Magical Cage 13
Mar. 17th, 2007 09:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lit_galMagical Cage 13
SG1/Buffy
Have you ever had a plot line just twist right out from under you?? I had the ending all planned, and then somehow it went somewhere I didn't intend it to go. Hopefully it still works...
Two Wraith soldiers came through the door weapons up, and Jack opened fire as soon as they were both inside the hanger.
One slammed back into the wall, and the second dived forward, firing his weapon toward the makeshift fort. Jack could feel the crates shimmy and vibrate under the assault, but they held.
Teal'c staff weapon barked out shot after shot, keeping the one Wraith pinned to the wall until finally the faceplate cracked and Wraith brains scattered across the wall in a starburst pattern. Jack focused on firing on the one who fired from the floor. Bullets seemed to bounce off, but the Wraith's hands paused on the weapon, and his back arched in pain.
Sam stood to get a better angle and fired a series of rounds into its back just as more Wraith appeared in the doorway.
"Down!" Jack yelled, and Sam dropped to her knees just as Wraith weapons fired over her head. Jack fired on the first alien through the door, watching as he stumbled and then started moving forward with a jerking rocking gait. A new Wraith appeared at the door, and this one had some kind of shield which he held out in front as he moved to cover the alien Jack was targeting.
Teal'c staff blasts suddenly focused on the shielded pair, so Jack assumed he'd killed his guy. Jack focused on targeting the vulnerable legs, but his aim sent as many bullets skimming across the floor as not.
"Willow, now would be a good time to finish," Jack called as the pair got closer. He glanced over, but she just continued to chant as she pulled the plant apart bit by bit. The veins of her neck stood out heavy against her pale skin, creeping up toward her face like spider-webs, and that did not look good. However, the fact that she totally ignored him suggested that she wasn't nearly done.
Jack pulled a grenade and tossed it just past the pair while calling out a warning to the team. Everyone ducked as the blast made the crates shift and tremble. Jack brought the gun up, and the two Wraith were twitching on the floor. Unfortunately, three more were at the door, all with shields.
Pulling out a grenade, Jack waited for the Wraith to move far enough into the room for him to get it behind them. The blasts that made the Wraith stumble forward surprised him. Two of the Wraith went to their knees, and Jack tossed the grenade, shouting another warning.
The air filled with the heavy smell of burning flesh that made Jack's eyes water as he looked over the barricade again. Two of the Wraith had joined the carnage on the ground, but the third was on his knees, fighting his way up with a roar. Jack aimed, but before he could fire, something black slammed into the side of the Wraith, taking him back down to the floor.
Spike sank fangs into the Wraith's neck, and the alien went stiff as Spike drank, lifting his head only to twist the head with a sharp crack. Then he staggered back, drunk, and Xander was there, weapon in one hand and his arm reaching around Spike's waist.
Xander half dragged Spike back toward the barricade, his weapon still pointed at the door.
"Hey, you guys started without us," he panted as he dropped Spike to the floor behind Teal'c.
"Bloody fucking morons. Opened that cell door and set off every alarm in the bloody ship," Spike slurred as he lay on the ground, holding his upper body off the ground with an elbow.
"Is he okay?" Jack asked as he glanced toward Spike.
"Bloody fucking soldier. If it weren't for… I'd bloody well like to eat ya," Spike snarled.
"Here," Xander tried shoving the alien weapon at Jack, but he shook his head and moved back from his spot at the defenses.
"Take center, Xander," he ordered.
"But—"
"You're the best for the spot, so follow orders, soldier," Jack ordered, and Xander nodded before taking Jack's spot. Weapons fire burst again as new soldiers came through the door, more this time, and Jack eyed the chanting girl and the plane. He could grab a plane scoop them up now, but he had no idea how close Willow was.
"Willow. Soon. Soon would be good," Xander yelled as the weapons paused. Jack crouched down next to Daniel.
"This seems familiar… hopeless, outnumbered, getting our asses kicked," Daniel quipped. He ducked lower as the weapons fire started again. Sam's P90 fell silent, and Jack slid closer to his second-in-command, slapping a spare clip into her hand so she could quickly reload.
"Oh fuck," Xander breathed. At first, Jack thought the Wraith had breeched the line, but then he saw Willow standing, her eyes open and black, veins crawling up her neck and into her face as black lights spun around her.
"Is that normal?" Jack asked as he inched closer to the plane.
"Um, no. Big with the not normal," Xander said. Willow opened her mouth, screaming some malediction, and the hairs on Jack's arms stood straight up, his flesh pimpling as cold power slithered over him.
Two Wraiths turned into giant candles, their flesh combusting as she held an open hand toward them, and now the stench was nearly overpowering.
"Redimio veneficus , redimio vox , aufero vis ex meus os," she screamed over a wailing wind that whipped through the room. The black lights darted out into all directions, swirling before vanishing into the walls of the hanger. Willow collapsed to the ground, and Xander darted to her side.
Okay, that was impressive.
"Is she…?" Jack didn't finish, but Xander cupped her face with one hand and crooned softly without any of the despair Jack would expect if she were dead.
"Sam, you're writing my report this mission because no way can I explain that," Daniel said softly.
"Okay, kids, we're out of here," Jack said as he stood and put a foot on the plane.
"NO!" Willow cried. "It didn't work. I can still feel the magic gathering, even faster now."
"You did your best, and now we have a tactical retreat," Jack answered as he reached for the plane.
A blast hit the side of the plane, and Jack fell back, his left side partially paralyzed from the near hit. The group opened fire. This time, more Wraith rushed through the door at once, and Xander left Willow lying on the ground as he slid back into position on the line.
