To Dance Between the Raindrops: A Snowflake's Waltz - Chapter 9
To Dance Between the Raindrops: A Snowflake's Waltz
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this Stargate SG-1/Sanctuary crossover story but my altered headspace. Stargate SG-1 belongs to Gekko Film Corp, MGM, Fox, various individuals and companies and whoever owns them. Sanctuary belongs to Damian Kindler, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, The Beedie Group, Tricon Films & Television, Space and whoever else owns bits and pieces of it.
Spoilers: For SG-1, to the end of series; for Sanctuary, up to the episode “Pavor Nocturnus” (Season 2, Episode 5). Everything after that is up for grabs.
Summary: Sam and Cassie go Christmas shopping in New City ...
To Dance Between the Raindrops: A Snowflake's Waltz
Chapter 9
Samantha Carter screamed as consciousness came rushing back, like a great wall of water bursting through a flimsy dam unable to withstand such an elemental force.
She struggled against her shackles-her screams echoing off the walls; it took her rational mind a moment to realise that this unholy noise was coming from her own throat.
Her body was on fire. With every breath, it consumed her throat, her lungs ... her very being.
“Helen ... Helen ... it’s all right,” crooned the red haired woman she’d come to know as the head researcher. “Don’t struggle so, my beautiful, golden Phoenix. Soon you’ll be good as new ... better than new ... so much better than before. I like you as a blonde,” she said, fingering a long lock of Sam’s sweat-dampened hair.
At the sudden change in subject, Sam looked down into the woman’s eyes and found herself looking into true insanity.
“I’m told you born with radiant, golden hair-I’m so glad you decided to return to that colour now, on the eve of your rebirth. Oh, the things you must have seen … the people you must have met-what I wouldn’t have given to have been with you on your journeys, dear Helen.”
She stroked Sam’s arm-no doubt she thought she was being gentle-but to Sam it felt like she was removing an entire dermal layer with the coarsest sandpaper. She screamed.
“I thought your daughter was extraordinary, Helen, but you-you are simply magnificent!” the madwoman babbled, heedless of Sam’s increasingly hoarse cries. “I regret that we don’t have a proper tank to ease your transitions from one stage to the next, but you’re proving so much stronger than I ever thought possible! I knew I should have insisted that insufferable Whitcomb bring you in as well as Ashley. If she had, we wouldn’t be in the state we’re in right now. Ah well, at least your lovely Mr. Druitt took care of her for me-didn’t he now? I wonder if she suffered much ...”
She hummed tunelessly under her breath for a few moments. “No matter, my beautiful Helen,” she muttered. “Soon, you will be mother to an entire race of soldiers, and together we will usher in a glorious new age for Humanity. Stage one is nearly completed-and in no time you’ll be ready for your miraculous rebirth.
“I’ve always thought we were destined to meet; I never imagined it would be today. But suddenly, there you were within my reach-” She chuckled softly. “A mall-I never imagined that our first encounter would be so utterly prosaic, dear Helen. Yet, here we are. Destiny will not be denied.”
Sam whimpered, partly in pain and partly in fear; the woman was nuts-completely certifiable. There could be no question of reasoning with her, and if she got any inkling that Sam was not this Helen she was after …
“Tell me, what sort of abilities does that little Abnormal you took shopping have?” Sam’s heart sank into her gut as she stared mutely at her torturer. “You two looked very close; was it so easy for your heart to replace your daughter?”
Cassie! I can’t let her do this to Cassie! Frantically, she fought against her bonds, but her only reward was more excruciating pain.
“Don’t want to tell me, huh-well you will soon enough,” she said ignoring Sam’s whimpered cries. “We always find out sooner or later. Now where is that boy with your blood analysis? I’m quite anxious to finish this phase and get started on your transformation. The preliminary dose of the Source Blood doesn’t seem to be bringing out the same abnormal qualities to the surface that it did in Ashley, but I suppose that’s to be expected. You’ve already been exposed and she inherited many of those abilities from her father. Perhaps one day I’ll have him as well, and then … oh, what a family you will make!”
Drawing a shuddering breath to calm her hysteria, Sam cast her mind away from the torture chamber that was the laboratory, reaching unerringly for Cassandra’s bright beacon.
Connecting with Cassie was like surfacing from a foetid, muck-clogged pond into blessedly clean, pure air.
