"Starbuck!" Lt. Giese called out over the radio, "I've got incoming contacts. They aren't Cylon, as a matter of fact the War Book doesn't recognize 'em."
"I knew it was too quiet and things were going way too smoothly. All right, everyone." Starbuck responded. "You know the drill. Seeker, secure from scanning, Wing 2 and Wing 3 assume battle formation."
"Scout Ship Seeker secured from scanning. Powering up for launch." Responded Captain Dierdre instantly. She had secured from scanning the moment she heard the report. Her dark brown features furrowed in concentration as her lithe fingers danced across her control panel. She reported tensely, "Launching ... will achieve orbit in 10 microns Starbuck."
"Good job, Dierdre." Starbuck stated. "Giese what's the progress on the incoming ships?"
"Colonel," Giese reported, "I have nine incoming ships approximately the size of a Viper. They are at 10,000 metrons distance and closing fast. Their power source looks to be a variation of Tylium. I am now trying to scan the interior of the ships ... odd. I'm getting mixed readings Colonel."
After a moments silence Starbuck snapped, "Well, are they robotic or human Giese?"
"They seem to be baseline human but ..." Giese trailed off. He wasn't sure just what he was seeing on the scanner. He paused then stated, "The pilots ARE human Colonel, but they seem to have an alien bio-signal mixed in. It might be a trick or they are so close to human that the scanners just aren't sure how to report the readings."
"Dierdre, what are your scanners showing now that you've achieved orbital status?" Starbuck queried.
"I'm getting the same mixed up and jumbled readings on the bio-signs Starbuck." Dierdre reported. "Frak and Felgercarb! Starbuck! I'm getting increased power readings! They've activated their weapons"
As if on cue beams of energy spurted towards them from the enemy fighters. They were too far away to be effective but their intentions were clear.
"Well, that's just unfriendly!" Starbuck quipped. "Giese, Barrs! Let's show them just how unfriendly they're being. Dierdre ..."
"Don't worry Starbuck! I've got your back!"
"That's not what I was going to say. We'll lead them away, you head back to the Galactica and as soon as you're in range call in for reinforcments." Ordered Starbuck as the Vipers shot forward in a triangle formation. Starbucks wingmen were on either side of him, forward and slightly above his Viper by a few metrons. Basically they blocked the enemy fighters scanners so they wouldn't see him until it was too late.
"Starbuck, it's 3 to 1 odds!" Exclaimed Diedre. "You need my help!"
"Never quote me the odds! What I need are those reinforcments!" He retorted hotly. "Now move!" He shouted as he took out two of the fighters, realizing that the Vipers had the greater weapons range.
"All right, just don't get yourself killed you mugjape! Athena would never forgive me." Captain Diedre retorted. She hated not being in a Viper! She felt like she was abandoning her fellow pilots.
"These fighters look like Night Flyers!" Giese shouted out after a near miss.
"Just keep up the bobbing and weaving fella's and we'll be just fine!" Starbuck exclaimed as he shot two more enemy fighters. Starbuck noticed that there were four enemy craft left. His turbolasers found their mark as he lined his fighter up on them. As his target disintegrated Giese and Barrs formed on his wing and they each shot a fighter down. The last fighter, realizing that all was lost, turned his craft and headed straight for the three Vipers.
"Holy Frak!" Shouted Barrs. "He's headed straight for us!"
"Giese! Barrs! Peal off, I'll handle this!" Starbuck ordered sternly.
The two Warriors hastened to comply as Starbuck hit his turbo's. Screaming silently through space Starbuck's Viper rapidly closed the distance toward the enemy fighter. Dancing through the night the Viper dodged the incoming laser blasts.
"Let's cut the felgercarb buddy." Starbuck whispered as he pressed the fire button on his navi-hilt. The enemy fighter exploded into a miniature nova as Starbuck's shot found it's way home. Unfortunately he didn't get out of the way in time. A piece of wreckage glanced against the underside of his Viper gouging a shallow furrow into it.
"Frak!" Starbuck cried out, "I've been hit! I'm losing fuel! Giese! Barrs! Catch up with the scout and escort her home. I'm going to land on the planet below and hide out. I'll have my transponder with me and I will activate at random intervals. Now, go and that's an order!"
Both Giese and Barrs called out to him but Starbuck had turned off his comm. They turned away from his Viper and headed towards the scout and, farther on, the Pegasus. They were silent as they pulled into formation with the scout.
"Barrs, Giese? Where's Starbuck?" Dierdre's voice quavered, "Is he ...?" she couldn't finish her question. By this time they were in range of the Galactica and the fleet.
"Home Base, this is Seeker. Come in Home Base." Lt. Giese radiod the Galactica.
"Commander, we're getting a communique from the Scout Ship Seeker on the secure channel. Should I patch it up to you?" Captain Rigel inquired.
"Immediately, Rigel!" Athena ordered.