One Wraith leaped for the crates, his hand reaching for Xander who fell back, but Spike lunged forward, yanking the Wraith forward with one hand, and punching his fist through the armor and into the chest with the other. Jack flinched at the raw fury and power in that move, but the shifting crate left the line broken, and the Wraith fired even more aggressively.
Sam ran out of ammo and ducked behind the barricade. Jack didn't have another clip to offer, so he shrugged out of his P90 and pushed it toward her. She moved into position, but a shot took her down almost immediately. She sagged to the ground, and Jack cursed his two numb arms.
"Spike, get to the plane," Jack yelled his order, but the vampire practically flew over the barricade, sailing into the middle of the Wraith and ripping at them with his bare hands. Pushing the crate back into position, Xander continued firing.
"Willow. Do something. Do a summoning spell, call for help. Do something." He yelled.
"I can't," she sobbed softly. The black eyes and veins had vanished, leaving her looking even more pale.
"Do something or you'll watch him die," Jack ruthlessly prodded her. If she could just summon a little of that power from before, he could make another run at the plane, but one hit with the Wraith weapon and he was done. Fuck, he wasn't sure he could climb into the cockpit even without the enemy firing at him. He flexed his numb left hand, but the fingers barely moved.
Willow looked at him with tragic eyes and then glanced to Xander who grimly fired, shifting closer to Sam to get a better line of fire. The boy's profile was hard, a trained soldier focusing on the battle and not on the thought that he was just about to die.
"Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos," she chanted quietly as she pushed herself up. Her hands trembled, but she kept chanting. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos." Her voice grew louder, and the tiny lights started to gather, zipping around her as she closed her eyes and let her head fall back. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos."
Jack reached out and pulled back his P90 from Carter's limp fingers. Daniel had pulled his zat, and lay on the ground next to Teal'c firing from around the side of the crates.
"Teal'c. You're going to have to fly us out. First screen that comes up, you're looking for a symbol that looks like three trees with a squiggle line between the second and third. Hit it, and the plane will scoop us all up. When you land, hit the same symbol and it will re-materialize us," Jack yelled the directions over Willow's booming voice.
Slowly, she stood, the lights now merged into a glow that surrounded her, a wind made her hair twist up into the air and whip around her face. Several Wraith fired at her, but the glow only turned brighter. Taking Teal'c place on the line, Jack forced his swollen finger into the trigger guard and started firing.
"Hurry," he called. Teal'c dropped the staff and darted for the plane. Climbing with surprising speed for such a large man, he got in, and Jack focused on the Wraith nearest the door, leaving Spike feeding on one by the wall, and two more charging toward them.
"Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos," Willow's voice echoed through the room, and the Wraith fell back a step. Jack glanced back, and red hair had been replaced with white, pure white eyes stared out as she continued her chanting.
"Willow," Xander yelled, and then Jack noticed her feet vanishing into wisps of white that curled and tangled and turned into legs somewhere around the knees.
"Statim!"
Blinding white filled the room, the light so bright that he almost had a sound, a screech that made Jack flinch. Immediately he focused back on the fight, but Wraith stood frozen, arms half raised, one Wraith body arched in the air, caught mid-flight. And the whole scene looked overexposed, like a home movie that had been washed out by too much sunlight.
"Bloody hell," Spike said softly as he staggered up. "These gits are better than a quart of good whiskey." He leaned against the wall.
"Okay, this is different. Willow, what did you just do?" Xander asked. Jack turned around to find a red-haired Willow leaning against Xander's shoulder. Her feet were back.
"The light burns when it leaves the eye," a soft voice said. Oh fuck.
Jack looked over to see a ghostly form sliding toward them.
"Oma?" Jack asked.
"Oma Dasala," Daniel breathed reverently as he stepped forward. She smiled at him.
"The light burns when it leaves the eye," she repeated as she focused on Willow and Xander. Xander had stepped protectively forward, and even Spike half-staggered closer, clearly willing to fight even if the Wraith blood had left him more than a little drunk.
Sam groaned from the floor, and Oma floated closer, reaching out a hand toward her as she sat up and shook her head.
"Did we win, sir?" she asked groggily as she scanned the room. Oma floated away, moving in toward Jack. Okay, this was the woman who could turn Jaffa into extra-crispy fritters, and yeah, Jack backed up a step. She smiled and moved closer, reaching out toward him, and the dull throbbing pain in his hand vanished. Jacked glanced down to see his arm healed.
"Neat parlor trick," he conceded as she floated back.
"Did you do this?" Daniel asked as he looked around the room.
Oma simply floated closer to Xander and Willow. "Water spilled feeds ant and horse alike," she said softly.
"Um, okay. If we spilled your water, we'd be happy to clean it up, just point us toward the spill, and I have plenty of experience with a mop," Xander joked, his face paling a little. Oma cocked her head at him.
"We bloody well broke the cage ya built for these gits, didn't we?" Spike asked as he sat heavily on a crate, his upper body still swaying a little. "They're big mojo users, but there wasn't any mojo here 'til we showed up, right?" Spike asked.
"The dimensional rift allowed magical energies to leak into this universe," Carter said. "Which implies that there's some particles just not present in a non-magical universe, but we dragged those particles through with us and then allowed them to leak in from the tear."
"Okay, so did the magic leak in from their universe or ours?" Jack asked. Oma simply tilted her head.
"Doesn't bloody matter. We broke the cage, and if they get out, we'll have these buggers all over the soddin' universe," Spike added. Jack rather thought it did matter since it was the difference between his reality having magic or not.
"So we need to seal the dimensional rift." Carter nodded as if she understood something important, and Jack hoped she did because they hadn't covered rift closing in basic training… not even in officer's school.
"A grain of sand follows the wind, it does not command it," Oma announced quietly.
"Daniel, translation?" Jack asked.
"Um, sand gets pushed around a lot?" Daniel guessed. Jack glared at him.
