrance
to the cave and studied the ground. The footprints were clear and unambiguous:
Doctor Daniel and the Bad Guys™ had indeed entered the cave, but they
had also left it. The trail led towards the far side of the hill.
"Teal'c?" Major Sam appeared at his side. "Anything?"
"Indeed. It appears Doctor Daniel has been abducted."
Major Sam looked relieved for only a microsecond, her expression rapidly
morphing into a scowl. "Those bastards! I can't believe we trusted them."
"We did not." Master Teal'c reminded her.
She frowned at him. "No, I suppose not." She took a deep breath and
reached for her radio. "Colonel O'Neill, it's Carter."
An increasingly impatient Colonel Jack responded. "What is it, Carter?"
"Daniel's been taken by Greaves and Kershaw. The trail is obvious, and
Teal'c will have no trouble following it. Shall we go after them? Please
advise."
"What's the situation with the sentinel?"
"The force field is down, sir. We have access to the machine."
"Then fix it, Carter."
"What about Daniel, sir?"
Colonel Jack pressed two fingers against the headache that was building
behind his eyes. "He'll have to manage without us for the moment. If
you don't get that machine working, we're all in serious trouble. Look,
we're on our way. If nothing else, SG-3 will stop Greaves at the gate."
"Yes, sir." She didn't sound at all pleased.
Colonel Jack signed off, stalked towards Old Man Marul and grabbed hold
of his shirt. "Let's go," he growled. "Grogan, take point. If anything
tries to stop us, shoot it."
Doctor Daniel wasn't a happy bunny. He'd obligingly trotted through
the forest after Lieutenant Sulky, solely because of the lethal weapon
-- his own lethal weapon, mind you -- that Colonel Mean And Nasty
held to his back. They'd doubled back around the hill and were now moving
quickly in the direction of the stargate.
"You do realise that even if we make it past the Jaffa patrols which
are roaming the forest, SG-3 will never let you through the gate," Doctor
Daniel said in his best unthreatening conversational tone.
Colonel Mean And Nasty poked the gun into his back a little harder.
"And if you try to fight it out, Major Lawrence is under orders to shoot
you if you try to escape."
Another poke.
"Which means that once you've shot me, you'll be out of arguments."
A hand latched onto the back of Doctor Daniel's jacket and yanked him
to a halt.
"Doctor Jackson, if you don't stop talking, I'm going to shut you up
permanently. You won't need a tongue to walk. Are we on the same page?"
Doctor Daniel opened his mouth to respond, then slammed it shut again.
He wasn't going to fall for that old trick. He nodded.
"Good."
They set off once more, the snap of twigs and rustle of leaves the only
sounds.
Master Teal'c and Major Sam approached the sentinel rather warily. Considering
Colonel Mean And Nasty was meant to have broken the machine, it looked
in darn good shape: lights were twinkling all over it, there were strange
markings on it, and it was humming away merrily to itself. Major Sam
ached to whip out her tools and play with it, but she had company.
"Those symbols look familiar," Master Teal'c intoned.
"What?"
"They are similar to the written language of another planet Daniel Jackson
was studying."
"You can read this?"
Master Teal'c stared at her as if she was wearing a purple tutu. "I
am not Daniel Jackson."
"Right."
"But I believe this symbol means 'life force'."
"Life force."
"I believe so."
"How does that help us?"
"It does not."
Major Sam bit her lip. "Teal'c, why don't you guard the entrance while
I try to figure this out." When he was reluctant to leave, she made
shooing motions. "I need to concentrate."
Master Teal'c's eyebrow raised -- Master Bratac hadn't trained a fool.
He eyed Major Sam's tools suspiciously, then turned on his heel and
wandered slowly out of the cave, leaving Major Sam to her experimentation.
If he heard the sigh of ecstasy from behind him, he made no comment.
Doctor Daniel was sure he was hearing things. There was no way he could
possibly hear Colonel Jack bitching like an old woman when Colonel Jack
was in the city and Doctor Daniel was in the middle of the forest with
the Bad Guys™. Perhaps he'd been too long without water?
"For crying out loud, they're Goa'uld!"
No mistake -- that was Colonel Jack's whining.