She frowned as the picture cleared and Lt. Griese's visage came into view. Commander Athena immediately became a worried and concerned wife.
"Starbuck?" She asked, "Where ...?"
Athena felt a wave of relief wash over her as Lt. Giese responded, "Starbuck is okay. His Viper was venting fuel so he decided to land on the planet. He said that he will activate his transponder at random intervals. Commander, Lt. Barrs and I request permission to mount a rescue effort."
"Lieutenant." She ordered. "Return to Home Base. We need to monitor the situation before we mount a rescue effort."
Turning to Boomer she further ordered, "Call the Galactica. Inform them of the situation." Turning to the communications station she continued, "Rigel, begin the upload from the scout. I want a summary of what we are facing within the hour. I'll be in my Office."
Athena then strode purposefully to her office and calmly stepped inside. Once the door was closed her shoulders dropped and she sagged against the door letting out a great whoosh of pent up anxiety. Closing her eyes she stretched out her mental awareness. She could feel her husband's concern and focus of thought and energy. Realizing that he was still in distress she softly pulled back into herself.
"Starbuck," She thought to herself, "you stress me. Thank the Lords of Kobol that you are okay for now." She then walked to the view port and, leaning against the bulkhead, gazed out the transparent duranium. She silently prayed, "Be safe my husband and come back to me in one piece, all right?"
At the same moment that Athena prayed her silent prayer Starbuck's Viper entered the atmospere of the planet. He pointed his fighter into a very steep entry path. Even as he struggled with the controls he saw a corona of fire appear around the Viper.
"I swear," He silently vowed, "if I get out of this I'll spend my whole furlon with Athena instead of in the Chancery."
There was a thump, a bump, and a whoosh of sound! There was no more time for thought as he fought with his Navi-hilt to keep his Viper steady. He barely registered the blips from his scanners signifying more enemy fighters.
"This thing is handling worse than a Canarius!" Came the unbidden thought. "The ground is coming up fast, almost too fast!"
Starbuck struggled to bring the nose of his Viper up. With almost herculean might he was able to pull the Navi-hilt back! The fighter's nose slowly, oh so slowly rose. Starbuck's instruments warned of an impending stall but he ignored them. At five kilometrons from the surface of the planet the Viper's nose pulled up and it entered the stall he had been forcing it into. As it did that Starbuck started pushing forward on the Navi-hilt to stabilize his Viper. At 2 1/2 kilometrons the Viper's speed had slowed down enough that Starbuck was able to push farther forward on the Navi-hilt and come out of the stall at one fourth his previous speed.
Starbuck was now able to scan the surface and seek a landing field. As his searching eyes sought out safety he spied more enemy fighters. He groaned with frustration just as he spotted a fairly level area to land in.
Starbuck hit the switch for his landing gear even though his fighter became harder to handle. His fuel almost spent Starbuck prayed that the field would be long enough. Then, his landing gear hit the ground with a mighty thump! His fighter bounced once and then it was shooting over the field. He knew he was lucky for the field was quite level as his Viper slowed .... slowed ... stopped.
Having no time to relax, his fingers danced quickly and gracefully over the control board. Once done he popped the canopy and clambered down the side to the storage compartment. Ripping out the survival gear he scrambled toward the tree line! Just as he dissappeared into the tree's the first of the enemy fighters landed and pulled up to his Viper.
Grinning savagely he ran to put as much distance as he could from his former Viper. Half a kilometron away he dropped behind a rock formation and covered himself. A micron later the ground shuddered as the remaining fuel reached critical mass, thus creating a quarter kilometron hole where the Viper once sat.
"Serve you mugjapes right!" He thought defiantly towards the now dead and dying enemy. As he stood, four figures in green and brown one-piece jumpers burst out of the foilage surrounding him! The second tallest man gestured with his weapon for Starbuck to be still. Starbuck's smile faded for a moment thinking that he had run right towards the enemy!
He was tired. Very tired. He hated being tired. Of course, he just hated ... being. He had lost count of the many times both he and his enemy had died. And how many times each had come back from death.
He was resting uneasily after this last skirmish. "If only I could get the Chappa'ai to work properly." He thought tiredly to himself. "Blast you, Adamma! And blast my Lords of Kobol as well."
On the heels of that thought he heard a familiar noise. A sound he hadn't heard in eons and didn't think he would ever hear again. He watched, agape, as the Chappa'ai activated and a wormhole appearred. Before he could move the Chappa'ai disgorged 4 figures before it dissipated into the ether.
Colonel Duncan MacLeod slowly pulled off his Bugaboo Glacier sunglasses and peered intently at the jumbled terrain. Patting the M.A.L.P. he brought his modified M-16 to the ready position. He shared a glance with his teammates as they all felt the buzz of a Quickening.