"Well, that would make us the grains of sand," Jack said dryly.
"How do we seal the cage? How can we put things back the way they were?" Willow asked as she stepped out from behind the protection of Xander. She still didn't look very stable, and Xander kept a hand on her arm.
"Um, Willow, how about staying away from the floaty lady," he suggested. Willow stepped closer, and Oma reached out a hand, touching a strand of Willow's hair which turned white. Seemed fair since she had turned Carter's hair pink.
"The flower grows where the sun shines," Oma said. Light flared, and Jack staggered back, the force feeling like a blow to his chest. The room turned into a streak, like a video on fast forward as every point became a line. They crossed the black of space within a blink and as the lines slowly condensed back into dull points, the temple with the gate materialized.
Jack fell to his knees heavily, and to his right, Daniel noisily vomited up what little he'd eaten in the last day or two. Spike now stood by Willow and Xander, both of whom were on the ground, Willow with her arms spread as though she couldn't keep her balance even lying on the ground.
Sam looked no better off as she sat near a column, clutching it for dear life. Of course, Teal'c continued to stand stoic, although Jack did get a little satisfaction from his ashen color.
"Not my favorite form of travel," Xander finally said, his voice shaky as he pushed himself up to his knees. Oma raised her hand and the event horizon appeared within the Stargate.
"Okay, is that their ticket home or ours?" Jack asked.
"The bird flies south without the sun to cast its shadow on the earth."
"Okay, see, that's just annoying," Jack complained as he struggled to his feet. "It would take you a lot less time to just say 'yours' or 'theirs.'"
"Jack," Daniel warned as he knelt back, the front of his uniform speckled with vomit.
"Daniel, you can't tell me that's not annoying."
"I'm just suggesting you not annoy the lady."
Oma Desala simply smiled.
"Um, I'm not fond of the idea of stepping through into their world," Xander said hesitantly. "And really, I'm not fond of staying here either, but given the choice between here and some government lab, I'm voting for here," Xander said, and Jack didn't miss the way he glanced toward Spike.
"Many fruit grow in the garden," she offered as she stepped back, leaving a clear path for them.
"Bloody fuck hell, no," Spike snapped, and Jack looked over toward the vampire. "You aren't bloody suggesting…"
"What?" Xander asked when Spike didn't finish that thought.
"I'm not walkin' into soldier-boy central. So you two trot along with the others, I'm waiting right here," Spike said as he leaned against a column. "Lots of good beasties ta eat and plenty of non-lethal sunshine."
"Only kinda not since the Wraith took them all," Willow pointed out.
"Bloody fuck."
"Okay, for those of us who slept through the important part of class, what are you talking about?" Xander asked.
"Lots of fruit grow in one bloody garden, don't it?" Spike demanded as he jabbed a finger toward Oma Desala. "But if that's true, then how the hell did Wraith start the vampire line on our earth if we're outside the bloody cage? No mistaking the blood, Wraith are vampires, or vampires are part Wraith maybe," Spike corrected himself. Oma smiled.
"A bird may shed a thousand feathers."
"Yeah, but when you kill the bugger, he's still dead," Spike countered. "So how the bloody hell did Wraith start vampires on earth?"
Oma smiled and floated backwards.
"Okay, I’m voting with soldier-boy. You're more bloody annoying than the trollop up there," Spike said as he waved a hand in the direction of the roof.
"Ixnay on the issingpay off the… whatever," Xander hissed. "And while you're at it, explain what the hell you two are talking about."
"We're from the same bloody dimension, us and the soldier-boys."
"Okay, I know I always sucked at the whole poetry, metaphor, simile thing in school, but how the hell did you get that?" Xander demanded.
"Good question," Jack backed him. Spike rolled his eyes.
"You lot really are thick. We're the fruit, and we all grew in the same bloody garden. You need me to draw that for ya?"
"Wait," Jack said, holding up his hand. "You mean that you've been saving *my* world since you were fifteen?" Jack demanded as he looked at the two children in horror.
"Hey! It's our world, too." Willow crossed her arms and glared.
"And if that's our world, I’m not bloody walking into soldier central."
"Oh, shit." Xander whispered. "Jack, I can't just let you…." Xander stopped. "I'm not going back, either," Xander announced.
"Oh soddin' hell, no way you can stay here and starve and leave the demon-bint with the apartment. She'd set fire to all your Star Trek toys."
"Xander," Jack interrupted as the boy put on his stubborn face. "You know I can't promise anything, but we've protected Teal'c."
"Yeah, but if you're from our Earth, that means you're part of the government that ran the Initiative, and that means someone up on the ladder knows about vampires and approves of…" Xander choked to a stop. "I can't do that to him."
"SG-1, this is SG-Command, do you read?" a tinny voice called over the radio. Jack jumped, startled by the connection home.
"General Hammond, good to hear your voice," Jack said.
"Is everyone alright? We can't get a lock on which planet you're dialing in from."
"Everyone's fine, General. We'll be coming through in a second. We might have a couple of hitchhikers along for the ride if we can convince them we aren't in league with the NID," Jack answered, using the codeword to tell Hammond that he wanted this visitors to come through. It would give them a slightly friendlier homecoming.
"The NID?" Hammond asked.
"Let's just say they've had a run-in or two with what sounds like a branch or two of our local scum-sucking bastards," Jack agreed. He clicked off the radio.
"You have to make your own decision, but I will fight like hell to get you clear of any mess." Jack made his promise and then punched the code into the GDO. "Come on kids, let's head home."
Jack walked into the event horizon, but on the other side, he stood close enough to keep the connection open, dangling his newly-healed fingers in the edge of the wormhole as Daniel, Sam, and finally Teal'c walked through. They were tattered and tired and hungry, and Daniel seriously needed to wash his uniform, but once again, they'd walked through the disaster without more than minor scraps and bruises.