Colonel Mean And Nasty jerked on the back of Doctor Daniel's jacket
and threw him to the ground. Doctor Daniel barely had time to take a
breath before Colonel Mean And Nasty was sitting on his chest and pressing
the muzzle of the gun between his eyes.
"Shhh." Colonel Mean And Nasty held his finger to his lips, as if Doctor
Daniel was in need of a remedial education.
Lieutenant Sulky dropped to her knees next to them. She held up three
fingers. Colonel Mean And Nasty nodded.
Colonel Jack was getting closer. "Marul, I'm not arguing with you about
this."
"Yes you are. I don't agree with you, so this is an argument."
"No, I mean.... Oh, never mind."
There was a kerfuffle as many more feet stomped on the fallen leaves.
Daniel struggled, desperate to see what was going on.
"Colonel! Look out!" That was Lieutenant Will!
Staff weapon fire pierced the forest. Colonel Jack shouted something
that Doctor Daniel couldn't make out. Jaffa voices joined in the yelling,
there was running and fighting, and general confusion abounded for several
long minutes. Minutes that Doctor Daniel struggled against the now combined
weight of Colonel Mean And Nasty and Lieutenant Sulky on his body, a
gun in his face and a hand over his mouth.
"Bring them," a Jaffa commanded.
As the noise of bodies being dragged away faded into the distance, Colonel
Mean And Nasty finally took his hand from Doctor Daniel's mouth.
"You stupid bastard," Doctor Daniel hissed. "Jack's in trouble. We have
to help them!"
"Not a chance," Colonel Mean And Nasty said. He moved the gun from Doctor
Daniel's forehead ready to stand up. It was a mistake. Doctor Daniel
swung at him with all his admittedly rather paltry might (well, he was
lying down and he'd been sat upon). His fist connected with Colonel
Mean And Nasty's face with a kind of wet slapping noise.
"Ow!" Colonel Mean And Nasty squealed. He cleared his throat, slightly
embarrassed, before flipping Doctor Daniel onto his back in a demonstration
of his rampant masculinity. "Kershaw, hold him down."
"Yes, sir."
Together they pulled Doctor Daniel's belt free of its loops and tied
his wrists together behind his back. Just marvellous, Doctor Daniel
muttered to himself. First they use my gun against me, and now my belt.
What next?
But to be honest, he didn't want to know.
It's at this point in our story that we should remember Major Do
Or Die Lawrence and his band of gung-ho Marines. Always ready for action,
always prepared to kill the Bad Guys™. Maybe Doctor Daniel's plight
isn't as dire as it seems? Or maybe it is -- after all, SG-3 are only
extras.
At the wail of the alarms, General George trotted down the stairs to
the control room.
"Incoming transmission. It's SG-3, sir."
"Put it on speakers."
"This is SG-3 Niner, come in."
"What's your situation, Major?"
"A Goa'uld mothership is firing on the Latonan city from orbit. Goa'uld
forces are heading towards our position. Battalion strength supported
by gliders."
"Can you hold the stargate?"
Major Do Or Die paused. "Not without reinforcements, sir." Gee, that
must have hurt to say.
"Understood. What's the status of SG-1?"
"They're out of radio range, sir. We've been out of contact for several
hours."
"Very well, Major. Hold the stargate as long as you can, then get out
of there. SG-1 will just have to get the job done."
"Yes, sir. SG-3 Niner out."
The wormhole flickered out of existence, leaving a heavy silence hanging
over the control room.
"I'm sure they'll find a way, sir."
"It's not SG-1 I'm worried about."
"Colonel Greaves?"
"While stealing a powerful beam weapon from the people of P3Y294, Colonel
Greaves turned the device against his pursuers, killing all three. We
returned the stolen weapon but the Government of P3Y294 would have nothing
further to do with us." But General George knew Colonel Mean And Nasty
was the last of SG-1's problems now that a mothership had arrived. He
sighed. SG-1 were heroes; they'd be absolutely fine. The people to truly
worry about were SG-3, who he knew for a fact sometimes wore non-standard
issue red t-shirts under their uniforms. "I'll be in my office, Sergeant."
"Yes, sir."