Ritchie yelled out suddenly as a lance of energy blasted into him! Even as he fell his teammates were grabbing and pulling him out of the line of fire. With a grunt and a groan they jumped over and around a pile of rubble off to the right of the Stargate. Once under cover of the ruin Ben attended to Ritchie while Mac and Amanda setup to return fire.
"Did anyone see where that came from?" Duncan yelled out!
"I think it came from over there!" Captain Benjamin exclaimed as he gestured toward a set of low hills off to the left of the Stargate. "I'm fairly sure that it was not the Immortal we sensed. It feels like he, or she, is in the direction we're heading."
"Why can't we have a nice outing for once?" Dr. Amanda LeFevre complained even as she returned fire with her modified AK-47.
Peeking over the edge of the rubble Mac used his binoculars to scan the distant rubble. He was able to get a glimpse of something metallic before more laser fire erupted from that direction.
"Blast!" Mac gnashed in frustration. "It's got us pinned down."
Mac and Amanda put their backs against the partial wall they were using for cover while Capt. Ben Adams attended to Ritchie. They all snapped their weapons up as a short dark haired man scuffled down the rubble towards them. Once he regained his footing and saw the weapons aimed at him he snapped his arms up in the air and shouted, "I didn't do it!" Before the last word was out of his mouth, more laser fire erupted around them.
Amidst yells and shouts the Immortals ducked down and weathered the barrage. The unseen enemy stopped firing and the stranger said, "My name is Adamma and I've been fighting that frakin' thing for the past 15 yahren!"
"Nice to meet'cha." Ritchie said, groaning as he sat up. "Christ! What hit me?"
"It was a laser charged plasma blast." Adamma replied with a wry grin. "Hurts like Hades don't it?"
"Yeah, how many times have you died that way?" Ritchie asked while rubbing his chest.
"More times than I care to remember." Adamma responded ruefully.
"I hear ya. Once was enough for me." Ritchie agreed. "So, what can you tell us about him ... it ... whatever."
"It's called a Cylon. Its a soulless piece of machinery that will relentlessly follow it's programming until the end!" Adamma informed them his almost black eyes flashing in anger.
"So, its a machine, eh?" Duncan mused. "Can we outlast it? What is it's power source?"
"Yes, the power source! I can finally blow up it's power source with your help. Without power we can exhaust it's weapon's power pack. Then a little hand to hand and it is dead!" Adamma exclaimed excitedly.
"Ok, so ... where is this power supply at?" Duncan carefully inquired.
"It's ship, which crash landed about 10 yahren ago." Adamma replied.
"Well then, lead on." Duncan stated. He looked at Ben and mouthed "Yahren?". Ben just shrugged and followed the others out past the rubble away from the Stargate.
A few hours later SG-10 and Adamma found themselves on a hill above the Cylon's downed ship.
"Well, what do you think?" Adamma asked.
"What is the level of technology here? I mean are there any forcefields or anything like that?" Ritchie pensively asked.
Adamma snorted and, looking down at the Cylon fighter with a guarded expression, said, "No, no forcefields. They are fairly low tech due to just being fodder for the Cylon War Machine." He shrugged his shoulders and stated, "Besides I ... their creator didn't want them too powerful or too self-aware."
Ben and Duncan exchange a knowing glance and Duncan asked, "How do you know? What is the story here?"
Adamma quickly looked at them. "Let's talk about that after this thing is trash, ok?" He asked tartly with a raised eyebrow.
"Okie dokie," Duncan said. "I just don't understand why you just didn't use the Stargate to leave this world."
"It doesn't work!" Adamma practically shouted out. "Don't you think I would've left if I could've? Hmmmm?! Now, enough jabber jocking and let's do this!"
Ritchie and Duncan looked at each other and mouthed 'jabber jocking?' as Adamma turned his attention back to the downed ship. Meanwhile Amanda and Ben were pulling a rocket launcher out of her backpack.
"Does this ship still have some form of fuel in it? And just how combustible is the fuel in gaseous form?" Amanda inquired as she setup the rocket launcher.
Adamma's eyes grew wide with fright as he espyed the weapon. Waving his hands in front of him he harshly stated, "No, no, no! The fuel on board that ship is highly combustible and I'm not sure that even we could survive such an explosian!"
"Well, I'm not going to shoot it from here. I just need the targeting computer to 'remember' this location and it's target." She informed him.
Puzzled, he hesitantly asked, "How does a missile 'remember' such things?"
She grinned and saucely said, "Watch."
Ben took a little unit from the console on the rocket launcher and set it up to point at the Cylon fighter. Amanda pressed a few buttons and got a confirmation light for the targeting device. Smiling at everyone she said, "We should go now."
Slowly they turned and step by step SG-10 and their mysterious guest slipped away from the downed ship. Ben and Amanda continously checked the readout on the rocket launcher as they walked. Finally Ben announced, "This should be far enough."