‘Sam! You’re awake!’ the young woman cried happily.
‘And I wish to God I wasn’t,’ Sam replied hollowly. ‘We have to get out of here, Cassie; we have to get out of here now!’
‘What’s happening?’ Cassie was immediately concerned. ‘What’s going on?’
‘I don’t know how much longer this crazy bitch will leave you alone,’ she said frantically. ‘Apparently, she’s gone as far with me as she can right now, and she’s wondering about your abilities.’
Cassie’s abject terror flooded their link and it was all Sam could do to keep a clear mind without breaking contact.
‘Get a hold of your self, Cassandra!’ she said more harshly than she intended. ‘You can’t fall apart on me now, sweetheart. We need a plan-’
She could feel the young woman gather her courage. ‘Actually, I’ve been working on that, Sam. I’ve found the other two test subjects. One of them is completely gone; they’ve smashed her mind completely. All that’s left now is their programmable monster-although, I don’t think she’ll stay with the program much longer. Whatever they’ve done to her, it’s not only destroyed her mind, it’s apparently destroying her body from the inside out.’
Sam shuddered. Was this the fate that awaited her at the end of their so-called treatments?
‘And the other subject?’
‘Almost as bad, but for some reason, her body isn’t breaking down and it looks like she’s managed to hang onto some semblance of her psyche. Rather than being completely smashed to bits, it seems that her mind fractured into at least three distinct personalities to protect her. Like the other girl, there’s Monster-it’s the personality she created in response to the torture and it’s what does the killing for these people. Monster is a blonde about my age, has claws and fangs and looks like a vampire.
‘Then there’s Huntress-a tall, Amazon-like woman, who seems to embody the role of the protector. She’s dark-haired, wears a mask, has an English accent, but speaks mostly in riddles and rhymes, and is almost rational in a weird sort of way. She’s usually got a crossbow in one hand, a sword strapped to her back, two guns strapped to her thighs, knives in her boots and often, she’s the one holding Monster’s leash-they seem to have a pretty complicated relationship. As I understand them, she’s the one that lets Monster loose on her targets, but a lot of the times Monster also turns around and attacks her.
‘However, Huntress’ main job seems to be protecting the third personality, a little blonde girl called Ash, from Monster’s attacks. She’s about five years old-’
‘Ash! Are you sure she’s called Ash?’ Sam asked excitedly.
Cassandra’s confusion suffused their link. ‘Pretty sure,’ she replied. ‘It’s what Huntress calls her-why?’
‘The woman they mistook me for-Helen-her daughter’s name is Ashley,’ Sam explained. ‘They took her as one of their first test subjects because she has some special abilities inherited from her mother and father. The lead researcher wanted to also abduct Helen, but was apparently overruled by someone higher up in the organisation.’
‘And you think that Ash is what’s left of Ashley,’ Cassandra said thoughtfully. ‘It’s possible-in fact, if I understand Huntress correctly, Ash has the ability to teleport, but there’s some sort of interference barrier around this building that prevents her from doing so.’
‘I’d say that’s a pretty special ability,’ Sam said.
‘Tell me about it. Anyway I’ve managed to get Huntress to trust me and she’s let me take Monster’s leash-’
‘What! Cassie, you just finished telling me that Monster often turns on Huntress-’
‘I know,’ Cassie said quickly, ‘but I can protect myself, Sam-really I can. She already tried to attack me, but I was able to control her. They exist in a huge, rambling castle that is filled with monsters and demons; they scream at night and bay at the moon. But all three personalities exist together in a large library or sunroom-it seems to be neutral territory for them. If my idea is going to work, we need all three of them working together, and that won’t happen if Huntress has to act as both Monster’s keeper and Ash’s protector. And when push comes to shove, she’s first and foremost, Ash’s protector-her first instinct when Ash is in danger is to take the little girl and run.
“Monster is becoming increasingly dominant even as she devolves into irrationality. She chases Huntress and Ash all over the castle trying to feed on Ash, forces Huntress to fight her at almost every turn, and then both mindlessly wale away on each other until they’re too battered to continue-Huntress with her weapons and Monster with her teeth and claws. If I’m going to keep control of the situation, I need Huntress to be rational, not worried about Ash. And I need Monster to do what I tell her, when I tell her.