Lieutenant Will was in a bad mood. He'd regained consciousness only
to discover he was being dragged by his feet through the forest. His
shirt had ridden up at the back and leaves, dirt and moss were getting
into his clothes, never mind the scratches he must have by now. A quick
glance around showed him that Old Man Marul at least had the dignity
of being thrown over the shoulder of one of the chunkier Jaffa. Why
wasn't he being carried? He reached out a hand and ran it across his
stomach. Was he putting on weight?
A more intense search didn't produce Colonel Jack. Lieutenant Will pouted.
Had he lost another superior officer in such a short space of time?
If so, his performance had moved beyond careless and headed deep into
the realms of negligence. General George was going to have his hide
when he got back to the SGC. Of course, considering the kind of training
he'd gone through to get this gig, this whole damn mission could well
be another training exercise.
Lieutenant Will was a smart guy. He had made damn sure he'd read the
small print in the SGC contract, even the bits referring to what paperwork
should be completed in the event of one's death and consequent resurrection,
but it had said absolutely nothing about being tortured by Jaffa on
his first mission out. His head bounced off the forest floor as it encountered
yet another rock. If this was someone's idea of a prank on the new guy,
it wasn't the slightest bit amusing.
Colonel Jack bolted through the forest as if the denizens of Netu were
nipping at his heels. He didn't care where he was going, as long as
it was away from the Jaffa. Or at least far enough ahead of them that
he could hide until they went past and then follow them to their destination.
Satisfied he'd gone far enough, he slowed to a stop, scanning the area
for a good place to conceal himself. There were some dense bushes that
might do. Or maybe that close-knit stand of trees over there. Yep, they
would be the perfect place for an ambush.
He jogged behind the trees and came face to face with four Jaffa, staff
weapons primed and pointed directly at him.
Crap.
Doctor Daniel was spiralling down towards a full-blown snit. No matter
how often Colonel Jack warned him against provoking the enemy, at times
Doctor Daniel just couldn't contain his ire.
"Look, we both know you can't kill me because you need me to make it
past SG-3."
Colonel Mean And Nasty shoved him in the back, pushing him on faster.
"If you annoy everyone this much, SG-3 will thank me."
"You won't do it."
"Do what? Put a bullet in your brain? You have a lot to learn, Jackson."
"Your job was to defend the planet. I'm a part of that planet."
"Kershaw," Colonel Mean And Nasty sighed, "Tell Doctor Jackson what
happened to the caretaker."
"Caretaker?"
Lieutenant Sulky proceeded to do so. "When we found the sentinel, there
was a man in the cave. He was unarmed and peaceful. He asked us not
to touch the sentinel. Colonel Greaves shot him in the chest. He took
two days to die. The same two days it took us to get the force field
down."
"Oh."
"It must have been very painful for him without any drugs," Lieutenant
Sulky expanded.
"I see."
"Bleeding out right there on the floor."
"I get it!" Doctor Daniel bellowed. The Bad Guys™ snickered. Doctor
Daniel shut up and concentrated on walking.
At least one of Colonel Jack's goals was achieved: the Jaffa who held
him prisoner met up with the ones he'd been running from. They were
all together in a nice friendly group, and trudging ever onwards towards
who knew where.
When he'd first seen Lieutenant Will, the young man had a face like
thunder and hair that had been styled by a visually-challenged topiarist.
The sight of Colonel Jack seemed to cheer him up no end, and he couldn't
begin to fathom why that was. After all, the two of them had been fastened
into the Goa'uld's mobile version of the stocks, their wrists and necks
chained to an iron bar; Old Man Marul was still unconscious, possibly
dead; and every few hundred yards, the lead Jaffa poked Colonel Jack
in the back with a painstick, causing all his nerves to jump one step
to the left and back again.
Yeesh, he was old and had bad knees -- why couldn't they pick on someone
else?
Colonel Mean And Nasty was getting a little cocky. Doctor Daniel had
given the Bad Guys™ no trouble for at least ten minutes, and they'd
begun to give him a little more freedom. Colonel Mean And Nasty no longer
walked directly behind him, and had even shoved the gun into his BDUs,
untucking his shirt to reveal a flash of scarlet undershirt. It was
terrible how lax the SGC dress-code was these days.