Amanda crouched down and pointed the launcher in the general direction of the wreck. The rest of SG-10 took up lookout positions around her. Adamma stood just behind Amanda, watching her with a puzzled expression on his handsome face. Ritchie looked back towards the pair and hissed at him to get his attention.
In a stage whisper he informed Adamma, "Trust me. You don't wanna be standing there when that thing goes off!"
With an "OH!" Adamma scurried out of the way. He was just in time for Amanda said, "Clear! Missile away."
Adamma's eyes grew big as saucers as the rocket took off with a 'shhwooosh'! He watched as the smoke trail from the rocket flowed into the sky and described an arc as it homed in on the downed enemy fighter. Amanda reached up and gathered a handful of his tunic in her hand. Yanking hard downwards she stated, "I think you should duck and cover right about now."
Startled, Adamma crouched and covered his head with his hands. The very next moment there was a thunderous boom! The shockwave from the explosion washed over them as the thundering subsided. Ben looked at his compatriots as he sheepishly admitted, "Okay, so we should've gotten a little farther away."
Adamma gave him such a hatefull look that Ben winced as if he had been stung. Adamma's expression hardened and became unreadable as he inquired, "Ok, now what?"
"Now." Duncan said grimly. "Now, we disable the Cylon."
"No!" Adamma shouted forcefully. "We must destroy the infernal machine!"
"I'm sorry." Duncan stated flatly. "We destroyed his ship because that was an immediate threat. We need to capture this robotic creature. If it is truly a robot then we can disable it and reprogram it. We are at war with the Gao'uld, who are technologically superior to us, and we need any edge we can get!"
Duncan purposefullly turned away from Adamma and gathered his gear. Striding away from Adamma, SG-10 headed in the general direction of the Stargate. Ben caught up with Duncan and whispered, "Mac, I ... I think that this Immortal is Iblis."
"Yeah, I got that too." Mac reponded non-chalantly. "You and Ritchie are going back through the Stargate ostensibly to get help to retrieve any technology we find."
"In reality?" Ben asked, already knowing the answer.
"You're gonna get some backup and 'The Box'." Duncan stated, staring straight ahead.
Ben gasped. He slowed his pace a little, lost in thought, to fall slightly behind his friend and teamleader. Duncan glanced back at each of his team members, there was Ben looking thoughtful and Ritchie chatting Adamma up. Amanda, he swore sometimes that she could read his mind, was bringing up the rear and covertly keeping an eye on Adamma.
Duncan dropped to a crouch and held up his fist so fast that Ben almost tripped over him. Just as everyone started to drop Duncan pumped his right arm three times,gesturing for his team to head for cover in the trees. Without question or a backward glance Ben, Ritchie, and Amanda ran for cover, dragging Adamma with them. Once under cover they all looked back towards the trail.
"Where is he?!" Adamma loudly demanded.
"Hsst!" Ritchie stage whispered. "Are you trying to guide the Cylon to us?"
Adamma glared at him. Ritchie unwaveringly locked eyes with him. Amanda let out a grunt and, ignoring the battle of wills, tuned her senses to the surrounding area.
"Since I am most assuredly the oldest here I am taking charge." Adamma declared steadily, eyes still locked with Ritchie.
Ben softly stated, "No. Amanda is second in command. When Duncan is not here she is in charge."
Adamma broke his gaze with Ritchie and stared at Ben. Before he could say anything Amanda jumped in and stated, "Right, Ritchie you're point. Methos ... Ben," She still had trouble calling him by his current name, "you stay with Adamma and cover our left flank. Adamma ... just be quiet and cover our right flank. I'll bring up the rear."
Stepping up to Adamma and putting her face in his she dangerously inquired, "Now, if you have a problem with this you're more than welcome to strike out on your own. If not then point us in the right direction." She added in a stage whisper, "And keep your mouth shut! This calls for stealth, something you obviously know little about."
Ben pursed his lips trying to keep from laughing out loud at Adamma's discomfiture. Ritchie quietly snickered behind his hand. Adamma just slowly nodded, though there was murder in his eyes. He pointed in the direction of the Stargate while holding his gaze with Amanda.
Ritchie quietly dissappeared into the foilage eager for a showdown with the Cylon. Adamma slowly turned away and strode past Ben who exchange an exasperated look with Amanda. She just saucely cocked a hip with the but of the gun resting on it. For just a moment she reminded Ben of a young french freedom fighter he knew during World War II. Putting that bittersweet memory away he started after Adamma with Amanda bringing up the rear.
Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod could not help but smirk as he quietly moved through the forest. He could hear his teammates and the Immortal calling himself Adamma. They were fairly stealthy but he had lived amongst the American Indians for a good part of his life. It was second nature for him to move like a ghost amongst the trees.