‘I can act as Monster’s keeper, while Huntress concentrates all her energies on protecting Ash and keeping the balance between the three of them. That way I get some semblance of a fighter and not simply a mindless animal.’
‘Are you sure you going to be able to do that Cassie,’ Sam asked, still incredibly concerned. ‘You said that Huntress is the one who lets Monster loose on her targets-can you bring yourself to do that? Can you order her to kill people?’
Through their link, she felt the young woman’s fear wash over her, but she also felt her utter determination.
‘I can do this, Sam, I know I can,’ Cassie replied. ‘And I know that I’m going to have to kill as well,’ she continued sorrowfully. ‘I don’t want to have to do it, but they’ve left us no choice. I know it’s going to be ugly, Sam. My telekinetic power isn’t exactly a finely-tuned instrument-I can control it … but …’
‘The strength of the hurricane depends on local weather conditions,’ Sam said grimly.
‘And the forecast isn’t looking very good.’
‘All right,’ Sam continued quietly. ‘Then let’s get started. We can assume that your Mom has already alerted Jack and the team, and both Hammond and Daedalus are in orbit, so you know they’ll be looking for us. What’s your plan?’
‘I’m going to blow out the door on Ashley’s cell,’ Cassie replied, ‘and set Monster loose to take out the guards in the corridor. If I understand Huntress correctly, she heals incredibly fast and she can take a couple of bullet strikes without it slowing her down. Then I’m going to blow out my door-hopefully get a couple of the guards’ guns. When I’m free, we’ll be coming straight to you. Once you’re free, you and Monster will cover us while I blow power system-take down the EM field generator. As soon as it’s down, Huntress will get Ash to teleport us out of here. If I understand correctly, her mother has the defences to keep us safe until we can contact Mom and General Jack.’
A sudden sonic boom deafened Sam; she nearly jumped out of her skin, crying out involuntarily as her wrists and ankles chaffed against her bonds.
‘What was that?’
‘The door on Ashley’s cell,’ Cassandra replied with disturbing calm.
And then Sam felt it coming towards her-flooding her link to her daughter-the soul-shredding madness surfing the crest of a tsunami of blood and screams.
#
Chapter 10
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this Stargate SG-1/Sanctuary crossover story but my altered headspace. Stargate SG-1 belongs to Gekko Film Corp, MGM, Fox, various individuals and companies and whoever owns them. Sanctuary belongs to Damian Kindler, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, The Beedie Group, Tricon Films & Television, Space and whoever else owns bits and pieces of it.
Spoilers: For SG-1, to the end of series; for Sanctuary, up to the episode “Pavor Nocturnus” (Season 2, Episode 5). Everything after that is up for grabs.
Summary: Sam and Cassie go Christmas shopping in New City ...
To Dance Between the Raindrops: A Snowflake's Waltz
Chapter 9
Samantha Carter screamed as consciousness came rushing back, like a great wall of water bursting through a flimsy dam unable to withstand such an elemental force.
She struggled against her shackles-her screams echoing off the walls; it took her rational mind a moment to realise that this unholy noise was coming from her own throat.
Her body was on fire. With every breath, it consumed her throat, her lungs ... her very being.
“Helen ... Helen ... it’s all right,” crooned the red haired woman she’d come to know as the head researcher. “Don’t struggle so, my beautiful, golden Phoenix. Soon you’ll be good as new ... better than new ... so much better than before. I like you as a blonde,” she said, fingering a long lock of Sam’s sweat-dampened hair.
At the sudden change in subject, Sam looked down into the woman’s eyes and found herself looking into true insanity.
“I’m told you born with radiant, golden hair-I’m so glad you decided to return to that colour now, on the eve of your rebirth. Oh, the things you must have seen … the people you must have met-what I wouldn’t have given to have been with you on your journeys, dear Helen.”
She stroked Sam’s arm-no doubt she thought she was being gentle-but to Sam it felt like she was removing an entire dermal layer with the coarsest sandpaper. She screamed.