Doctor Daniel surveyed the rocky path ahead. They were coming up on
a blind bend and it was just the opportunity he needed. Okay, so running
away from a psychopathic lunatic bent on escaping a life sentence in
a maximum security military prison wasn't without its challenges, not
least of which was the fact his hands were still tied behind him. But
Doctor Daniel was nothing if not resourceful and he knew he could get
some distance away before he was missed. If he was lucky he would make
it fifteen... twenty... yep, at least twenty feet before he was viciously
gunned down.
He could work with those odds.
Doctor Daniel slowed his pace fractionally and let the Bad Guys™ create
some distance between them. As they turned the corner, he took his chance.
He threw himself into a racing start and darted off into the relative
shelter of the trees.
"Jackson!"
Doctor Daniel put on a burst of speed.
"You're dead, Jackson!"
The first bullet missed its mark, but so distracted Doctor Daniel that
he tripped over a root and landed flat on his face with an ungainly
"Oof". Colonel Mean And Nasty made it to his side in seconds.
"I warned you." The hot muzzle of the gun pressed between his shoulder
blades. "You can't say I didn't--" Colonel Mean And Nasty broke off
so that he could scream like a girl.
The gun landed on some moss next to Doctor Daniel's head. Doctor Daniel
spat out a collection of leaves and bugs and twisted around warily.
Lieutenant Sulky was standing over Colonel Mean And Nasty, a peculiar
look on her face. She was twisting Doctor Daniel's knife over and over
in Colonel Mean And Nasty's arm, muttering as she did it. "Unarmed and
peaceful. Don't you get it?" she said. "You don't shoot people who are
unarmed and peaceful!"
Doctor Daniel began to edge away. Why did he always get stuck with the
certifiable nutcases?
Major Sam frowned at the machine with deep distrust. She'd never come
across a piece of technology that she just couldn't figure out before.
She ummed and ahhed for a little bit, then reached for her radio.
"Teal'c, is it safe for you to come in here for a minute?"
"There has been no sign that any further Jaffa have discovered our presence."
"Thanks. Over."
He was at her side in seconds. "How may I assist you, Major Carter?"
"I wanted to bounce some ideas off you."
"Proceed."
"The sentinel logically has two main functions: first, it has to detect
the presence of an enemy of the Latonans' -- in this case, the Goa'uld;
second, it must eliminate the threat. So far I've established that it's
not any technology that we've come across before, although there are
stylistic similarities with some Asgaard devices I've seen. However,
at the moment I can't even identify the two components, let alone figure
out what's wrong with the sentinel."
"Did Colonel Greaves give any indication of what actions they carried
out on their previous visit?"
"No. To be honest, I don't think they can have had any idea what they
were working with. I suspect they removed components in an attempt to
figure out how it functioned, and when they failed they simply put all
the pieces back."
"In an incorrect configuration."
"That's my guess." Major Sam blew out a loud breath of frustration and
swallowed her pride. "So, any ideas?"
"Is it not possible that machine was already broken before Colonel Greaves
arrived."
"Anything's possible. But right now I'd rather explore other options."
"Is there any piece of the machine that appears scratched, dented or
otherwise disturbed?"
Major Sam threw him an odd look. "I hadn't noticed, but it's a good
idea to check. What made you think of that?"
"Miss Marple," Master Teal'c intoned.
Major Sam's mouth formed a delightful O.
The harsh echo of a Jaffa locator horn snapped the two team-mates to
attention.
"Oh hell."
Master Teal'c jogged to the cave's entrance. "There is at least a platoon
of Jaffa approaching. Colonel O'Neill and Lieutenant Grogan are with
them, along with an older gentleman."
"Damn it! We can't fight them off. Come back inside, Teal'c, and we'll
switch the force field on."
"Did Lieutenant Kershaw not say it would take two days to master the
field's functionality?"
"Yes. But that's only on the outside. When you're on the inside, you
just have to do this." Major Sam moved across to one of the force field's
control columns and flicked a switch. There was a crackle of static,
followed by tuneless notes apparently emanating from the walls.
"See?" Major Sam grinned like a fool who'd just done something immensely
clever for once. Then she remembered their predicament and the bottom
dropped out of her happiness. Just how were they supposed to defeat
an entire Jaffa army when their only weapon was broken?