"Colonel?" General Hammond asked from the bottom of the ramp. Marines stood ready with their weapons trained at the 'Gate, but at least Hammond was there to welcome the guys… if they came.
"We're just waiting on the three who helped us get home," Jack said.
"Human?"
"Mostly," Daniel mysteriously answered, and Hammond looked at him with wide eyes. Just then Xander came flying through the wormhole, back first. He'd clearly been shoved, and the ramp angled down sharply enough that he couldn't get his balance as he stumbled backwards, windmilling his arms and cursing.
"—stubborn, fucking son of a bitch," Xander finished as he thumped into Teal'c chest. Teal'c simply put out a hand to steady him. "And I'm not in Kansas anymore. Or actually, I'm closer to Kansas now, but I think I know what you mean, and Spike and I need to finish having a little discussion," Xander said as he inched back up the ramp. Teal'c didn't move his hand, and Xander stopped when he ran out of arm.
"Uh, Teal'c, you're touching."
"The wormhole does not allow one to travel back through, and I would find it unacceptable for you to die discovering that for yourself."
"Oh." Xander looked toward the wormhole, and Jack could almost read his mind.
"He's telling the truth. Once you're here, there's no going back," Jack added.
"I never said I didn't believe him," Xander objected as he backed up toward Teal'c. Teal'c used a hand to guide him down the ramp and toward Hammond.
"I'm General Hammond." The General offered a hand, and Xander froze seeing the soldiers before stepping forward and shaking the offered hand.
"Um, if I give you the weird ass alien gun, any chance those guys would stop with the pointing of big ass guns at me?" he asked. General Hammond just blinked, and Jack bit back a smile as Hammond encountered Xander-speak.
"I will take the weapon if you like," Teal'c offered, and Xander surrendered it nervously.
"It's just a precaution, son," Hammond said. "No one will fire at you."
"Oh goddess. Okay, that's cold. That's really cold. Xander are you okay? Spike is really acting like a big poopy head, but you should not have called him a girly-man, and there are people pointing guns at me. Why are people pointing guns at me."
And that would be Willow-babble. "It's just standard procedure with new people in the 'Gate room," Carter rushed to reassure her. Willow wandered slowly down the ramp toward Xander, stopping only when she could grab his arm. Funny, she was clinging to him when Willow and a fennel could do a whole lot more damage that Xander and a gun.
"I'm General Hammond, welcome to Earth," the general offered in his best diplomatic voice.
"Okay, that sounds a little strange. Getting welcomed to your own planet, and are we sure Spike was right about this being our planet because Buffy and Tara and Anya have to be worried by now. Well, either that or they're dead, but I'm assuming they aren't dead because we aren't dead, and if the whole Glorificus plan hadn't worked, she would have been big with the killing us."
"Willow," Xander said softly, "breathe."
"Glorificus? Colonel, is there some sort of problem?" General Hammond asked.
"Oh, you have no idea," Jack agreed. "But you're going to find out. Hopefully we have one more joining the party."
"General, Spike has had some problems with our government. Greeting him with drawn guns might not be the best approach," Daniel suggested.
General Hammond remained silent for a moment, and then nodded his head. The major in charge of the unit ordered the guns down, and the unit pointed them at the floor.
"I hope he doesn't prove a danger," General Hammond warned.
"Oh, he's about as dangerous as fennel," Jack said. "But I'm losing feeling in my fingers here so I hope he'd coming pretty quick."
"If you take your hand out, can we go back for him?" Xander asked. Jack traded looks with Daniel without answering.
"Xander, after what the NID did, he just may rather try it on his own. He knows the basic function of the DHD, and how I planned to try and find the planet of origin symbol, so if he stays there, he won't be trapped on that planet," Daniel offered. It was the only comfort any of them had to offer.
"I guess he has to make up his own mind, huh?" Xander asked. Jack watched as Willow rested the side of her head on Xander's shoulder. Shit, they looked about fifteen standing like that. Of course, they'd actually started saving the world when they were fifteen, which put them a decade ahead of Jack in the hero game.
"—hell." The beginning of Spike's comment disappeared into the wormhole, but Jack could pretty well guess what he'd been saying.
"Took you long enough," Jack complained as he finally pulled his fingers out of the event horizon, wiggling them to drive the cold out.
"Yeah, well you're the one who left me hanging on an alien ship, so I'm not so worried about your fingers, am I?" Spike demanded. He looked around at the soldiers, and Jack could see the strain in the stiff, jerky motions of his body.
"General Hammond, I want to introduce you to the pain in the ass who makes me look like a boy scout and who waded into battle with Goa'uld and these really cranky newcomers called the Wraith," Jack put his hand on Spike's back, urging him down the ramp. "Spike, this is General Hammond. He's kept the NID away from Teal'c, and he can do the same for you."
"Spike, I appreciate what you did for my people," General Hammond said.
"Yeah, give us a lift into town and forget you ever saw us, and we'll call it even," Spike answered suspiciously.
"We'll see about trying to do that. First, everyone has to clear a physical when they come here."
"Oh General, you'll want to be there for this one," Jack suggested. "You'll really want to be there for this one. In fact, I can't wait until Janet meets Spike."
"Jack, you're going to warn her, right?" Daniel asked as they started for the door. Xander and Willow stayed close together, and Spike followed, the edge of his duster brushing against Xander's back he walked so close.
"I have no intention of warning her. After everything that woman has done to me, she deserves this," Jack answered.
"Colonel? Is there something I should know?" General Hammond asked, clearly concerned.
"Oh, so many things that I can't count them right now, but nothing that can't wait until after I see the expression on Dr. Napoleon's face when she takes Spike's vital signs," Jack laughed. It was good to be home.