“I thought your daughter was extraordinary, Helen, but you-you are simply magnificent!” the madwoman babbled, heedless of Sam’s increasingly hoarse cries. “I regret that we don’t have a proper tank to ease your transitions from one stage to the next, but you’re proving so much stronger than I ever thought possible! I knew I should have insisted that insufferable Whitcomb bring you in as well as Ashley. If she had, we wouldn’t be in the state we’re in right now. Ah well, at least your lovely Mr. Druitt took care of her for me-didn’t he now? I wonder if she suffered much ...”
She hummed tunelessly under her breath for a few moments. “No matter, my beautiful Helen,” she muttered. “Soon, you will be mother to an entire race of soldiers, and together we will usher in a glorious new age for Humanity. Stage one is nearly completed-and in no time you’ll be ready for your miraculous rebirth.
“I’ve always thought we were destined to meet; I never imagined it would be today. But suddenly, there you were within my reach-” She chuckled softly. “A mall-I never imagined that our first encounter would be so utterly prosaic, dear Helen. Yet, here we are. Destiny will not be denied.”
Sam whimpered, partly in pain and partly in fear; the woman was nuts-completely certifiable. There could be no question of reasoning with her, and if she got any inkling that Sam was not this Helen she was after …
“Tell me, what sort of abilities does that little Abnormal you took shopping have?” Sam’s heart sank into her gut as she stared mutely at her torturer. “You two looked very close; was it so easy for your heart to replace your daughter?”
Cassie! I can’t let her do this to Cassie! Frantically, she fought against her bonds, but her only reward was more excruciating pain.
“Don’t want to tell me, huh-well you will soon enough,” she said ignoring Sam’s whimpered cries. “We always find out sooner or later. Now where is that boy with your blood analysis? I’m quite anxious to finish this phase and get started on your transformation. The preliminary dose of the Source Blood doesn’t seem to be bringing out the same abnormal qualities to the surface that it did in Ashley, but I suppose that’s to be expected. You’ve already been exposed and she inherited many of those abilities from her father. Perhaps one day I’ll have him as well, and then … oh, what a family you will make!”
Drawing a shuddering breath to calm her hysteria, Sam cast her mind away from the torture chamber that was the laboratory, reaching unerringly for Cassandra’s bright beacon.
Connecting with Cassie was like surfacing from a foetid, muck-clogged pond into blessedly clean, pure air.
‘Sam! You’re awake!’ the young woman cried happily.
‘And I wish to God I wasn’t,’ Sam replied hollowly. ‘We have to get out of here, Cassie; we have to get out of here now!’
‘What’s happening?’ Cassie was immediately concerned. ‘What’s going on?’
‘I don’t know how much longer this crazy bitch will leave you alone,’ she said frantically. ‘Apparently, she’s gone as far with me as she can right now, and she’s wondering about your abilities.’
Cassie’s abject terror flooded their link and it was all Sam could do to keep a clear mind without breaking contact.
‘Get a hold of your self, Cassandra!’ she said more harshly than she intended. ‘You can’t fall apart on me now, sweetheart. We need a plan-’
She could feel the young woman gather her courage. ‘Actually, I’ve been working on that, Sam. I’ve found the other two test subjects. One of them is completely gone; they’ve smashed her mind completely. All that’s left now is their programmable monster-although, I don’t think she’ll stay with the program much longer. Whatever they’ve done to her, it’s not only destroyed her mind, it’s apparently destroying her body from the inside out.’
Sam shuddered. Was this the fate that awaited her at the end of their so-called treatments?
‘And the other subject?’
‘Almost as bad, but for some reason, her body isn’t breaking down and it looks like she’s managed to hang onto some semblance of her psyche. Rather than being completely smashed to bits, it seems that her mind fractured into at least three distinct personalities to protect her. Like the other girl, there’s Monster-it’s the personality she created in response to the torture and it’s what does the killing for these people. Monster is a blonde about my age, has claws and fangs and looks like a vampire.
‘Then there’s Huntress-a tall, Amazon-like woman, who seems to embody the role of the protector. She’s dark-haired, wears a mask, has an English accent, but speaks mostly in riddles and rhymes, and is almost rational in a weird sort of way. She’s usually got a crossbow in one hand, a sword strapped to her back, two guns strapped to her thighs, knives in her boots and often, she’s the one holding Monster’s leash-they seem to have a pretty complicated relationship. As I understand them, she’s the one that lets Monster loose on her targets, but a lot of the times Monster also turns around and attacks her.