Doctor Daniel ran pell mell back towards the cave, praying he wasn't
too late. Those symbols on the sentinel had looked distinctly familiar,
and if he could only translate them he felt sure he and Major Sam could
get the weapon working once more. That would save the Latonans, Lieutenant
Will and Colonel Jack all in one fell swoop. He just had to get to the
cave without tripping over his own feet and knocking himself senseless.
Old Man Marul screamed blue murder as soon as he was tugged into the
cave. Despite his lack of appropriate vocabulary for the occasion (a
lack that Colonel Jack was quite prepared to help him out with) he still
managed to get his point across admirably. Entering the cave was against
their highest law. Anyone defying this law would meet a messy end, including
(but not limited to) a public decapitation, slow disembowelling, and
being dipped bodily in a large vat of honey. Colonel Jack shook his
head vigorously -- the painstick was obviously interfering with his
hearing.
The leader of the Jaffa attempted to fool Old Man Marul by promising
him that they couldn't be doing anything wrong otherwise the defences
would have destroyed them all. Despite his remarkable stupidity, Old
Man Marul simply wasn't falling for it.
They were forced to the ground on the cave's stone floor. Make that
a cold, uneven, stone floor with little splinters of rock sticking up
that were now piercing Colonel Jack's BDUs and gouging great holes in
his delicate knees. Someone was going to pay for this. Frankly he didn't
care who it was as long as he was allowed to watch.
Lieutenant Will huffed about in discomfort. Colonel Jack risked a glance
at him, which garnered another white hot flash from the painstick. Note
to self, sighed Colonel Jack: Revenge to include much screaming on the
part of the revengee.
During all this yelling, Major Sam and Master Teal'c had simply oozed
confidence and stoicism, for which Colonel Jack was rather proud. On
the upside, they were inside the force field; they were safe; the Jaffa
were no threat to them. On the downside they couldn't escape, couldn't
help Colonel Jack and the other prisoners, were likely to die of suffocation
in their air-proof, force field-enclosed box before too long, and the
three chocolate bars that he'd seen Major Sam sneak into her rations
were out of reach in her pack which was leaning against the wall behind
the rather short Jaffa with the big nose. Life really wasn't fair when
you had to die without snacks.
"You will remove the force field and surrender," the Jaffa Bossman bellowed.
"We will not," Master Teal'c said.
"If you do not, we will kill your friends."
Colonel Jack rolled his eyes at the melodrama. "Don't do it, Carter,"
he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Yes? Was that a yes, I'll take down the force field, or yes, I'll obey
your order?
Jaffa Machiavelli poked Colonel Jack with the painstick to enforce his
boss's point. Carter winced.
When Colonel Jack was done howling in pain, he managed to grind out
a "Don't" at his team-mates.
They didn't.
Jaffa Bossman pointed to Lieutenant Will. "Kill this one." A minion
raised his staff weapon.
"No!" Old Man Marul struggled to his feet. "Leave them alone. I will
take down the force field."
Colonel Jack snorted.
"You know how?" Jaffa Bossman asked.
"I do."
"Marul..." Colonel Jack warned.
"Of course I do. The music is a children's tune. I have only to press
the correct sequence of notes."
This was very bad news. "Marul," Colonel Jack said, "If you give in,
they'll kill us and enslave your people. Is that what you want?"
"If you help us, your people will be safe," Jaffa Bossman said, his
voice dripping insincerity.
Old Man Marul moved to one of the security pillars and began pressing,
seemingly at random. Major Sam looked rather alarmed.
"Marul, stop!" Jaffa Machiavelli hit Colonel Jack on the head to shut
him up.
Old Man Marul ignored them both.
With a final flourish, the force field flickered and died with a hiss.
Major Sam snapped the switch. The field flickered on.
Old Man Marul gaped at her. "You can't do that!" He pressed the correct
keys once more. The field flickered off.
Major Sam flicked it on.
Old Man Marul switched it off.
On.
Off.
On.
Off.
Zzzrrrttttt! The electric flash of a zat gun's discharge danced across
Major Sam's skin before she could flick the force field on again. She
fell to the floor in a womanly heap. Master Teal'c was hit before he
had a chance to charge his weapon, hitting the dirt with rather less
panache and a nasty thud.