SG1/Buffy
Have you ever had a plot line just twist right out from under you?? I had the ending all planned, and then somehow it went somewhere I didn't intend it to go. Hopefully it still works...
Two Wraith soldiers came through the door weapons up, and Jack opened fire as soon as they were both inside the hanger.
One slammed back into the wall, and the second dived forward, firing his weapon toward the makeshift fort. Jack could feel the crates shimmy and vibrate under the assault, but they held.
Teal'c staff weapon barked out shot after shot, keeping the one Wraith pinned to the wall until finally the faceplate cracked and Wraith brains scattered across the wall in a starburst pattern. Jack focused on firing on the one who fired from the floor. Bullets seemed to bounce off, but the Wraith's hands paused on the weapon, and his back arched in pain.
Sam stood to get a better angle and fired a series of rounds into its back just as more Wraith appeared in the doorway.
"Down!" Jack yelled, and Sam dropped to her knees just as Wraith weapons fired over her head. Jack fired on the first alien through the door, watching as he stumbled and then started moving forward with a jerking rocking gait. A new Wraith appeared at the door, and this one had some kind of shield which he held out in front as he moved to cover the alien Jack was targeting.
Teal'c staff blasts suddenly focused on the shielded pair, so Jack assumed he'd killed his guy. Jack focused on targeting the vulnerable legs, but his aim sent as many bullets skimming across the floor as not.
"Willow, now would be a good time to finish," Jack called as the pair got closer. He glanced over, but she just continued to chant as she pulled the plant apart bit by bit. The veins of her neck stood out heavy against her pale skin, creeping up toward her face like spider-webs, and that did not look good. However, the fact that she totally ignored him suggested that she wasn't nearly done.
Jack pulled a grenade and tossed it just past the pair while calling out a warning to the team. Everyone ducked as the blast made the crates shift and tremble. Jack brought the gun up, and the two Wraith were twitching on the floor. Unfortunately, three more were at the door, all with shields.
Pulling out a grenade, Jack waited for the Wraith to move far enough into the room for him to get it behind them. The blasts that made the Wraith stumble forward surprised him. Two of the Wraith went to their knees, and Jack tossed the grenade, shouting another warning.
The air filled with the heavy smell of burning flesh that made Jack's eyes water as he looked over the barricade again. Two of the Wraith had joined the carnage on the ground, but the third was on his knees, fighting his way up with a roar. Jack aimed, but before he could fire, something black slammed into the side of the Wraith, taking him back down to the floor.
Spike sank fangs into the Wraith's neck, and the alien went stiff as Spike drank, lifting his head only to twist the head with a sharp crack. Then he staggered back, drunk, and Xander was there, weapon in one hand and his arm reaching around Spike's waist.
Xander half dragged Spike back toward the barricade, his weapon still pointed at the door.
"Hey, you guys started without us," he panted as he dropped Spike to the floor behind Teal'c.
"Bloody fucking morons. Opened that cell door and set off every alarm in the bloody ship," Spike slurred as he lay on the ground, holding his upper body off the ground with an elbow.
"Is he okay?" Jack asked as he glanced toward Spike.
"Bloody fucking soldier. If it weren't for… I'd bloody well like to eat ya," Spike snarled.
"Here," Xander tried shoving the alien weapon at Jack, but he shook his head and moved back from his spot at the defenses.
"Take center, Xander," he ordered.
"But—"
"You're the best for the spot, so follow orders, soldier," Jack ordered, and Xander nodded before taking Jack's spot. Weapons fire burst again as new soldiers came through the door, more this time, and Jack eyed the chanting girl and the plane. He could grab a plane scoop them up now, but he had no idea how close Willow was.
"Willow. Soon. Soon would be good," Xander yelled as the weapons paused. Jack crouched down next to Daniel.
"This seems familiar… hopeless, outnumbered, getting our asses kicked," Daniel quipped. He ducked lower as the weapons fire started again. Sam's P90 fell silent, and Jack slid closer to his second-in-command, slapping a spare clip into her hand so she could quickly reload.
"Oh fuck," Xander breathed. At first, Jack thought the Wraith had breeched the line, but then he saw Willow standing, her eyes open and black, veins crawling up her neck and into her face as black lights spun around her.
"Is that normal?" Jack asked as he inched closer to the plane.
"Um, no. Big with the not normal," Xander said. Willow opened her mouth, screaming some malediction, and the hairs on Jack's arms stood straight up, his flesh pimpling as cold power slithered over him.
Two Wraiths turned into giant candles, their flesh combusting as she held an open hand toward them, and now the stench was nearly overpowering.
"Redimio veneficus , redimio vox , aufero vis ex meus os," she screamed over a wailing wind that whipped through the room. The black lights darted out into all directions, swirling before vanishing into the walls of the hanger. Willow collapsed to the ground, and Xander darted to her side.
Okay, that was impressive.
"Is she…?" Jack didn't finish, but Xander cupped her face with one hand and crooned softly without any of the despair Jack would expect if she were dead.
"Sam, you're writing my report this mission because no way can I explain that," Daniel said softly.
"Okay, kids, we're out of here," Jack said as he stood and put a foot on the plane.
"NO!" Willow cried. "It didn't work. I can still feel the magic gathering, even faster now."
"You did your best, and now we have a tactical retreat," Jack answered as he reached for the plane.
A blast hit the side of the plane, and Jack fell back, his left side partially paralyzed from the near hit. The group opened fire. This time, more Wraith rushed through the door at once, and Xander left Willow lying on the ground as he slid back into position on the line.
One Wraith leaped for the crates, his hand reaching for Xander who fell back, but Spike lunged forward, yanking the Wraith forward with one hand, and punching his fist through the armor and into the chest with the other. Jack flinched at the raw fury and power in that move, but the shifting crate left the line broken, and the Wraith fired even more aggressively.