Meanwhile the Cylon, designate pilot, waited patiently. It's programming told it that the humans would be coming back to the object they called the Stargate. It's sensory equipment, not much better than a humans, detected the explosion of it's fighter. Logic circuits abuzz it formulated a simple, logical plan. Wait for the enemy to come back to the Stargate and then kill them all.
Unfortunately for the Cylon, Colonel Duncan MacLeod had a different idea. He had put an experimental EMP generator in the M.A.L.P. before the mission. It was his and Maj. Samantha Carters design so he couldn't wait to try it out.
Soon Duncan sat, still as a statue, silently waiting near the Stargate. An hour later SG-10 ended up at the same spot that they had first taken cover from the Cylon. The Cylon opened fire as SG-10 attacked with a few well placed mortars.
With the Cylon otherwise occupied Duncan crept up to the M.A.L.P. and released the hatch to the weapons container. Slowly and quietly pulling the pulse rifle out Duncan positioned himself on one knee. Taking careful aim he activated the pulse rifle. The robot never saw it coming. It even stood up as Duncan fired, getting hit with more of the pulse than if it had stayed hidden.
There was one spark as it froze in place and it's red eye stopped moving. SG-10 stepped out from behind the partial wall they were using as cover. Striding forward Ritchie eyed the robot and said, "Well ... that was anticlimatic."
"Right?" Amanda quipped.
Adamma rushed forward bringing his blaster up to the Cylons chest. Before he could pull the trigger Ben shot him through the heart. Adamma stopped, turning towards Ben with total surprise on his face. He complained, "Not again.", as his eyes rolled into his head and he 'died'.
"Amanda, check out the Cylon. Make sure it IS deactivated. Ritchie, cover her with 'Adamma's' weapon." Duncan tersely ordered.
While Ritchie relieved the strange Immortal of his weapon he asked, "What's up Mac? You don't think Adamma is his real name?"
Duncan glanced meaningfully at Ben. Ben nodded in understanding and, facing Ritchie while keeping an eye on the downed Immortal, informed him, "A few thousand years ago the Gao'uld came to Earth. They enslaved humankind and even took several thousand off planet to use as slaves."
Ritchie nodded, "Yes, I already know all that!" Pointing at 'Adamma' he asked, "What does that have to do with him?"
Ben heaved a great sigh and said, "I am getting to that Ritchie." Ritchie just snorted as Ben continued, "At that time an Immortal by the name of Iblis came down out of the Tibetian Mountains. He had gone seeking enlightment, which, to a certain extant he had obtained. Its been rumored that he was able to survive more than the usual punishment that an Immortal can take."
Drawing a deep, huffing breath Ben leaned forward and intensly stated, "But the Gao'uld found out about him and captured Iblis. They tortured him and killed him. They put Iblis in their sarcophogus just to see what would happen. The Gao'uld even tried to make a host out of him, but it didn't work. The one that tried to take him over was ferociously rejected and it almost died."
"This went on for one century." Ben said as he leaned back. "When he escaped Iblis was, and still is, insane. The Gao'uld took what could have been the best of us and twisted him inside-out and upside down."
Staring at 'Adamma's' body for a moment he then softly said, "One good thing did come out of it however. You see Ritchie, Iblis abducted and protected some very special children from the Gao'uld."
Ritchie was quietly absorbing all of this information, but he just had to pipe up and ask, "So, what was so special about these children?"
Ben smirked and said, "I'm glad you asked that! Shows you've been listening."
Ritchie snorted and remained silently attentive, surprising Ben in the process.
"All right," Ben remarked. "The children that Iblis protected were Harsesis, human children of the Gao'uld hosts. They were human in every way except that they were born with the genetic memory of the Gao'uld that inhabited the host parents."
Standing away from the, now defunct Cylon, Amanda interjected, "So, why did Iblis need to protect them?" Facing Duncan she informed him, "Oh, by-the-way. I've removed the robots power pack and it is now totally offline. Its an amazing piece of machinery. In some ways it is at a more advanced level of technology than our own. In other ways, especially the electronics, it is at level with our technology back in the 60's and 70's. Weird."
"Huh." Ben distractedly stated. Ritchie cleared his throat retrieving Ben's attention. Blushing lightly Ben resumed his diatribe, "Where was I? Oh yes, the Harsesis. It is punishable by death for two Gao'uld hosts to have children. Ra and Hathor decided they and a few other Gao'uld would have human children in secret and then take them as hosts. You see, a Harsesis retains more in the way of genectic memory than a Gao'uld parasite does. Iblis knew that he could get them in trouble and/or get them killed for this transgression."
"He abducted these children and they later became the self-made Lords of Kobol. They were only in their early teens when they staged a revolt to try and throw the false God Ra off of the planet. Unfortunately, they failed."
Duncan stepped closer to them and said, "I hate to interrupt class but 'Adamma' should be regenerating soon. Ben, go dial home, please. Ritchie, you and Ben will take the Cylon and this 'blaster' back to the SGC for further study. Ben you know what I need you to bring back?"