Oh crap, Colonel Jack muttered.
Jaffa Bossman smiled. "At last," he gloated. "Jaffa, destroy the weapon."
"You can't!" Old Man Marul protested. You promised!"
Four minions raised their staff weapons.
Old Man Marul spread his arms wide and walked backwards towards the
sentinel, as if he could somehow protect the machine with his own body.
Not looking where he was going, he stumbled over Master Teal'c's prone
body and fell backwards, his arms pin-wheeling in a futile attempt to
stay on his feet. He failed. He dropped on his backside, rolled head
over heels, and came to an abrupt halt smack bang against the sentinel
itself.
The silence could have been sliced with a blunt spoon. Actually, Colonel
Jack was bound to have one of those in his --
A building whine shocked the Jaffa into action just as everything in
the cave vanished from sight behind a blinding flash of light.
Doctor Daniel came flying into the cave, sweating, panting, bleeding,
and tied up.
"I... I know how... to fix... fix it," he managed, dropping to his knees.
"Daniel--" Colonel Jack said.
"But... there's a... problem."
"Daniel--"
"And I'm not... sure how... we're going to... get around... it."
"Daniel!" Finally, Doctor Daniel looked over at Colonel Jack, his forehead
wrinkling as he took in the chains.
"We switched it on," Colonel Jack said gently.
"Oh." Doctor Daniel calmed down somewhat. "So that would explain why
you're shackled but there's no sign of Jaffa."
"Uuurghhh," Major Sam grumbled.
"Finally," Colonel Jack said. "Carter, you want to get your butt over
here and set us loose?"
"Uuurghhh."
"Sam? Are you okay?"
"Uuurghhh."
"They were zatted just before the weapon fired," Lieutenant Will piped
up.
"Sam? Teal'c?" Doctor Daniel shuffled over to them, scraping his knees
on the floor as he went. "Ouch."
"Yeah," Colonel Jack sympathised.
"Daniel Jackson, hold still so that I may free you."
"Teal'c! Thank goodness."
Master Teal'c carefully unfastened the belt that was securing Doctor
Daniel's wrists. Doctor Daniel smiled gratefully and began to rub at
the red weals discolouring his usually smooth, unblemished flesh.
Master Teal'c nodded, then moved over to deal with the shackles before
Colonel Jack began growling in a very un-hero-like manner.
Once everyone was free, awake, and patching up of bleeding bits had
commenced, the expanded team (well, we can't forget Lieutenant Will
-- he's far too adorable for us to commit such an unpardonable offence),
Colonel Jack deemed it necessary to plan some next steps. But first,
some things needed to be cleared up.
"Carter?"
"Sir?"
"What just happened? Where did all the Jaffa go?"
"The sentinel happened, sir."
"Why now? Why not earlier?"
Carter drew in a deep breath ready to expound an intricately detailed
explanation. "I don't know, sir."
"I do."
"You do what, Daniel?"
"I know why the sentinel suddenly worked. Someone must have touched
it." Doctor Daniel gazed around the cave. "But I don't see anyone missing.
Did one of the Jaffa--"
"No."
Four pairs of eyes turned to the sentinel, which innocently hummed away.
"Oh. I was sure I had the answer. From what Lieutenant Kershaw said,
I thought the machine needed a human component, that somehow a person
had to merge with the machine for it to function. I guess not."
Four bodies shuddered in unison.
"So, Daniel, where did you leave the crims?" Doctor Daniel pursed his
lips in confusion. "Crims? Bad guys? Greaves and Kershaw?"
"Oh god! They're on their way to the gate. We have to warn SG-3 before
Greaves gets there. Assuming..."
"Assuming?"
"The reason I escaped is that Kershaw reacted badly to something Greaves
said. She created a diversion."
Colonel Jack eyed Doctor Daniel suspiciously, knowing full well there
must be more to this story. "So there's dishonour among thieves?"
"Apparently. I left them engaged in a rather heated discussion."
"Fine. Carter, Teal'c, get back within radio range of SG-3 as fast as
possible. Warn them what may be coming, and request back-up. Daniel,
Grogan and I will retrace Daniel's steps and see if we can catch up
with Greaves and Kershaw."