‘However, Huntress’ main job seems to be protecting the third personality, a little blonde girl called Ash, from Monster’s attacks. She’s about five years old-’
‘Ash! Are you sure she’s called Ash?’ Sam asked excitedly.
Cassandra’s confusion suffused their link. ‘Pretty sure,’ she replied. ‘It’s what Huntress calls her-why?’
‘The woman they mistook me for-Helen-her daughter’s name is Ashley,’ Sam explained. ‘They took her as one of their first test subjects because she has some special abilities inherited from her mother and father. The lead researcher wanted to also abduct Helen, but was apparently overruled by someone higher up in the organisation.’
‘And you think that Ash is what’s left of Ashley,’ Cassandra said thoughtfully. ‘It’s possible-in fact, if I understand Huntress correctly, Ash has the ability to teleport, but there’s some sort of interference barrier around this building that prevents her from doing so.’
‘I’d say that’s a pretty special ability,’ Sam said.
‘Tell me about it. Anyway I’ve managed to get Huntress to trust me and she’s let me take Monster’s leash-’
‘What! Cassie, you just finished telling me that Monster often turns on Huntress-’
‘I know,’ Cassie said quickly, ‘but I can protect myself, Sam-really I can. She already tried to attack me, but I was able to control her. They exist in a huge, rambling castle that is filled with monsters and demons; they scream at night and bay at the moon. But all three personalities exist together in a large library or sunroom-it seems to be neutral territory for them. If my idea is going to work, we need all three of them working together, and that won’t happen if Huntress has to act as both Monster’s keeper and Ash’s protector. And when push comes to shove, she’s first and foremost, Ash’s protector-her first instinct when Ash is in danger is to take the little girl and run.
“Monster is becoming increasingly dominant even as she devolves into irrationality. She chases Huntress and Ash all over the castle trying to feed on Ash, forces Huntress to fight her at almost every turn, and then both mindlessly wale away on each other until they’re too battered to continue-Huntress with her weapons and Monster with her teeth and claws. If I’m going to keep control of the situation, I need Huntress to be rational, not worried about Ash. And I need Monster to do what I tell her, when I tell her.
‘I can act as Monster’s keeper, while Huntress concentrates all her energies on protecting Ash and keeping the balance between the three of them. That way I get some semblance of a fighter and not simply a mindless animal.’
‘Are you sure you going to be able to do that Cassie,’ Sam asked, still incredibly concerned. ‘You said that Huntress is the one who lets Monster loose on her targets-can you bring yourself to do that? Can you order her to kill people?’
Through their link, she felt the young woman’s fear wash over her, but she also felt her utter determination.
‘I can do this, Sam, I know I can,’ Cassie replied. ‘And I know that I’m going to have to kill as well,’ she continued sorrowfully. ‘I don’t want to have to do it, but they’ve left us no choice. I know it’s going to be ugly, Sam. My telekinetic power isn’t exactly a finely-tuned instrument-I can control it … but …’
‘The strength of the hurricane depends on local weather conditions,’ Sam said grimly.
‘And the forecast isn’t looking very good.’
‘All right,’ Sam continued quietly. ‘Then let’s get started. We can assume that your Mom has already alerted Jack and the team, and both Hammond and Daedalus are in orbit, so you know they’ll be looking for us. What’s your plan?’
‘I’m going to blow out the door on Ashley’s cell,’ Cassie replied, ‘and set Monster loose to take out the guards in the corridor. If I understand Huntress correctly, she heals incredibly fast and she can take a couple of bullet strikes without it slowing her down. Then I’m going to blow out my door-hopefully get a couple of the guards’ guns. When I’m free, we’ll be coming straight to you. Once you’re free, you and Monster will cover us while I blow power system-take down the EM field generator. As soon as it’s down, Huntress will get Ash to teleport us out of here. If I understand correctly, her mother has the defences to keep us safe until we can contact Mom and General Jack.’
A sudden sonic boom deafened Sam; she nearly jumped out of her skin, crying out involuntarily as her wrists and ankles chaffed against her bonds.
‘What was that?’
‘The door on Ashley’s cell,’ Cassandra replied with disturbing calm.
And then Sam felt it coming towards her-flooding her link to her daughter-the soul-shredding madness surfing the crest of a tsunami of blood and screams.
#
Chapter 10