"Of course, Duncan." Ben sniffed.
"Good." Duncan stated satisfied. "Let's get to work then."
The sun on this alien planet was still fairly high in the sky as Duncan and Amanda settled into their hiding place. They watched from afar as the Immortal known as Adamma suddenly came alive. Scrambling to his feet they could see through the binoculars that he was very angry. Duncan muttered, "Come on, come on. Take the bait! Make everyones life easier!"
'Adamma' looked around and then he closed his eyes while rolling his head back. His eyes snapped suddenly open and it seemed that he looked directly at Duncan. Then the Immortal liesurely strolled to the Stargate's Dial Home Device.
Amanda whispered to Duncan, "Do you think he knows we are still here?"
Duncan nodded, "Oh, he knows."
'Adamma' studied the Dial Home Device. Noting that it was on and coordinates were already selected he shrugged his shoulders and pressed the activation globe activating the gate. Smiling smugly he confidently strolled around the DHD and towards the Stargate.
Duncan and Amanda watched as 'Adamma' strode purposefully towards the Stargate. Each step seemed to get slower and slower as the distance to the Stargate shortened. Finally he stopped, one foot raised mid-step.
Duncan, keeping his field binoculars trained on the Immortal he believed to be Iblis, ordered, "Now Amanda." He smiled grimly to himself. Iblis had taken the bait and opened the Stargate to a planet that was being swallowed by a black hole!
Amanda responded with a professional air, "Affirmative. Bringing The Box around ... down angle 50 degrees. Bringing speed up to 20 knots per hour."
"What the ..." Duncan softly exclaimed in disbelief. Leaning forward he peered more intently through his binoculars. Grunting he stated, "I don't believe this! He's moving again."
True enough, even as Duncan watched, 'Adamma's' foot slowly lowered to the ground. Then his other foot rose and dropped. The pattern repeated itself twice more until he stopped, turned and faced Duncan and Amanda's hiding place.
"I commend you my children on a job well done." 'Adamma' said jubiantly. He didn't yell or shout, yet they heard his voice as if he were standing right next to them. "Thank you for releasing me from this purgatory. I go now to reclaim my birthright!"
"Where is it, Amanda?!" Duncan growled.
"Its coming Duncan!" She responded testily. "The box is closing in on his position!
At that moment the box, a modified UAV, appeared. Its propellor was screaming with power from the dive towards gate. 'Adamma', whom they were now convinced was actually the Immortal Iblis, snapped his attention toward the samll remote controlled plane. Iblis raised his right hand palm outward in an imperious gesture. A wave of force spread out from his hand as he turned dismissively away from it.
Iblis strode towards the Gate, his form rippling like heat from a sidewalk in the middle of july. The force blast and the plane both slowed down due to the gravimetric forces that were exerted by the black hole from the other end of the gate. Iblis's pilot uniform slowly morphed into a ceremonial robe while his skin darkened and ram horns grew from his forehead. He stopped just shy of the event horizon, gazed with loathing and hatred at Duncan and Amanda's hiding place.
"This will be remembered, my children." Iblis literally hissed as he started to step through the Stargate. Before he could enter the event horizon the explosives Amanda and Duncan had planted furiously exploded! Iblis took the blast full in his face without twitching. The Stargate closed as a result however and Iblis howled with rage.
With the gate closed Iblis's form quickly reverted to human. His robe once again became that of a pilots uniform. He turned towards their hiding place just as the UAV crashed into the ground in front of him. The resulting explosion blew Iblis back and away from the Stargate.
"Go, go, go!" Duncan shouted out over his walky-talky. SG-10 hurriedly rose from their hiding places and ran full tilt to the Stargate. Amanda ran to the DHD and dialed in Earth as Ben provided cover. Standing between the DHD and the Stargate Duncan and Ritchie scanned the area for any signs of Iblis. Duncan, having been blown up himself, knew approximately how long it took to regenerate.
"Let's go, let's go! We got no time. No time!" Duncan yelled at Amanda. Before she could respond they heard a human voice roaring with rage! Duncan snapped his attention towards the sound firing his M-16 as he did so. Ritchie zeroed in and fired his weapon at Iblis as well. Both Immortals fired a few hundred rounds into Iblis making his body dance and jerk with each shot.
Amanda activated her GDO as the Stargate's event horizon exploded outward. She and Ben scooted around the DHD and ran for the safety of the passage back to where they were before. Ritchie and Duncan still fired their weapons magazines into Iblis, even though his body had collapsed to the ground. Duncan smacked Ritchie on the shoulder and they both broke for the Stargate as Amanda and Ben jumped through.
Duncan pulled out a Tok'Ra communicator before he reached the gate and shouted one word. "NOW!" Jumping into the Stargate, the last thing Duncan heard was the high pitched whistling sound of the Tok'Ra bomb screaming to meet the Stargate and its control device!