"Yes, sir."
They all left the cave, Major Sam and Master Teal'c taking off at a
rapid pace towards the stargate. The others set off back the way Doctor
Daniel had come as fast as Colonel Jack's dodgy knees could carry him.
"... spt... keeesh... brrrbbbb... graok," said Major Do Or Die's radio.
He raised his eyebrows at his team. They shrugged.
"This is Major Lawrence. I did not receive. Say again."
"... wert... pwaqqqq."
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"...at any better?"
"Major Carter?"
"Yes. Major Lawrence, Greaves and Kershaw have escaped and are possibly
heading for the gate. Over."
"Understood. Any weapons?"
"One sidearm, one knife. Possibly other weapons obtained on route, but
unlikely."
"Received."
"We also believe the Jaffa threat has been eliminated, but that is yet
to be confirmed."
"Are you heading our way, Major?"
"Confirmed. ETA two hours. Colonel O'Neill requests back-up to assist
in search for escapees."
"Acknowledged."
"Carter out."
It was thirty minutes before Doctor Daniel motioned for them to slow
down. They were approaching the place where he'd escaped, and he wasn't
sure what to expect.
"I'm not sure what to expect," Doctor Daniel whispered.
Colonel Jack motioned them to creep forwards, staying low to the ground.
They spread out, moving closer, senses on alert for any movement or
sound that might give away the presence of the Bad Guys™.
An oddly strangled chanting began to emanate from behind a spiky, purple
bush about twenty yards ahead.
"Is that singing?"
"Not in the conventional sense," Doctor Daniel said.
"My loneliness is killing meeeeee," a voice warbled. "I must confess
I still beleeeeeve. Ooooooh." "Is this some kind of trick, Colonel?"
Colonel Jack threw Lieutenant Will a look that told him just what he
thought of that question.
"When I'm not with yoooooouuuuu I lose my mind. Hit me baby... one more
tiiiiiiiime." The off-key screeching had the three men slapping their
hands over their ears.
Colonel Jack signalled the others to stay back, while he risked a peep
over the top of the purple bush. Lieutenant Sulky was lying on her back,
her eyes closed, a bloody knife in one hand and a sidearm in the other.
Singing. Kind of. Next to her lay Colonel Mean And Nasty. The poor man's
head had exploded as a result of at least one bullet passing through
it (which, as I'm sure anyone who's ever witnessed such a thing can
attest, had created a terrible mess).
Eww. Colonel Jack shivered.
He moved around the bush, his weapon at the ready. "Don't move."
Lieutenant Sulky continued to warble, apparently unaware of his presence.
Colonel Jack sighed, his mind wandering. This was turning out to be
one of those days. At least he'd managed to stop the new guy from being
turned into canon fodder. So far -- the day wasn't over yet. He returned
to the matter at hand.
"Grogan, Daniel, some help here?"
The mission de-briefing was complete; General George was satisfied.
Although they'd lost SG-9, the Goa'uld attack on Latona had been foiled
by his trustworthy team of heroes. SG-3 and SG-1 had returned safely,
Lieutenant Will in tow. And the pesky Bad Guys™ were out of the picture,
one in the morgue and the other under Doctor Let Me Dissect Your Brain
Mackenzie's capable care. Sadly, they hadn't managed to obtain any new
technology, but the peculiar expression that appeared on Colonel Jack's
face any time the sentinel was mentioned was enough to give General
George chills.
Lieutenant Will had been inducted into the ranks of the SGC with a challenging
mission. General George planned to give him a rousing motivational speech
when he handed out Lieutenant Will's new assignment. SG-11 needed a
junior officer. That would be perfect.
And so our tale is ended, over, complete, finito. The good guys have
triumphed, the snakes have been routed, and the Bad Guys™ defeated.
Our heroes celebrated with a barbeque at Colonel Jack's house. Colonel
Jack and Doctor Daniel spent an hour comparing injuries before Master
Teal'c threatened to do them more harm if they didn't change the subject.
All's well, that ends well, eh?
I'm sure you're asking: Is there a moral to this story? Naturally there
is -- this is a fairytale, after all. Listen carefully, because this
is the important bit.
He who wears red shirt will not live to see end credits.