Sam ran out of ammo and ducked behind the barricade. Jack didn't have another clip to offer, so he shrugged out of his P90 and pushed it toward her. She moved into position, but a shot took her down almost immediately. She sagged to the ground, and Jack cursed his two numb arms.
"Spike, get to the plane," Jack yelled his order, but the vampire practically flew over the barricade, sailing into the middle of the Wraith and ripping at them with his bare hands. Pushing the crate back into position, Xander continued firing.
"Willow. Do something. Do a summoning spell, call for help. Do something." He yelled.
"I can't," she sobbed softly. The black eyes and veins had vanished, leaving her looking even more pale.
"Do something or you'll watch him die," Jack ruthlessly prodded her. If she could just summon a little of that power from before, he could make another run at the plane, but one hit with the Wraith weapon and he was done. Fuck, he wasn't sure he could climb into the cockpit even without the enemy firing at him. He flexed his numb left hand, but the fingers barely moved.
Willow looked at him with tragic eyes and then glanced to Xander who grimly fired, shifting closer to Sam to get a better line of fire. The boy's profile was hard, a trained soldier focusing on the battle and not on the thought that he was just about to die.
"Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos," she chanted quietly as she pushed herself up. Her hands trembled, but she kept chanting. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos." Her voice grew louder, and the tiny lights started to gather, zipping around her as she closed her eyes and let her head fall back. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos. "Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos."
Jack reached out and pulled back his P90 from Carter's limp fingers. Daniel had pulled his zat, and lay on the ground next to Teal'c firing from around the side of the crates.
"Teal'c. You're going to have to fly us out. First screen that comes up, you're looking for a symbol that looks like three trees with a squiggle line between the second and third. Hit it, and the plane will scoop us all up. When you land, hit the same symbol and it will re-materialize us," Jack yelled the directions over Willow's booming voice.
Slowly, she stood, the lights now merged into a glow that surrounded her, a wind made her hair twist up into the air and whip around her face. Several Wraith fired at her, but the glow only turned brighter. Taking Teal'c place on the line, Jack forced his swollen finger into the trigger guard and started firing.
"Hurry," he called. Teal'c dropped the staff and darted for the plane. Climbing with surprising speed for such a large man, he got in, and Jack focused on the Wraith nearest the door, leaving Spike feeding on one by the wall, and two more charging toward them.
"Succurro nos. Audite nos. Animadverto nos. Succurro nos," Willow's voice echoed through the room, and the Wraith fell back a step. Jack glanced back, and red hair had been replaced with white, pure white eyes stared out as she continued her chanting.
"Willow," Xander yelled, and then Jack noticed her feet vanishing into wisps of white that curled and tangled and turned into legs somewhere around the knees.
"Statim!"
Blinding white filled the room, the light so bright that he almost had a sound, a screech that made Jack flinch. Immediately he focused back on the fight, but Wraith stood frozen, arms half raised, one Wraith body arched in the air, caught mid-flight. And the whole scene looked overexposed, like a home movie that had been washed out by too much sunlight.
"Bloody hell," Spike said softly as he staggered up. "These gits are better than a quart of good whiskey." He leaned against the wall.
"Okay, this is different. Willow, what did you just do?" Xander asked. Jack turned around to find a red-haired Willow leaning against Xander's shoulder. Her feet were back.
"The light burns when it leaves the eye," a soft voice said. Oh fuck.
Jack looked over to see a ghostly form sliding toward them.
"Oma?" Jack asked.
"Oma Dasala," Daniel breathed reverently as he stepped forward. She smiled at him.
"The light burns when it leaves the eye," she repeated as she focused on Willow and Xander. Xander had stepped protectively forward, and even Spike half-staggered closer, clearly willing to fight even if the Wraith blood had left him more than a little drunk.
Sam groaned from the floor, and Oma floated closer, reaching out a hand toward her as she sat up and shook her head.
"Did we win, sir?" she asked groggily as she scanned the room. Oma floated away, moving in toward Jack. Okay, this was the woman who could turn Jaffa into extra-crispy fritters, and yeah, Jack backed up a step. She smiled and moved closer, reaching out toward him, and the dull throbbing pain in his hand vanished. Jacked glanced down to see his arm healed.
"Neat parlor trick," he conceded as she floated back.
"Did you do this?" Daniel asked as he looked around the room.
Oma simply floated closer to Xander and Willow. "Water spilled feeds ant and horse alike," she said softly.
"Um, okay. If we spilled your water, we'd be happy to clean it up, just point us toward the spill, and I have plenty of experience with a mop," Xander joked, his face paling a little. Oma cocked her head at him.
"We bloody well broke the cage ya built for these gits, didn't we?" Spike asked as he sat heavily on a crate, his upper body still swaying a little. "They're big mojo users, but there wasn't any mojo here 'til we showed up, right?" Spike asked.
"The dimensional rift allowed magical energies to leak into this universe," Carter said. "Which implies that there's some particles just not present in a non-magical universe, but we dragged those particles through with us and then allowed them to leak in from the tear."
"Okay, so did the magic leak in from their universe or ours?" Jack asked. Oma simply tilted her head.
"Doesn't bloody matter. We broke the cage, and if they get out, we'll have these buggers all over the soddin' universe," Spike added. Jack rather thought it did matter since it was the difference between his reality having magic or not.
"So we need to seal the dimensional rift." Carter nodded as if she understood something important, and Jack hoped she did because they hadn't covered rift closing in basic training… not even in officer's school.
"A grain of sand follows the wind, it does not command it," Oma announced quietly.
"Daniel, translation?" Jack asked.
"Um, sand gets pushed around a lot?" Daniel guessed. Jack glared at him.