"Whoa there fella!" The leader said slowly putting his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. "We just wanna ask you a few questions."
"Uh, ok." Starbuck simply said.
They lowered their weapons, which looked like a kind of Numo from the fifth millenium. Crossing his arms over the butt of his weapon the leader asked, "So, who are you and where're you from?"
"Starbuck's the name." He paused and added, "Lieutenant Colonel Starbuck of The Battlestar Pegasus. Its one of the base ship's of our fleet."
"You mean, out there, in space? Cool." their leader said as he pointed up towards the sky.
"I'm Colonel Jack O'neill." He said in way of introduction after a moment. Pointing to the blonde woman with the bright blue eyes, "This is Major Samantha Carter." Swinging his hand to the dark blonde haired man with the magnifiers perched on his nose, "That is Dr. Daniel Jackson." Finally looking up and behind Starbuck he finished, "And the big guy with the staff weapon is Teal'c."
"Well, I'm pleased to meet you all." Starbuck said as he stepped forward. Taking Major Carter's right hand he looked her in the eye and demurred, "If all the woman are as beautiful as you then I am definately going to like landing on this planet."
"Uh, we ... we're not from here" Major Carter stuttered, "Uh, this planet, here, I mean."
Blushing, she looked down and away, obviously not used to such intense attention. Dr. Jackson cleared his throat as he stuck out his hand and said, "Its a pleasure to meet you Colonel Starbuck. I look forward to talking with you about your people and culture."
"Now Daniel," Colonel O'Neill teased, "what have I told you about that? Don't pump the aliens we meet for information ..."
"... as soon as we meet them. Right." Dr. Jackson finished with a slight grin and a nod of his head. Starbuck got the feeling that this was a joke between old friends.
Teal'c suddenly turned and whispered, "Colonel O'Neill, there are Jaffa coming this way."
"All right, let's get outta here." He ordered as they all turned away. He turned back and said, "You coming with us or are you going to take your chances with them?"
"Uh, I am with you." Starbuck said as he started after them. At his, "Hey, what's a Jaffa?", Colonel O'Neill made another shushing gesture. Starbuck grimaced and they all started off in the direction Teal'c indicated.
Starbuck observed this team as they moved quietly and carefully through the dense foilage. He realized that Teal'c, with the golden tattoo on his forehead, led the way gracefully like some of the big cats he once saw back on Caprica. Colonel Jack O'Neill and Major Samantha Carter covered their flanks with an economic grace that could only come from some sort of military training. Dr. Daniel Jackson stalked easily next to Starbuck with a kind of awkward grace that could only come from being used to the great outdoors.
Falling easily into step with this team he was able to keep up as they crept quietly and quickly through the forest. It was obvious that these aliens had been working together for some time now for they moved like a well oiled machine. He was surprised at how easy it was to become a part of their rythym.
After a few centars of relative peace and quiet Starbuck began to like this world. It was nothing like the world that he had almost become stranded on a few yahren back.
There was a small sound and all five dropped into a crouch. Starbuck pulled out his blaster slowly and quietly as they froze in position. Colonel O'Neill looked at his weapon and then at Starbuck's face as if to ask, "You know how to use that thing and is it effective?"
Starbuck flashed his best rogue, devil-may-care smile at the Colonel before they both returned their attention to the surrounding woods. As Sarbuck's sharp hearing picked up a scuffling, he tapped the Colonel's shoulder twice to get his attention. Starbuck pointed in the direction of the sound as the Colonel looked up. Colonel O'Neill pointed at Major Carter and then off to their left. Switching to Teal'c's steady gaze he pointed off to his right. As the Colonel moved forward he looked back at Starbuck and Dr. Jackson holding his hand sideways with the palm down.
Settling back and getting comfortable Dr. Jackson and Starbuck waited. There was a rustling in the bushes ahead as the other members of the team converged on their target. After a tense moment of silence Colonel O'Neill stepped out of them and gave an 'all clear' signal motioning for the two men catch up.
Stepping carefully into the clearing Starbuck saw a small, thin woman with dark hair waiting peacefully. She motioned for them to follow her as she turned towards the rock formation just a short distance away. It was then that he realized that they were at the base of a small mountain.
The woman was dressed in a jumper that looked like something the Borellian Noman would be at home in. She lead them to a cave and once inside activated an odd looking device.
"Greetings SG-1." She said in an oddly timbered voice. It almost sounded as if two people were talking at once. Looking at Starbuck she noted, "So you are one of the aliens that Osiris ordered her Jaffa to destroy."
Before Starbuck could answer she turned to O'neill and queried, "So what brings SG-1 here? Were you sent by the Tok'Ra?"
"No, uh?" Colonel O'neill started with a raised eyebrow.
"My apologies Colonel O'neill, I am Jaxtra." she responded.
"Wait, wait, wait." Daniel said qickly. "Is Osiris ... is she here on the planet?"
"No Dr. Jackson. I am sorry for distressing you. I had forgotten who the host body had been." Jaxtra hastened to explain.
"Ah, good." Jack said. "No, the Tok'Ra didn't send us. Why? Do you need an exraction? Did we blow your cover?"
She smiled as she said with a soft laugh, "No, you did not 'blow my cover' as you say. It seems though that you are the ones that need ... extracting?"
"Why would we need extracting? We're just on a planet of some Goa'uld megalomaniac. Surrounded by Jaffa. Running into an alien that seems to be a human from an advanced civilization." He listed holding up a finger for each one. Throwing hs hands up in the air he states, "Hey, it's just another day in the office for us!"
"So, weird stuff happens to you all the time too, huh?" quipped Starbuck. His expression became serious as he informed them, "I really need to get in touch with my ship. I need to let them know that I'm okay so my wife doesn't worry too much. Being the Commander of the Pegasus, she has enough on her mind."
SG-1 exchanged glances with each other at that remark. Jack mouthed, "His Wife?" silently to Sam. Sam just shrugged her shoulder's and looked pointedly away from Jack. She didn't want him to see her perplexed expression.
"I have a subspace communicator" Jaxtra suggested in a normal voice, "we could, as you Taur'i say, 'kill two birds with one stone'?"
"Meaning?" Colonel O'neill prompted. He further asked, "And to whom are we speaking to?"
"Oh! I am Channell." She said. Starbuck could see that her bearing and attitude were totally different from just a few seconds ago. He looked confused as it seemed that she was a completely different person!
"Colonel Starbuck could call his ship and then we could send a message to the Tok'Ra. They could then relay it to Stargate Command." Channel/Jaxtra supplied.
O'Neill look thoughtful as Starbuck asked Dr. Jackson, "Um, I don't want to seem slow here, but what in Kobols name is a Stargate?"
Daniel raised his eyebrow's as he responded, "You've never heard of the Stargate?"
"Well, now that you mention it" Starbuck said as pulled out a fumarello, "that does sound familiar." He looked thoughtful as he lit it. Then, snapping his fingers, he remembered out loud, "I remember now! It was something Apollo showed me from one of the Books of the Lords of Kobol." To himself he muttered, "There was something else. Something about a God that wasn't a God."
All this while, Daniel had been listening intently. His ears perked up when he heard 'Books of the Lords of Kobol'. Speaking up he asked, "Excuse me, Colonel Starbuck."
Looking up Starbuck remarked with a slight grimace, "Please Doctor, just Starbuck. I'm a Warrior, I don't really go for that rank felgercarb."
"Oh. Uh, ok, then you can call me Daniel." Dr. Jackson responded. Starbuck looked at him quizzically and was about to ask him a question when Daniel continued in almost the same breath, "I'm an archeologist. I don't know if you know what that means ... " he trailed off slowly. At Starbuck's nod he went on, "You mentioned the 'Books of the Lords of Kobol'. What are those? Are they your bible. Was 'Lords' plural?"
"Easy, easy." Starbuck countered as he took a puff on his fumarello. "Boy, you are the inquisitive type aren't you? Look, I'm not the one you should be talking to about that. Apollo is a direct descendant of the Lords of Kobol, as is my wife. They are the ones you should be talking to."
Colonel O'neil exclaimed while uncrossing his arms from in front of him, "As fascinating as this is kids. We need to concentrate on the matters at hand." Facing Channell/Jaxtra he inquired, "With your permission we need to send a message to Stargate Command first. We need reinforcments to get back through the Gate. Then Starbuck can call his people."
"Now, about that." He said facing back towards Starbuck, "We're at war with the Goa'uld and we are always looking for allies. Interested?"
Starbuck said slowly and thoughtfully, "Hmmm, I'm not a Buritician. I can't promise anything but there is an old saying, 'Any Air Dome in an Astralon Storm'. I can go with you and start negotiations at the very least."
"All right!" Colonel O'neill said looking a little surprised and somewhat pleased with himself.
"See, my people are on a quest. We're trying to find a certain planet." Starbuck explained. "We haven't had much luck over the past 25 Yahren. Maybe you know of it?"
Daniel started, "Well we might. Do you know the coordinates or the name of the planet?"
"Sure!" Rejoined Starbuck. "Its ca-"
"Look" Colonel O'neil interrupted, "as much as I like to help my fellow man ... alien ... person. We're in it pretty deep right now. So, let's get our focus on getting back to the SGC, ok?"
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Canarius:A commerical transport shuttle. |
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Borellian Noman:A fierce nomadic tribe of humans calling themselves "Nomen", who for thousands of yahrens inhabited a desert area of one of the colonial worlds, whose cruel tribal customs have survived into the interstellar age. They have no respect for society, its laws, or its principles. |
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