"Well, that would make us the grains of sand," Jack said dryly.
"How do we seal the cage? How can we put things back the way they were?" Willow asked as she stepped out from behind the protection of Xander. She still didn't look very stable, and Xander kept a hand on her arm.
"Um, Willow, how about staying away from the floaty lady," he suggested. Willow stepped closer, and Oma reached out a hand, touching a strand of Willow's hair which turned white. Seemed fair since she had turned Carter's hair pink.
"The flower grows where the sun shines," Oma said. Light flared, and Jack staggered back, the force feeling like a blow to his chest. The room turned into a streak, like a video on fast forward as every point became a line. They crossed the black of space within a blink and as the lines slowly condensed back into dull points, the temple with the gate materialized.
Jack fell to his knees heavily, and to his right, Daniel noisily vomited up what little he'd eaten in the last day or two. Spike now stood by Willow and Xander, both of whom were on the ground, Willow with her arms spread as though she couldn't keep her balance even lying on the ground.
Sam looked no better off as she sat near a column, clutching it for dear life. Of course, Teal'c continued to stand stoic, although Jack did get a little satisfaction from his ashen color.
"Not my favorite form of travel," Xander finally said, his voice shaky as he pushed himself up to his knees. Oma raised her hand and the event horizon appeared within the Stargate.
"Okay, is that their ticket home or ours?" Jack asked.
"The bird flies south without the sun to cast its shadow on the earth."
"Okay, see, that's just annoying," Jack complained as he struggled to his feet. "It would take you a lot less time to just say 'yours' or 'theirs.'"
"Jack," Daniel warned as he knelt back, the front of his uniform speckled with vomit.
"Daniel, you can't tell me that's not annoying."
"I'm just suggesting you not annoy the lady."
Oma Desala simply smiled.
"Um, I'm not fond of the idea of stepping through into their world," Xander said hesitantly. "And really, I'm not fond of staying here either, but given the choice between here and some government lab, I'm voting for here," Xander said, and Jack didn't miss the way he glanced toward Spike.
"Many fruit grow in the garden," she offered as she stepped back, leaving a clear path for them.
"Bloody fuck hell, no," Spike snapped, and Jack looked over toward the vampire. "You aren't bloody suggesting…"
"What?" Xander asked when Spike didn't finish that thought.
"I'm not walkin' into soldier-boy central. So you two trot along with the others, I'm waiting right here," Spike said as he leaned against a column. "Lots of good beasties ta eat and plenty of non-lethal sunshine."
"Only kinda not since the Wraith took them all," Willow pointed out.
"Bloody fuck."
"Okay, for those of us who slept through the important part of class, what are you talking about?" Xander asked.
"Lots of fruit grow in one bloody garden, don't it?" Spike demanded as he jabbed a finger toward Oma Desala. "But if that's true, then how the hell did Wraith start the vampire line on our earth if we're outside the bloody cage? No mistaking the blood, Wraith are vampires, or vampires are part Wraith maybe," Spike corrected himself. Oma smiled.
"A bird may shed a thousand feathers."
"Yeah, but when you kill the bugger, he's still dead," Spike countered. "So how the bloody hell did Wraith start vampires on earth?"
Oma smiled and floated backwards.
"Okay, I’m voting with soldier-boy. You're more bloody annoying than the trollop up there," Spike said as he waved a hand in the direction of the roof.
"Ixnay on the issingpay off the… whatever," Xander hissed. "And while you're at it, explain what the hell you two are talking about."
"We're from the same bloody dimension, us and the soldier-boys."
"Okay, I know I always sucked at the whole poetry, metaphor, simile thing in school, but how the hell did you get that?" Xander demanded.
"Good question," Jack backed him. Spike rolled his eyes.
"You lot really are thick. We're the fruit, and we all grew in the same bloody garden. You need me to draw that for ya?"
"Wait," Jack said, holding up his hand. "You mean that you've been saving *my* world since you were fifteen?" Jack demanded as he looked at the two children in horror.
"Hey! It's our world, too." Willow crossed her arms and glared.
"And if that's our world, I’m not bloody walking into soldier central."
"Oh, shit." Xander whispered. "Jack, I can't just let you…." Xander stopped. "I'm not going back, either," Xander announced.
"Oh soddin' hell, no way you can stay here and starve and leave the demon-bint with the apartment. She'd set fire to all your Star Trek toys."
"Xander," Jack interrupted as the boy put on his stubborn face. "You know I can't promise anything, but we've protected Teal'c."
"Yeah, but if you're from our Earth, that means you're part of the government that ran the Initiative, and that means someone up on the ladder knows about vampires and approves of…" Xander choked to a stop. "I can't do that to him."
"SG-1, this is SG-Command, do you read?" a tinny voice called over the radio. Jack jumped, startled by the connection home.
"General Hammond, good to hear your voice," Jack said.
"Is everyone alright? We can't get a lock on which planet you're dialing in from."
"Everyone's fine, General. We'll be coming through in a second. We might have a couple of hitchhikers along for the ride if we can convince them we aren't in league with the NID," Jack answered, using the codeword to tell Hammond that he wanted this visitors to come through. It would give them a slightly friendlier homecoming.
"The NID?" Hammond asked.
"Let's just say they've had a run-in or two with what sounds like a branch or two of our local scum-sucking bastards," Jack agreed. He clicked off the radio.
"You have to make your own decision, but I will fight like hell to get you clear of any mess." Jack made his promise and then punched the code into the GDO. "Come on kids, let's head home."
Jack walked into the event horizon, but on the other side, he stood close enough to keep the connection open, dangling his newly-healed fingers in the edge of the wormhole as Daniel, Sam, and finally Teal'c walked through. They were tattered and tired and hungry, and Daniel seriously needed to wash his uniform, but once again, they'd walked through the disaster without more than minor scraps and bruises.
"Colonel?" General Hammond asked from the bottom of the ramp. Marines stood ready with their weapons trained at the 'Gate, but at least Hammond was there to welcome the guys… if they came.
"We're just waiting on the three who helped us get home," Jack said.
"Human?"
"Mostly," Daniel mysteriously answered, and Hammond looked at him with wide eyes. Just then Xander came flying through the wormhole, back first. He'd clearly been shoved, and the ramp angled down sharply enough that he couldn't get his balance as he stumbled backwards, windmilling his arms and cursing.
"—stubborn, fucking son of a bitch," Xander finished as he thumped into Teal'c chest. Teal'c simply put out a hand to steady him. "And I'm not in Kansas anymore. Or actually, I'm closer to Kansas now, but I think I know what you mean, and Spike and I need to finish having a little discussion," Xander said as he inched back up the ramp. Teal'c didn't move his hand, and Xander stopped when he ran out of arm.
"Uh, Teal'c, you're touching."
"The wormhole does not allow one to travel back through, and I would find it unacceptable for you to die discovering that for yourself."
"Oh." Xander looked toward the wormhole, and Jack could almost read his mind.
"He's telling the truth. Once you're here, there's no going back," Jack added.
"I never said I didn't believe him," Xander objected as he backed up toward Teal'c. Teal'c used a hand to guide him down the ramp and toward Hammond.
"I'm General Hammond." The General offered a hand, and Xander froze seeing the soldiers before stepping forward and shaking the offered hand.
"Um, if I give you the weird ass alien gun, any chance those guys would stop with the pointing of big ass guns at me?" he asked. General Hammond just blinked, and Jack bit back a smile as Hammond encountered Xander-speak.
"I will take the weapon if you like," Teal'c offered, and Xander surrendered it nervously.
"It's just a precaution, son," Hammond said. "No one will fire at you."
"Oh goddess. Okay, that's cold. That's really cold. Xander are you okay? Spike is really acting like a big poopy head, but you should not have called him a girly-man, and there are people pointing guns at me. Why are people pointing guns at me."
And that would be Willow-babble. "It's just standard procedure with new people in the 'Gate room," Carter rushed to reassure her. Willow wandered slowly down the ramp toward Xander, stopping only when she could grab his arm. Funny, she was clinging to him when Willow and a fennel could do a whole lot more damage that Xander and a gun.
"I'm General Hammond, welcome to Earth," the general offered in his best diplomatic voice.
"Okay, that sounds a little strange. Getting welcomed to your own planet, and are we sure Spike was right about this being our planet because Buffy and Tara and Anya have to be worried by now. Well, either that or they're dead, but I'm assuming they aren't dead because we aren't dead, and if the whole Glorificus plan hadn't worked, she would have been big with the killing us."
"Willow," Xander said softly, "breathe."
"Glorificus? Colonel, is there some sort of problem?" General Hammond asked.
"Oh, you have no idea," Jack agreed. "But you're going to find out. Hopefully we have one more joining the party."
"General, Spike has had some problems with our government. Greeting him with drawn guns might not be the best approach," Daniel suggested.
General Hammond remained silent for a moment, and then nodded his head. The major in charge of the unit ordered the guns down, and the unit pointed them at the floor.
"I hope he doesn't prove a danger," General Hammond warned.
"Oh, he's about as dangerous as fennel," Jack said. "But I'm losing feeling in my fingers here so I hope he'd coming pretty quick."
"If you take your hand out, can we go back for him?" Xander asked. Jack traded looks with Daniel without answering.
"Xander, after what the NID did, he just may rather try it on his own. He knows the basic function of the DHD, and how I planned to try and find the planet of origin symbol, so if he stays there, he won't be trapped on that planet," Daniel offered. It was the only comfort any of them had to offer.
"I guess he has to make up his own mind, huh?" Xander asked. Jack watched as Willow rested the side of her head on Xander's shoulder. Shit, they looked about fifteen standing like that. Of course, they'd actually started saving the world when they were fifteen, which put them a decade ahead of Jack in the hero game.
"—hell." The beginning of Spike's comment disappeared into the wormhole, but Jack could pretty well guess what he'd been saying.
"Took you long enough," Jack complained as he finally pulled his fingers out of the event horizon, wiggling them to drive the cold out.
"Yeah, well you're the one who left me hanging on an alien ship, so I'm not so worried about your fingers, am I?" Spike demanded. He looked around at the soldiers, and Jack could see the strain in the stiff, jerky motions of his body.
"General Hammond, I want to introduce you to the pain in the ass who makes me look like a boy scout and who waded into battle with Goa'uld and these really cranky newcomers called the Wraith," Jack put his hand on Spike's back, urging him down the ramp. "Spike, this is General Hammond. He's kept the NID away from Teal'c, and he can do the same for you."
"Spike, I appreciate what you did for my people," General Hammond said.
"Yeah, give us a lift into town and forget you ever saw us, and we'll call it even," Spike answered suspiciously.
"We'll see about trying to do that. First, everyone has to clear a physical when they come here."
"Oh General, you'll want to be there for this one," Jack suggested. "You'll really want to be there for this one. In fact, I can't wait until Janet meets Spike."
"Jack, you're going to warn her, right?" Daniel asked as they started for the door. Xander and Willow stayed close together, and Spike followed, the edge of his duster brushing against Xander's back he walked so close.
"I have no intention of warning her. After everything that woman has done to me, she deserves this," Jack answered.
"Colonel? Is there something I should know?" General Hammond asked, clearly concerned.
"Oh, so many things that I can't count them right now, but nothing that can't wait until after I see the expression on Dr. Napoleon's face when she takes Spike's vital signs," Jack laughed. It was good to be home.
